Forestry grant system 'too complex, too costly and takes too long'

Earlier in June it was revealed that tree planting rates across the UK are still way off target, with a total of 12,960 hectares of new woodland created in the year to 31 March 2023 - less than half the target of 30,000 hectares of new woodland creation annually by 2025 and down from 13,860 hectares in 2021/22.

New planting rates in Wales doubled from 580 hectares in 2021/22 to 1,190 hectares in 2022/23 but in Scotland, new planting dipped from 10,480 hectares to a disappointing 8,190 hectares.

England saw an increase from 2,260 to 3,130 hectares, but Northern Ireland slipped back from 540 hectares to 450.

Now, experts from John Clegg & Co (Strutt & Parker’s specialist forestry arm), have looked into the reasons behind the UK’s sluggish performance and offered their analysis.

Looking to England, Dr Hugh Williams said: “While we have seen an increase in planting in England and Wales, the figures overall are a disappointment and show there is clearly a long way to go before government targets on woodland creation will be met. Our climate and soils are ideal for trees, and there is a long list of reasons why we want more trees and woodlands – including the need to produce more timber in this country, the role trees and forests play in providing clean air, wildlife habitats and protection from floods, plus public access opportunities.

“The government has refreshed and relaunched grants for new planting in England, revised a suite of associated forestry incentives and recruited many new people to the Forestry Commission. But while the level of funding on offer can be attractive, the administrative process remains a significant block to progress. Many landowners say it is too complex, too costly and takes too long.

“Forestry England has started offering to rent land from landowners on which to plant trees - removing the burden on the landowner in terms of getting a scheme approved and planted. The organisation has also reactivated its ability to purchase land for tree planting, raising the question of whether ministers are coming to the conclusion that it may require greater levels of state intervention to open the door on woodland creation at the scale and pace needed.”

Simon Hart, head of forestry in Scotland for John Clegg & Co, said: “It is a concern and somewhat of a surprise that the area of new planting in Scotland has fallen to its lowest level for five years. The reasons are quite complex, but one factor will be changes to the rules on eligibility for carbon credits for commercial forestry schemes which has deterred some investors. This has also had a knock-on effect in that it has reduced the amount that people are prepared to pay for land suitable for forestry, which has meant some landowners have decided it is not worth selling at current prices.

“The Scottish Government has recently consulted on the future of the Forestry Grant Scheme on the basis that the scheme needs to be overhauled if Scotland is to meet its ambitious target of creating 18,000 hectares of woodland per annum by 2024/25. These figures make the need to do so even more pressing.”