Branching out into forestry
Woodland creation on agenda
Farmers and landowners from across Central Scotland took part in the latest in a series of woodland creation events as part of a drive to encourage the integration of forestry with existing land uses.
Hosted at Langhill Farm near Denny and organised by Central Scotland Green Network Trust, on behalf of Forestry Commission Scotland, 32 people representing 14 individual farms, law firms and rural land agencies were given the opportunity to find out more about diversifying their income through woodland creation and the associated benefits.
During the half-day event, speakers shared information on the Scottish Rural Development Programme’s Forestry Grant Scheme, accessing finance for woodland creation, forestry as an investment, opportunities for integrating forestry into rural business and animal health benefits of shelter. Delegates were given a guided walk of woodlands recently planted at Langhill, led by woodland design and management company Eamonn Wall and Co.
As a result, five farms have now registered and been awarded free Farm Woodland Assessments to help gauge the potential for integrating forestry into farm businesses. The assessments will be delivered by CSGNT as part of the CSGN Woodland Creation Development Programme.
Forestry Commission Scotland, alongside the trust, is encouraging farmers to consider broadening the purpose of their land with more woodlands and forests.
Virginia Harden Scott, woodland creation development officer at CSGNT, said: “This series of events gives farmers and landowners the chance to see first-hand how forestry can be integrated on to farm land and provides the opportunity to speak to us directly about the benefits.
“Investing in new woodland offers landowners valuable opportunities to maximise productivity of their land and diversify incomes at a time when these are falling in traditional agriculture and there is uncertainty over subsidies.
“We will be holding further events in 2018 in partnership with Soil Association Scotland and the Farm Advisory Service and I would encourage landowners considering woodland creation, or looking to diversify their income, or those advising such landowners, to either attend these events, or contact CSGNT for more information and advice.”
The Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS), part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme, offers landowners within the trust area grants of up to £8710 per hectare towards planting new or managing existing woodlands. An additional trust contribution of up to £2500 per hectare is also available for fencing and tree shelters.