Forestry grant scheme to put more trees in ground

£2m fund for farmers and firms aims to boost planting in woodlands

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said forestry had a key role to play in helping the rural economy recover from the impact of the pandemic.

He added: “I am also determined to see tree planting increased in Scotland to help meet our climate change targets.

“If any of the tree planting ambitions are to be realised in the UK then we need to be growing more of our own stock. That means increasing nursery capacity here in Scotland but also across the UK.

“I am pleased to be working with the UK and Welsh governments to enable nurseries in England and Wales to also benefit from this grant funding.

“That will help more woodland to be created here.”

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We need to be growing more of our own stock. FERGUS EWING, RURAL ECONOMY SECRETARY

Stuart Goodall, chief executive of forestry body Confor, pointed out small businesses and forest nurseries had been hit by the effects of Covid-19.

He said: “While there are reasons to be optimistic about the longer term, there is a real need for this support now to help those businesses contribute to a green recovery.

“Tree planting and sustainable production of wood has been one of Scotland’s success stories in recent years and we have the opportunity to help set a robust course towards net zero by 2045, creating jobs and removing more carbon from the atmosphere.”

Scottish Forestry hopes the £2m grant scheme will lead to an increase in tree planting in woodlands across the country.