The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Government gives more cash for tree planting
Farmers praised for efforts to integrate woodlands into farming
The Scottish Government has trebled funding for tree-planting schemes in the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) area which stretches from Fife to Ayrshire.
The money has been committed after farmers were encouraged by Forestry Commission Scotland to integrate woodlands into farming, leading to around 2,500ha of woodlands being planned this year.
If they all come to fruition it will be the highest tree planting level in the area for almost 20 years.
The news comes in the week the UK Government announced a commitment to tree planting in its 25-year environmental plan.
Scottish Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing yesterday announced the extra budget to the network which he said was regarded as an essential element for Scotland’s long-term economic recovery.
“I am especially pleased to note the high level of applications from farmers and landowners wishing to integrate more woodland into their existing businesses to improve their viability,” he said.
“We need to keep up this impetus. I have therefore trebled the funding available for the CSGN contribution and adjusted the grant rates so we can support more applications and up to 1,000 additional hectares per year.”
Meanwhile, a snapshot of the standing value of commercial conifer timber has shown price stability in the market in the six months to September 2017.
We need to keep up this impetus. FERGUS EWING RURAL ECONOMY SECRETARY
However, the report by land agents Bidwells indicates that shortages in supply could force prices up.
The Bidwells timber price database records the prices paid in 75 transactions covering almost 615,000 cubic metres of timber traded mainly in Scotland, but with some information from northern England and Wales.
The company’s head of forestry, Raymond Henderson, said compared to the returns in a report for the previous six months, there appeared to be little significant change in the prices paid.
“Clearly, the range of prices being achieved for individual lots of similar average tree size is vast, and this will depend on factors such as species, timber quality, location and ease of working.”