Showingforestrytobean

MSP cuts to the heart of the tensions that have historically existed between farming and forestry

Beyond the initial grant, there are several potential income streams for farm forestry – under the UK Woodland Carbon Code, landowners can sell the carbon in woodland creation projects that would not otherwise be financially viable.

Carbon prices vary, but for predominantly Sitka spruce crop, could be £400-600 per hectare.

Later, income can be derived from firewood by thinning (removing certain trees to allow others to flourish as part of a final cash crop) before timber is harvested at 35-45 years, depending on site and species.

A final timber crop of Sitka spruce could be worth about £10,000 per hectare at current prices – not a bad boost to one’s pension, or a handsome gift (potentially free of inheritance tax) to the next generation.

There are additional, less tangible benefits. Farmers can use new forest areas, with grant-funded fencing, to create paddocks. These more heavilygrazed areas encourage better grass to grow than on an undergrazed hill, allowing more stock to be kept on a smaller area, increasing efficiency and saving on the cost and time of managing sheep on an open hill.

The Sheep and Trees initiative launched last year can also support an access track to the new woodland, further aiding stock management.

The shelter from wind and rain provided by trees also reduces winter heat loss from livestock, in turn reducing winter feed requirements.

Despite the apparent benefits, outdated misconceptions persist.

As an industry, foresters work hard to take critics to modern planting sites and show them mixed conifer and broadleaf species, designed carefully to fit into a a it landscape and including much more open space. Constant attacks on singlespecies forest blocks are misplaced – that kind of planting hasn’t happened for more than 25 years in Scotland and won’t happen again.

Another perception is that foresters want to blanket high-quality farmland with trees. Not so. We know Grade 4 and 5 land – pasture and rough grazing – is most appropriate for planting.

There is great potential on such land in Angus and Perthshire and it’s not all Sitka spruce – other species, including Douglas fir, can grow well on the right site. Yet many farmers simply don’t want to plant trees – it’s just not what they do.

They are farmers and generations of their family have been farmers – it is in their blood.

I understand this perspective, but if a farmer is desperate to keep a stockrearing farm in the family, finding ways to diversify long-term income is the way to do it.

Planting trees on part of a farm can provide that long-term income diversification that multi-generation farming families are seeking.

Broadly speaking, the younger generation of farmers is more openminded to this approach, and with Brexit casting its shadow over support for rural areas, the future has to be different.

At the UK level, Michael Gove has signalled support for a broader approach to countryside policy and a desire for clear environmental outcomes in return for subsidies.

As a growing number of reports have noted (including the recent 25-Year UK Environment Plan), forestry delivers clear environmental outcomes.

The arguments are well-versed – growing trees soak up atmospheric