| On Topic
Finest English oak logs
often seen as a drain on resources
rather than a significant contributor
to the land management account.
In fact, Forestry Commission
research indicates that less than
50% of woodland resource is
currently under active
management. In addition, planting
new woodland can sometimes be
resisted on the basis that it may be
viewed as a permanent change of
land use - one that might threaten
rather than enhance the rural
property account. Forestry
Commission figures also show that
just 582 hectares of trees were
planted in England in 2016, the
lowest number since records
began. To put that into
perspective, the entire year’s
planting could have been fulfilled
by just three full-time planters. The
Woodland Trust has suggested
that this could almost put us into a
situation where we are losing more
woodland than is actually being
planted.
Addressing the challenges
So, how can we address these
challenges and build on what
Dame Judi Dench has been able
to do in her small woodland
garden? In the first instance, it is
critical to get an understanding of
what you have to work with,
whether it be a small or large
woodland, or just an area of land
that you might think about
planting.
There are a number of funding
options available to provide
support with this. In particular, the
Forestry Commission provides
funding for the preparation of a
woodland management plan
which, in addition to enabling you
to understand the condition and
value of your woodland, also
provides operational consent to
allow you to undertake tree felling
and management operations. It
provides a gateway to a suite of
management and operational
grants, many of which are
integrated into the wider
Countryside Stewardship Scheme.
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
Alternative support may also be
available through organisations
such as the Woodland Trust, who
are keen to support positive
management to protect and
support our invaluable ancient
woodland 3 resource.
With a greater knowledge of the
resource available, you can then
make a more informed decision
about how best to deliver your
objectives. Whether you wish to
focus on landscape, biodiversity,
growing the best quality timber, or
simply making money -
understanding what you want to
achieve is key. Fortunately, these
objectives and outcomes do not
need to be mutually exclusive. In
terms of both Natural Capital and
Ecosystem services, woodland
can deliver against a wide range of
metrics. The challenge is not only
to be aware of the opportunities
that currently exist, but also those
that are envisaged through the 25
year plan.
Identifying the opportunities
Timber production is still the
heartbeat of woodland’s
commercial sustainability, and
recent increases in commodity
prices and the negative focus on
agricultural subsidies has meant
that timber is now being seen as a
valuable and renewable source of
income. As crops develop, high-
quality silvicultural management -
including well planned and
executed thinning and formative
pruning - will be critical to crop
development and value. Finally, at
harvest, knowledge of the crop
and identification of market
opportunities can be of great
importance.
These operations are also
critical to the wider health of the
woodland, encouraging the
development of a diverse
structure, and enabling light to
reach the woodland floor,
promoting the development and
proliferation of a mass of unique
and valuable plant and animal life.
Providing a network of tracks and
open spaces will also encourage a
wide range of habitats, whilst at
the same time allowing all year
round management access for
harvesting and woodland
management.
Beyond timber production,
recreation opportunities can also
prove lucrative, with many
woodland owners taking
advantage of the unique ‘feel’ of
woodlands to develop new and
innovative enterprises. With
glamping and log cabins now in
vogue and rental values in excess
of £1,000/wk not uncommon for
relatively small units, high returns
can be secured for quality sites in
good locations. Other activities
such as paintballing, mountain
biking and high rope courses also
continue to be popular. Woodland
also continues to provide the
framework and backbone for
estate shooting enterprises.
Woodland continues to be a
sound investment. Forestry and
woodland has been the top
performing asset type in the last
15 years, generating returns in
excess of 10% a year. The market
is still buoyant, and likely to
become more so as the impact of
increasing timber prices and
supply constraints come to the
fore.
Woodland also enjoys a unique
taxation status, whilst not the
driver of years ago, the fact that
timber sales are still tax free and
enjoy further reliefs, including
100% relief against IHT, can still be
very valuable to many owners.
Opportunities also exist for
woodland creation, and the
government has set this as a clear
focus of the 25 year Environment
Plan. Woodland creation can help
to shape our landscapes and
public and private spaces, as well
as enhancing landscapes,
developing carbon storage
reservoirs, providing shelter, and
reducing flood risks. Attractive
capital grants of up to £8,800/ha
are also available to help plan and
establish woodlands, in addition to
support for design, planning and
ongoing maintenance. Use of
good province seed and planting
stock, specifically selected for
individual sites and likely impacts
of climate change, will be key, and
effective design will help to meet
specific objectives. Carefully sited
and designed woodland can
support wider capital values, and
provide screening and protection
both for and from development
activity.
Every day we enjoy our
woodlands as an almost unnoticed
but critical part of our wonderful
landscape. However, if they are to
continue to thrive they need our
care and attention. This should
not be a chore and, as Dame Judi
has found, trees and woodland
can enrich ou r lives in so many
ways, not least as quiet spaces,
but also as green gyms for those
of us to prefer to be in the open air.
Whatever the driver, you should
get down to your woods today, as
you could be in for a big, and
hopefully a good, surprise.
1 Natural Capital is the sum of our
ecosystems, species, fresh water,
land, soils, minerals, our air and our
seas.
2 A Green Future: Our 25year Plan to
Improve the Natural Environment
3 Ancient Woodlands are defined as
sites that have enjoyed continuous
woodland cover since 1600 i.e. in
excess of 440years.
February 2018 | Farming Monthly | 11