Gildernew urges farmers to plant more trees

Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA has visited a new native woodland in County Fermanagh.

The woodland, located at the appropriately named townland of Ashwoods, outside Enniskillen, was planted by Mr Michael O’Dolan. The woodland is just over 22 hectares and was planted four years ago with native broadleaf trees, predominantly ash with a component of oak, birch, rowan and hazel. The trees have grown very rapidly and it already has developed a “woodland feel”. Mr O’Dolan received support under DARD’s Woodland Grant Scheme to assist him establish the woodland and is also in receipt of the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme.

Touring the woodland, the Minister said: “We know that woodlands are important for many reasons, from the more obvious benefits of timber and woodfuel production, to the benefits they offer wildlife and as places which people can enjoy. Woodlands can help mitigate the effects of climate change and by using wood, we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released in comparison with using other materials such as concrete and steel.

”Unfortunately our local countryside is one of the least wooded areas in Europe and we have set challenging targets to increase our woodland cover. Despite the pressures on expenditure and financial constraints, last autumn I increased the grant for new woodland creation and subsequent annual premia payments, and now is a good time to take advantage of the new grant scheme rates and apply to Forest Service to plant your own wood in time for the coming tree planting season.”

Following the recently introduced rate increases, new applicants to the Woodland Grant Scheme may now receive £2,400 per hectare for broadleaved woodland and £1,600 per hectare for conifer woodland. New farmer applicants under the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme, open since January 2007, may receive annual payment rates which range from £60 up to £290 per hectare (or £117 per acre) per year and compare very favourably with current conacre rates for grassland. They depend on the category of land to be planted and whether it is inside or outside the Less Favoured Areas (LFA), so check first before applying.

Fermanagh District Council is also keen to work with Mr O’Dolan and other partners to further develop the potential of this woodland for public access.

Forest Service will also continue to provide funding for the Short Rotation Coppice Scheme, and already farmers have created approximately 750 hectares of Short Rotation Coppice for an energy end use, under this scheme, and its predecessor, the Short Rotation Coppice Challenge Fund.

In conclusion, the Minister added: “I would encourage any landowner who has an interest in planting woodland to seriously consider their options and contact Forest Service for more information. It is only through a united effort that we can succeed in increasing woodland cover.”

Those who were claiming Single Farm Payment (SFP) in 2008, can now also plant their land and continue to claim SFP in addition to their annual Farm Woodland Premium Scheme forestry payments.

For further details on forestry grant schemes, phone Forest Service on 028 9076 5391, email to grants.forestservice@dardni.gov.uk or go to the Forest Service website.

Notes to editors:

1. The Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS) provides grant aid to establish new woodland of at least 0.2 hectare (half an acre) and is open to all landowners, not just farmers. Forest Service has increased the Woodland Grant Scheme rates by up to 30% and they are: for broadleaved woodland - £2,400 per hectare and for conifer woodland - £1,600 per hectare. The new WGS rates will apply to all claims received from 23 November 2009.
2. The Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (FWPS) provides an annual payment for up to fifteen years to compensate for loss of agricultural income. Rates depend on the category of land to be planted and whether it is inside or outside the Less Favoured Areas (LFA). We have increased rates for farmer applicants under the current FWPS scheme by as much as 50% to stimulate increased uptake. The new FWPS rates will be paid from this year on. They will apply to all FWPS agreements with applications made under the current Rural Development Programme, i.e. from 1 January 2007. They will not be retrospective.
3. FWPS agreements prior to 1 January 2007 have been reviewed and uplifted by a more modest 5%.
4. The Farm Woodland Premium Scheme is part EU funded under the Rural Development Programme and to be eligible for the above rates, you must be a farmer, defined as someone who obtains at least 25% of your gross income from farming. If you are not a farmer as defined above, you may be eligible for the lower rate of annual payment, which remains capped at a maximum of £100 per hectare per year.
5. Further details of Forestry Grant Schemes are available by phoning Forest Service on 028 9076 5391, by email to grants.forestservice@dardni.gov.uk or through the Forest Service website.
6. All media enquiries to DARD Press Office, telephone 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.