Premier Woodlands’ Managing Director, John Hetherington, has called on Forest Service to publicly show consistent support to help meet the targets contained in Northern Ireland’s new Tree Planting Action Plan.

Speaking at a recent tree production and tree planting event, hosted by CAFRE at the college’s Greenmount campus he said that such has not always previously been the case, adding: “There have been numerous instances in the past when Forest Service had been less than consistent when it came to managing approvals for the Forestry Expansion Scheme and the Small Woodland Grant Scheme.

“There had been too many occasions when very late decisions had been taken to approve both schemes in a specific planting year.

“This left farmers, landowners and forestry development companies, such as Premier Woodlands in a situation where they could not plan for the future in any form of strategic manner.”

Speaking at the recent forestry and tree planting event, hosted by CAFRE at its Greenmount campus, (l-r): Gregor Fulton, National Trust; John Hetherington, Premier Woodlands; Rodrigo Olave, AFBI; Aoife Smith, Forest Service; David Dowd, CAFRE; Konstantinos Xyntaris, CAFRE

placeholder image — Speaking at the recent forestry and tree planting event, hosted by CAFRE at its Greenmount campus, (l-r): Gregor Fulton, National Trust; John Hetherington, Premier Woodlands; Rodrigo Olave, AFBI; Aoife Smith, Forest Service; David Dowd, CAFRE; Konstantinos Xyntaris, CAFRE

He continued: “Forestry and woodland development are both long term investment scenarios and a high degree of certainty, with regard to consistent publicly support options, is critically important in this regard.”

The Premier Woodlands’ representative has welcomed the launch of the new Tree Planting Action Plan for Northern Ireland.

Its implementation has been designed to increase Northern Ireland level of forest land cover from the current figure of 8.6% up to 12% by 2050.

Making this happen will require an annual tree planting in excess of 2,500ha. The current figure is in the region of 400ha/yr.

John Hetherington again: “Making this happen will require steadfast and continuous support from Forest Service over the coming decades.

“But there is a range of other relevant issues to be addressed. Application periods for tree planting schemes must open in the early summer with all the follow-up administration required on the part of Forest Service to be completed within a small number of weeks.

“This will then allow a meaningful tree planting season to follow. Delays in grant approval also reduce tree availability as the planting season progresses, as nurseries sell their tree stocks, some are sold out by October/November.

“There is also an onus on Forest Service to pay out on all claims successfully green-lighted as soon as all planting work has been completed.

“This reflects the very salient fact that landowners and farmers must pay for the whole woodland establishment cost approved in yr 1 before the grant aid claim can be submitted. And like all other businesses they have cash flow priorities.”

Forest Service’s Aoife Smith also spoke at the Greenmount event.

She said that changing the mindset of farmers will be key to developing vibrant forestry and woodland development sectors, adding: “Forestry development and food production are wholly complimentary land use activities.”

The Forest Service representative also confirmed that the new Tree Planting Action Plan can be used to significantly increase woodland and forest cover in Northern Ireland.

She confirmed that the initiative, launched earlier this year, had been developed through a process of collaboration, involving all the stakeholders involved with the various tree planting and land use development sectors.