Welcome changes are made to the Forestry Expansion Scheme for 2020

Premier Woodlands has been consistently calling for such a timetable to be followed since the launch of the scheme some five years ago.

The commitment now given by Forest Service to this end is to be welcomed, as is the decision to reduce the minimum eligible planted area for FES from 5ha down to 3ha. This development will help to encourage more landowners into the scheme.

It is significant that the new 3ha land stipulation equates with the minimum area required for a land owner to own a farm business number. However, it will also bring into focus the issue of some FES applicants not having the farm business number they need to be made eligible for the scheme in the first place.

A Category 2 farm business number is the official criterion required, regarding eligibility for the various forestry schemes. Securing this level of accreditation is, normally, a very straightforward process. I would encourage those landowners not having the requisite farm business number to submit the required documentation to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) as a matter of priority.

I am also calling on DAERA Minister Edwin Poots to ensure that his staff will give priority to the processing of these applications. The Minister has already confirmed that he wants to see the sustained growth of forestry taking place in Northern Ireland. Ensuring that as many people as possible can apply for what is the final year of FES is totally compatible with this commitment.

We believe the Forest Service is developing a smaller scale woodland grant scheme that will be launched in September.

This new initiative is a further welcome development. From what I can gather it will facilitate the establishment of plantations ranging in size from 0.2ha up to 2.9ha. A key area of interest within the scheme will be its handling of the ‘active’ versus ‘non-active’ farmer issue.

There is also an onus on Forest Service to publish its plans for the future development of the private forestry sector as a whole. FES ends this year: the need to have a replacement scheme in place for 2021 is obvious, as is the need to ensure that all relevant stakeholder groups have their say on how the future of Northern Ireland’s private forestry sector can be developed.

Premier Woodlands has been at the heart of the private forestry sector for the past three decades.

Throughout this period the company has not only advised clients on how to develop their own sustainable forestry businesses but has also committed its own funds in developing forests of its own.

To this end, a number of Premier Woodlands’ owned and developed plantations will be clear felled over the coming months. These are conifer crops that were planted out by the business 26 years ago.

In essence, we have put our money where our mouth is. Our experience confirms that forestry is a more than sustainable land use option in Northern Ireland.

And with the proper planning and investment, I am in no doubt that such will remain the case as we look to the future.

For further information, telephone Premier Woodlands on (028) 7963 4236