Managing Existing Woodland
It can often be difficult to take the time to analyse aspects of your farm business that aren’t directly bringing in revenue especially with increased pressure from tight margins, unpredictable weather and uncertainty surrounding farm funding. Woodland is a key asset present on many farm holdings, often disregarded.
While woodland does not directly provide an income, maintaining asset value will increase the value of the business as an entity and mitigate risk. The economic value of both the woodland itself and the property as a whole can be greatly improved with a solid management strategy in place.
The core of any woodland management strategy, has to be a sound and comprehensive woodland management plan. A grant of £1,500 is available to fund for production of such a plan. A woodland management plan allows the owner or manager to effectively communicate their management aims and ambitions (in consultation with The Forestry Commission) to the relevant authorities, allowing access to various funding opportunities to achieve those aims. Items available for funding include deer fencing and controlling invasive species such as grey squirrels or rhododendron.
The woodland management plan will detail a 10-year management strategy that aims to significantly improve the value of the woodland in the future, both economically and in ecological terms. Activities such as the thinning of undesirable trees and replanting with native broadleaved species, or a broadleaf/conifer mixture will offer significant financial reward in future years.
Many have significant experience in the strategic management of woodland, the production of woodland management plans and the coordination of activities which may require licences or permissions in place to carry out works. It can be helpful to consult experienced professionals if you are unsure where to begin to manage your woodland assets without the additional workload.
Establishing New Woodland
In addition to the management of existing woodland, there are various attractive options available to fund the creation of new woodlands on less productive areas of land with significant financial incentives available.
The primary scheme utilised by the many landowners would be the England Woodland Creation Offer (minimum area 1ha with individual blocks of at least 0.1ha) which pays up to £10,200/ ha and an additional £12,700/ ha in stackable payments. However, other schemes are available including the Woodland Trusts’ More woods scheme (minimum area 0.5 ha) which offers to cover up to 75% of the cost of establishing new woodland. When considering woodland creation it is important to understand the options available to help achieve the best possible financial, aesthetic and environmental benefits for your business.
Update Cookies Preferences
