UK landowners set to embrace tree-planting challenge
Almost 50% of rural property owners say they plan to plant more trees on their land over the next few years, according to the results of the Knight Frank Rural Sentiment Survey 2020.
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"Trees will be an integral part of our green recovery from coronavirus"
_Lord Goldsmith, Minister for Forests
Respondents were asked about their plans for the future and tree planting was the most popular option, followed by the 45% who say they will expand their existing businesses.
The results feature in the latest edition of The Rural Report, Knight Frank’s annual publication that explores the issues that matter to estate owners, farmers and other rural businesses.
Forestry was a theme of this year’s report with leading stakeholders from across the sector sharing their views on how landowners could benefit from a government push to significantly grow the amount of woodland in the UK.
Writing for The Rural Report, Lord Goldsmith, Minister for Forests at Defra, said the government was committed to increasing tree planting across the country to 30,000 hectares a year by 2025.
Commenting on the findings of the Rural Sentiment Survey the minister, a leading environmental campaigner, said: “Now is an exciting time for forestry. Trees will be an integral part of our green recovery from coronavirus, as we continue towards our commitment to increase tree planting across the UK to 30,000 hectares per year by 2025.
“It is hugely encouraging to see that this survey recognises the appetite for tree planting across the UK, and I urge people to have their say on how we can increase tree planting even further through our England Tree Strategy consultation which has just launched.”
Other contributors include ecologist David Hetherington; Ellie Brodie, Head of Land Management at the Wildlife Trusts; Stuart Goodall, Chief Executive of industry body Confor and Mark Bridgeman, CLA President.
Dr Hetherington, Woodland Advisor to the Cairngorms National Park Authority, points out the importance of ensuring that the right trees are planted in the right place to minimise the soil disturbance to carbon-rich soils.
Ms Brodie is keen to see more of a focus on the natural regeneration of existing woodland because it increased biodiversity and provided more suitable homes for native wildlife.
Mr Goodall believes a new approach is needed in England and Wales if tree-planting targets are to be achieved, while Mr Bridgeman says landowners need to be properly incentivised.
Read the forestry thoughts of all our Rural Report contributors
Find out why forestry could be the right investment for your farm or estate