The Government has offered strong financial incentives for woodland creation, so the barrier to uptake cannot be from a purely economic point of view, according to Savills senior woodland consultant Luke Hemmings.
Grants
Mr Hemmings said there were many landowners who were keen to increase their carbon storage and habitat potential of their land, but the ‘approval process' for planting new woodland was an issue.
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He said it was similar to any planning process, but there were three main bodies which decided whether woodland could be planted or not - the Forestry Commission, Scottish Forestry and Natural Resources Wales.
Woodland
Mr Hemmings added: "For example, there are protections for habitats such as deep peat and moorland; landscapes such as the Northumberland National Park or the South Downs; for species such as lapwings which rely on uplands for their breeding areas; and features of the historic environment such as ridge and furrow fields from ancient agriculture.
"That is not to say that you cannot create woodland in these areas, but it has to be done in a way which will not damage them."
Approval process
He said the approval process often required extensive surveys of land and could draw objections from a number of voices.
"Landowners are finding that it can take anything from six months to three years to get the go ahead for a new project.
"Fortunately, recent announcements will fast track the process in known low-risk areas and simplify the consultation process without losing any of the environmental protections it ensures. This will help to keep the interest and enthusiasm of landowners, as well as keeping costs down."
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Government targets
Despite the delays, Mr Hemmings said the Government's ambitious target to plant 30,000 hectares of woodland in the UK by March 2025 had begun a ‘huge transformation' in UK forestry.
"At a time when other Government departments have faced cuts, the Forestry Commission has almost doubled in size. There is a greater understanding of the value of woodland, not just for timber or carbon storage, but for biodiversity and recreation too."
Tree planting
Mr Hemmings admitted the Government's target might be ‘hugely challenging', but said ‘it has motivated an entire industry and kept tree planting on the agenda and in conversation'.
He said: "It has led to more trees being grown, foresters being trained and woodlands being created than at any other time in the last 30 years."
Key woodland grants
Patricia Singleton, Savills rural research, has compiled a list of the key woodland grants in England:
WOODLAND CREATION PLANNING GRANT
■ FOR larger woodland sites (five hectares or larger), it provides funding to prepare a UK Forestry Standard compliant plan for woodland creation.
ENGLAND WOODLAND CREATION OFFER
■ ENCOURAGES investment in creation of new woodland for sites as small as 1ha, through funding for:
■ Capital items to establish new woodland
■ Annual maintenance payments to support establishment of young trees
■ Support for installation of infrastructure for ongoing management
■ Additional contributions where woodland location can contribute to other public benefits, such as nature recovery and flood risk mitigation
COUNTRYSIDE STEWARDSHIP
■ PLANTING of trees outside woodland (hedgerows, parkland and pasture) through Countryside Stewardship; there are also options for management of and improving the health of existing woodlands HS2 WOODLAND FUND
■ PROVIDES funding to support native woodland creation or the restoration of plantations on ancient woodland sites within a 25-mile zone surrounding the HS2 Phase One route between London and the West Midlands
FORESTRY ENGLAND WOODLAND PARTNERSHIP
■ PROVIDES a leasehold rental income for land used to create new woodland; Forestry England bares all the costs of planting and management, but also has control of the land for the duration of the lease.
