Rural Affairs

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1.4.2 Forestry

Forestry

  1. At 9%, the South West Region has significantly greater woodland cover than the average for the whole of England (7.5%). The Region's woodlands amount to approximately a fifth of England's total. However, there are areas where the cover is significantly less, for example South Hams or Cornwall (5%), or where large areas of forestry may be inappropriate in environmental terms, such as the National Parks or Bodmin Moor uplands. Other areas such as Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, have significantly higher woodland cover with Gloucestershire the highest at 11%. 18% of the woodland cover can be classified as ancient semi-natural, (over 400 years old), which is very similar to England's average of 20%.
  2. The 9% cover of woodlands > 2ha. amounts to 206,400ha; of this 69% is broad-leaved (141,600ha.) and 31% conifer (64,800ha.). It is reassuring to note that 3% of the whole is felled and a further 3% is new planting. Considering the length of rotation of woodlands this suggests positive management. Forest Enterprise manages 35,800ha. (17%) and private ownerships 170,600ha. (83%). (These figures are from the Forestry Commission's new Woodland Survey which is being undertaken at present).
  3. The comments in the previous paragraphs give an indication of the great variety of land type and associated type of woodland cover. Nevertheless, the South West is the best place for growing trees in England, whether conifer or broadleaf, due to the mild climate and rainfall. Whereas the South West's cover may be higher at 9%, when compared to England, it is far lower than most of Europe's except for Eire (8%), with the average over the EU being 33%. Because of this relatively small woodland cover the UK is unlikely to exceed 25% self sufficiency of its steadily rising demand for timber and timber products. This indicates that a market will always be available.
  4. The South West is in an excellent position to benefit from its growing conditions and produce sustainable employment. Full utilisation of the tree and its products, adding value to the timber yield, and the use of recycled timber waste will all increase the efficiency of the industry, its competitiveness and its potential. This applies as much to the farm woodland owner, perhaps with co-operatives, as the commercial estate owner. Renewable energy - both heat and electricity - also has great potential using wood and is beginning to develop within the South West.
  5. The prosperity of the South West varies as well as the land type from the fragile rural and pastoral areas of the far south west to the more affluent north east. This is reflected in the management of woodlands, i.e. they are better managed in the prosperous areas.

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National and Regional Forestry Strategies

  1. In December 1998 the Government launched the England Forestry Strategy. This interdepartmental document involved the Local Government Association. It was launched in the South West in January 1999.
  2. This Strategy differed from previous ones in that it did not set specific targets to be achieved, but rather recognised the multi values that woodlands and forestry provided and directed targets within their context. These are interlinked but were identified under 4 programmes:
  • Forestry for Rural Development which covers forestry's role in the wider countryside, including its contribution to the rural economy.
  • Forestry for Economic Regeneration which outlines the positive opportunities for woodlands in land use planning, including land restoration and urban developments.
  • Forestry for Recreation, Access and Tourism which concentrates on developing the potential of woodlands in these fields, both independently and as support to other developments and the local community.
  • Forestry for the Environment and Conservation which covers the wide role that forestry can play in conserving and enhancing the biodiversity and character of our environment. Our cultural heritage and education are also covered here.
  1. The Strategy also provides the action which will be taken to implement it and indicates what results the Government expects to see as a result of this implementation. Monitoring is planned, and a national Forest Forum chaired by the minister has been created to work in partnership with its members.
  2. Priorities for woodland creation, bearing in mind the success of the current Woodland Grant Scheme to create broad-leaved woodlands, as well as the need to support rural development and local communities, are:
  • larger woodlands, where they can bring greater benefits
  • woodlands on the urban fringe
  • to restore former industrial land
  • to reverse the fragmentation of ancient woodland
  1. This national approach is mirrored within the South West, applying it where it is appropriate and required and with local priorities. Woodland creation is required where cover is low, though to achieve large areas pump priming funding and education are required, usually achieved through partnerships.
  2. A successful example of this is the South West Forest project, started in 1997 and partly funded by Objective 5b, which includes the areas of poor soils of north Cornwall. Within the South West Forest area this has resulted in the average size of new planting under the Forestry Commission's Woodland Grant Scheme increasing from 3ha. to 11ha. and over 1000ha. contracted to be planted. The South West Forest is also committed to encouraging community woodlands with 47ha. created so far. Associated with the main project is a training package run with LANTRA, which has completed over 300 trainee days to date with all ages involved. This is essential to ensure knowledge and commitment for the farmer - foresters involved with the new woodlands.
  3. Having a higher proportion of Grades 3 and 4 agricultural land, the South West has considerable opportunity for the creation of new woodlands. New woodland can be especially beneficial to the environment when native species are planted as extensions of ancient woodland or used to join remaining fragments.
  4. It is essential to ensure that existing woodlands are managed, and managed for their appropriate objectives. This can revolve around education and training for both owners and labour and efficient marketing, be it independently or through co-operatives. It may also depend on the creation and development of the market itself and support for forestry/rural businesses. Projects such as Working Woodlands (£2.9m), funded primarily by Objective 5b, aim to encourage the management of woodland through the development of markets and support of businesses involved with timber harvesting and processing. Adding value is a key factor for success. 900ha. of woodland has been restored to management so far with 114 businesses being offered support. Over the Region approximately 80,000ha. (40%) of woodland of all types currently are not managed. To restore these woodlands to management is essential for sustainable rural employment, the long-term survival of the woodlands themselves and for the South West's landscape and environment as a whole.
  5. The support provided by such projects benefits the community through the provision of sustainable, rural employment as well as benefiting the environment through appropriate woodland management.

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Yields and Timber Processing

  1. The average annual yield (standing timber) is approximately 850,000 cubic metres for hardwood and 1,037,000 cubic metres for softwood reflecting the optimum growing conditions within the South West. The quality of much of the broad-leaved timber will not be very good, though this is usually due to the history of past management rather than the inherent potential of such woodlands. Some of the conifer woodlands, however, are of very high quality, depending on species and location.
  2. The timber processing plant is the CSC Forest Products chipboard (panel board) factory at South Molton which has an annual demand of 280,000 tonnes. Of this, 100,000 tonnes are small roundwood and 180,000 comes from recycled wood fibre and sawmill waste.
  3. Sawmilling in the West Country now revolves around many small mills with only a few larger ones. Recently, 2 major mills have closed. The main disappointment is that much of the timber, both small roundwood and larger sawmill timber is transported out of the Region, particularly to South Wales. This range of small mills across the Region provides local employment and with the high element exported out of the South West there is considerable potential for expansion.
  4. Further information on these markets is required for woodland owners.

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Economy and Employment

  1. With the current level of approved Woodland Grant Schemes running at nearly 600 per year, £3.3m is being provided in support for the South West rural economy. These schemes include a significant element of new planting under the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme on arable or better quality farmland which will provide an additional annual £0.9m (estimated).
  2. These schemes are directly accessible to landowners and farmers so that the funds are fed directly into the local community and assist in keeping farmers on the land. The management of existing woodlands, and in due course the new woodlands, provide income and products for the landowner and farmer and also self-employment. Again, there is potential to develop the employment and utilisation opportunities based on local use or sale.
  3. The South West employs approximately 3,900 people in forestry from planting and establishment to harvesting, haulage and processing. Self-employment on farm woodlands will be in addition to this. Forestry is a particularly useful rural employment as a survey has found that in the industry 86% of direct employees and 25% on contract labour live within 10 miles of where they work. Within England nearly 40% work on private estates and 50% for forestry companies and the wood-processing industries.
  4. The recreation and tourism aspects must not be forgotten. Forest Enterprise expenditure on education, environment and conservation was around £1.5m in 1997/98. This is in addition to the environmental work as part of the ongoing woodland management. Woodlands have considerable potential to be used for tourism development within the woodland and also together with other forms of tourism development.
  5. The Forest of Dean hosts over 1 million visits each year, from the general day visitor to specific recreational activities including climbing, cycling, bird watching and orienteering. There are 300,000 camper nights. The result is an estimated £30m to benefit the local economy and illustrates the potential of appropriate woodland development. Woodlands are increasingly linked with long distance footpaths and cycleways, e.g. through the work of Sustrans.
  6. European and partnership projects illustrate the potential and benefits. In 1998 Working Woodlands offered £370,000 to 64 enterprises. With additional grant money £930,000 has been made available resulting in the creation or safeguarding of 212 jobs. The projected increase in turnover for the rural economy is £2.7m per year. The South West Forest uses the creation of new woodland in an area of low rural economy to support communities, stimulate development and sustainable employment and provide training, access and assist tourism. It is estimated, that over the 15 year period, 410 jobs will be created for the winter months.

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Community Forest

  1. The South West also includes 2 of England's 12 Community Forests, namely the Forest of Avon around Bristol and the Great Western Forest around Swindon. In addition there are 186 woodlands with agreed community access in the Region; of these 105 are within the 2 Community Forests. Those with the Woodland Grant Scheme's, Community Woodland Supplement including a 52ha. community woodland with Plymouth City.
  2. The Forest of Avon covers 221 square miles in and around Bristol. Within and close to the Forest is a population of nearly 900,000, and 35% of the area is urban with the remainder agricultural. The target is to plant 6,500ha. of new woodland and increase the woodland cover from 5% to 27% over the next 40-50 years. The Forest already contains important and extensive woodlands especially to the south west of the city. As well as creating more woodland it is intended to improve access, recreation, habitat value and landscape quality. Achievements to date (1991-1999) include:
  • planting 271ha.
  • 2117ha. of existing woodland in management (out of total 3400ha.)
  • 983ha. of woodland with access
  • 43 Woodland Grant Schemes with community woodland agreement
  1. The Great Western Forest covers 140 square miles in and around Swindon. The population in and close to the Forest is around 250,000. It will rely on agricultural and urban fringe land to achieve its expansion target of 39% woodland (from a baseline of 3%). The area of existing woodland is significantly lower than the Forest of Avon. Achievements to date (1991-1999) include:
  • planting 803ha.
  • 891ha. of existing woodland in management (out of total 1170ha.)
  • 1137ha. of woodland with access
  • 62 Woodland Grant Schemes with community woodland agreement
  1. Both Community Forests are developed with a local partnership involving the local authorities, local communities and representatives of organisations.

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Designations and Partnerships

  1. An increasing degree of woodland work is carried out through partnerships and joint management committees of designated areas. Not all of the latter include Joint Advisory Committees (JAC) but there is an increasing recognition of the need and value of woodland management for the benefit of their woodlands, community, environment and biodiversity. Policies developed under Agenda 21 frequently are directed towards woodlands, for example Somerset wish to increase their woodland cover from 3% to 8% by planting in the appropriate areas.
  2. Many AONBs have JACs which involve a direct forestry input, management plans which include woodland policies and linkage with Biodiversity Action Plans as well as specific environmental or woodland sub-committees. Examples of AONBs with active woodland policies include Cotswolds, Wye Valley, Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs, Mendip Hills, Blackdown Hills, East Devon, South Devon, Tamar Valley.
  3. Both National Parks are very involved with woodland issues and have an Accord with the Forestry Commission covering many aspects of forestry management. This is part of a national agreement with each Park having its own local agreement.
  4. In addition there are numerous initiatives and partnerships:
  • Working Woodlands and South West Forest
  • Greater Exmoor Woodland Initiative - to restore management to woodland and provide advice and assistance to owners, managers and workers. The area covered is substantially greater than the National Park.
  • South Hams Woodland Campaign - to encourage and support woodland management, to work with local communities and farmers and to target small woodland and woodland activities.
  • Blackmore Vale Project - to encourage appropriate management and restoration of ancient woodlands in Blackmore Vale Dorset (EN Habitat Restoration); to be continued as a general habitat restoration project (including ancient woodlands) across the Wessex Vale.
  • Woodworks - to provide training and establish community owned enterprises.
  • Wiltshire Ancient Woodlands Project - to assess and carry out ecological survey of all ancient woodlands over 2ha., with a sample under 2ha. and produce management plans where appropriate. Braydon Forest - to extend existing countryside management project as a consolidation policy for fragments of ancient woodland west of Swindon and partly within the Community Forest.

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Page last modified: 17 August, 2005
Page published: 1 October, 2000

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs