Does money grow on trees?

The Forestry Commission has published “A guide to planning new woodland in England”. With the introduction of Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) looming large on the horizon, various options popping up to allow corporates to offset their carbon emissions, and growing public interest in the impact of climate change generally, a new area of woodland is something that many land owners will be considering. But how do you make it pay?

The Forestry Commission guide details all sorts of expert advice that can be obtained and consents that may be necessary, all of which will have a cost (never mind the cost of the actual trees themselves!). But there is grant funding available and the Woodland Carbon Code lists many economic benefits to new woodlands including the sale of carbon units, income from the sale of timber, and potential tax savings.

The introduction of ELMS (in particular the Landscape Recovery scheme) in the next few years will also provide a potential income stream from the planting of new trees.

How about growing mushrooms in the new woodland, or keeping pigs there? Perhaps the paying public could provide some return if they are invited to take part in the Japanese practice of forest bathing in the new woodland? Of course all of this will need to wait until those little saplings have grown a bit, so the returns will be long term.

But will it be worth it? The benefits of more trees to the environment and to nature cannot be denied, but it may be too early to tell whether there is yet an economic benefit to be found. 

Consider whether income generation from your new woodland is an important objective for you, and how the long-term management of the woodland will be paid for.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1033301/A_Guide_to_Planning_New_Woodland_in_England_V1.0_Nov2021.pdf