Cattle and sheep farmers are ‘frustrated and disappointed’ that the Scottish Government has increased the area of the country to be planted. Official figures released this week show 11,200 hectares of new woodlands have been given the green light with more expected in the coming months.

Scottish Forestry said they were ‘pulling out all the stops to drive woodland creation rates up’ with the first nine months of 2023 already smashing last year’s total scheme approvals.

Chair of the Scottish Beef Association, Paul Ross, said: “The SBA is disappointed at the continued planting of good grazing land which has historically produced quality Scottish cattle. I think we need to watch the national herd to stop the decline in suckler cow numbers. We can not afford for it to decline any more.

“We are not against tree planting for shelter belts and where trees can be used to improve livestock farms.”

The Scottish Farmer: Paul Ross, SBA chairPaul Ross, SBA chair

Meanwhile, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “Woodland creation is a vital part of the Scottish Government’s plans to tackle the climate emergency and to address increased biodiversity. This is very much a partnership between the government, the forestry sector, communities, landowners, and stakeholders. Each has a role to play and is an integral part of the jigsaw in getting trees in the ground.

READ MORE: New research highlights the benefits of protecting mature woodlands

“I’m really pleased that Scottish Forestry is working hard to approve applications as quickly as they can, whilst also ensuring each scheme is rigorously assessed.

“We know we collectively have a way to go to get planting rates higher still but the positive approval numbers show we are heading in the right direction.

“Scottish Forestry has worked tirelessly with landowners, communities, and the forestry sector to prioritise the assessment of these schemes. It is my hope now that landowners turn these approvals into actual trees in the ground.

“All forestry interests will soon be coming together at a forestry summit, which I am delighted to chair, where we will collectively build on the positive figures and develop our plans to further improve on planting rates in Scotland.”

Peter Myles, Scottish chair of the National Sheep Association said: “The Scottish Government is not able to see the wood for the trees. My father would say, ‘You learn little from those from whom you agree’ I learned a lot from him and I have learned more from this latest Government statement.

“I admire those who went before; their knowledge, and love of the land is insurmountable, how that intelligent tree planting was done to recover from decimation of our natural woodland needed for the first world war effort.

READ MORE: The Scottish Farmer Speaks - Balancing food and timber amid growing tree demands

 

“Sage advice should always be welcome as we continue to evolve and change to meet our present-day demands, wise minds can often see the pitfalls we don’t see whether relevant or not.

“I just hope this need to follow the latest trend doesn’t make us regret our past actions in 50 years’ time, and I’m afraid it’s possible the Scottish Government is not able to see the wood for the trees.”

In the last five years, Scotland has created 51,000 ha of new woodland, the equivalent of 102 million trees. Between 2017 and 2022 the number of cattle fell by 5.3% according to QMS figures. Over half of the approvals so far in 2023 have been for native woodland schemes which are not focused on producing commercial timber. Commercial forestry growers state that land that is not fit to support cattle and sheep is of little value for timber production.

As the Scottish Government’s regulator for forestry, Scottish Forestry undertakes the approvals process for new woodland schemes but the actual responsibility of planting the trees is undertaken by the applicants, which range from landowning interests right across the rural landscape, varying in landscape and background.