Forestry industry hails "step in the right direction” in tree planting in Wales

Elaine Heckley, National Manager (Wales) for forestry and wood trade body Confor, spoke out after new figures showed planting in 2024-25 was up in Wales, to 960 hectares - from 640 hectares in 2023/24.

Planting was also up in England and Northern Ireland, but significantly down in Scotland - and overall woodland creation in the UK fell from 20,660 hectares in 2023-24 to 15,690 hectares in 2024-25.

In Wales, conifer planting increased from a pitiful 10 hectares in 2023/24 to 320 hectares, with broadleaf planting stable, up from 630 to 640 hectares.

Elaine Heckley said: “These figures are a positive step in the right direction, but we still have a lot to do because current forecast of future timber production in Wales is showing a worrying rate of decline. We welcome the opportunity to continue to work closely with the Welsh Government to ensure the Welsh Timber Industrial Strategy assures sustainable timber supplies to support the thousands of jobs dependant on sustainable timber supplies from Welsh forests. The post-consultation version of the Strategy will be published at the Royal Welsh Show in July and it is hoped that a roadmap will follow soon afterwards.

“Even though planting targets are below the Welsh Government target, the private and public sectors are making good progress in setting solid foundations to build upon. Confor’s relationship with Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister and Minister for Rural Affairs and Climate Change, is a very positive one and there is significant strategic work going on which should help push up planting levels next year.”

This includes embedding woodland planting targets in the sustainable farming scheme, expected to be launched in July, and a working group (established earlier this year) which is examining the barriers to woodland creation - and looking at how to overcome them.

“We are also looking at technical issues with the application process, and in addressing barriers that are preventing large-scale planting schemes from coming forward,” said Ms Heckley. “There is an awful lot of good work going on and I’m hopeful that this will lead to even more positive news in a year’s time.”