Timber supply and squirrel control key to action plan's success

Cornwall-based Confor member Peter Perry, who has worked in forestry for 40 years, also urged a shift away from polarised attitudes. He supported Caroline Ayre’s comment that the industry should not be judged on the past as the “insensitive forestry” planted in the period through to the mid-1980s was long-consigned to the past and the change for the better had been “startling”.

“We have seen some cracking good commercial forestry,” he said. He welcomed the “massive amount of good” in the action plan, including the “fantastic” simplification of grants and the move to larger woodlands where timber could be produced alongside many other benefits. 

But he warned that the focus on majority native broadleaf planting would not deliver the desired green economy benefits - timber, jobs and carbon sequestration. “There is a huge amount of unmanaged woodland, much of which is low-quality material and inaccessible,” Mr Perry said. 

He concluded by saying there had to be much more emphasis on better-quality broadleaf planting AND quality conifer planting to achieve the green economic objectives of the action plan.

In his video message, Lord Goldsmith told Confor members it was impossible to take the action plan forward without “your enthusiasm, engagement and your businesses”. 

He said: “We're providing substantial funding to support UK public and private sector nurseries ...and forestry innovation funds will develop innovative timber products and increase the use of timber in construction. It [has]  a new forestry skills action plan for covering the whole supply chain, and three new woodland creation partnerships.” 

Naomi Matthiessen, Joint Director of the Tree Planting Programme at Defra, said “significant funding, political impetus and public support” offered an “unprecedented opportunity to create a future framework for woodland creation and management which delivers across multiple objectives”. She added: “It really feels like the time is now.” 

In terms of squirrel control, Bella Murfin said: “We are extremely conscious of the impact that squirrels and deer have on the ability to successfully produce timber and manage our woodlands.” She said there would be further reintroduction of pine marten and more research into immuno-contraception and added: “The refresh of the Grey Squirrel Action Plan is a real opportunity to think creatively about what the opportunities might be, and not just tweak it, but work with Confor members to have a tangible impact.” 

Kay Haw of the UK Squirrel Accord, said more education and knowledge sharing was vital when it came to the impact of grey squirrels - not just on red squirrel populations but also on trees.