The Woodlands for Water project enables farmers and
other land managers to benefit from the services of
skilled professionals working on contract to the
Forestry Commission. Advice is available in areas of
land where woodland planting will most effectively
reduce flood risk and/or improve water quality by
reducing sediment and pollutants reaching rivers and
streams.
Landowners can work with a professional advisor who can
walk them through the full process from developing a
planting plan to submission of the grant application.
In addition to this advice, significant grant funding
is available for planting new woodlands through the
Forestry Commission via the Woodland Carbon Fund or the
Woodland Creation grant (which is part of the
Countryside Stewardship scheme). The Woodland Creation
grant offers up to £6,800 per hectare for planting new
woodlands with an additional multi-annual payment of
£200 per hectare for a period of 10 years for eligible
applicants.
Trees and woodland can have a significant impact on
flood risk and surface water pollution. Carefully
planned tree planting will slow water run-off (and
limit downstream flooding), reduce land erosion, help
to moderate stream temperature and aid flood risk
management.
As many landowners already know, well planned new
woodland planting can also deliver other significant
benefits including:
- providing shelter for stock
- generating income from timber
- producing wood for use as a renewable fuel
- creating a new habitat for wildlife
- capturing carbon dioxide and so mitigating climate
change.
Generating more great schemes
Crispin Thorn, Area Director of the Forestry Commission
in Yorkshire and the North East said:
It’s great to be working in partnership with the
Environment Agency and the wider sector as part of
the Woodlands for Water project.
The network of Woodlands for Water advisers across
Yorkshire and the North East are available to help
take forward applications for woodland creation that
will benefit the water environment and bring a host
of other benefits including enhancing biodiversity,
reducing carbon and providing future income from
timber.
This will help meet the government’s 11 million tree
target as well as delivering against key areas within
the 25 Year Environment Plan.
Oliver Harmer, Area Director of the Environment Agency
in the North East said:
I am delighted to see that through last year’s
Woodlands for Water project 160 hectares of new
woodlands that will benefit the water environment
have been approved for planting in Yorkshire and
North East England.
And I am pleased that the project is up and running
again this year with the advisors already working
with landowners to generate more great schemes.
Woodland creation is an important part of natural
flood management and helps deliver on our mission to
improve water quality. This project is a marvellous
example of the Forestry Commission and the
Environment Agency pooling their skills and resources
to great effect.
