There never seems to be a right time for many farmers to plant woodland. In the good years, they can't afford to do it in case they lose too much profit, and in the bad years there is not enough profit to finance the work.

However, woodland planting can form an important part of restructuring a farm business. Where any enterprise, be it cereals, dairy, sheep or beef, is being disposed of or reduced, it may well be sensible to consider converting some or all of the spare land to trees. This is particularly the case where the farm business may be undertaking some form of diversification.

Shooting is an enterprise which can obviously benefit from new woodland planting. This can be in the case of an established shoot or where the shooting rights are to be let. Farm trails, motorbike and horse riding are also enterprises which can be improved with new woodland. More permanent structures, such as golf driving ranges and farm shops, can also be screened and made more attractive with the addition of sensibly designed woodland. This is not forgetting the traditional farm benefits of woodland, such as shelter and timber production.

New woodland planting need not be expensive when the full range of grants are utilised. The main grant scheme is the Forestry Commission's Woodland Grant Scheme. This offers grants of up to £1,350 per hectare for planting broadleaves and £700 per hectare for planting conifers. In addition, a further £600 per hectare is available when planting arable or improved grassland. There may also be further supplements available if you are planting in certain designated areas or where the woodland is designed for community use. The Woodland Grant Scheme also offers grants for planting short rotation coppice, managing and replanting/regenerating existing woodland.

When farmers are planting at least one hectare under the Woodland Grant Scheme, they may also qualify for annual payments under the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme. This is a MAFF-funded scheme which seeks to encourage new woodland planting on farmland. The rate of payment varies from £60 up to £300 per hectare per annum, depending on the type of land being planted and the location. The payments can run for up to 15 years, and if planted on eligible land can count towards your set-aside acreage.

Both schemes can be applied for using the same application form which should be completed and submitted to the Forestry Commission. The new planting element of the Woodland Grant Scheme is now managed on a discretionary basis, with not all applications qualifying for grant. To operate this approach, the Forestry Commission has introduced two annual cut-off dates for receipt of applications. For this year, the first date was in May and the second was October 31.

Planning and applying can take some time, so even if you are only considering the option of planting, it pays to move early.

To help answer any of your questions on grant aid and the practical methods of establishing woodland areas on your farm, ADAS is holding an open day at High Mowthorpe Farm, Malton on November 15. If you would like further information, and an invitation to this event, please contact Pauline Husband on (01944) 738646

Alternatively, if you are unable to attend, MAFF funds ADAS to carry out free farm woodland visits to farmers interested in planting woodland under the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme. These visits will cover all aspects of the planting operation and will provide all the information required. If you would like to take advantage of a free farm woodland visit, please contact Chris Huxley on (01759) 318357.