Evaluating the Benefits from Farm Woodland Planting

The public benefits for planting under the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme were assessed in terms of timber production, biodiversity benefits and gains in landscape quality. There was clear evidence for benefits to biodiversity at site level, and the great majority of sites contributed to landscape character and its aesthetic qualities. However, only a minority of farmers expected to produce a commercial cop of timber. A number of proposals are made for increasing the public benefits from farm woodlands, principally in terms of improved woodland design. The main policy conclusions from the evaluation are discussed.