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FC Wales smooths passage to important woodland

With its fascinating historical features, enchanting scenery and strong links to the end of the last major ice age, i Parkwood on the Gower is a popular tourist location. Forestry Commission Wales has stepped in to ensure a smoother passage into this environmental jewel after the Welsh Government woodland became the victim of its own alluring beauty. The road allowing access to the site of special scientific interest (SSSI) was showing signs of serious wear and tear, with badly pot-holed areas testifying to Parkwood’s popularity.

 
Saffery Champness comment on CAP Reform announcement

Commenting on the announcement on CAP Reform by EU Farm Minister, Dacian Ciolos, Andrew Arnott, a partner of  Saffery Champness Landed Estates & Rural Business Group says: “There was not much in the announcement that had not already been leaked. However, it confirms the intention to distribute subsidies more evenly by way of a cap on payments to farmers at 300,000 euros (£261,240) per year.  A progressive levy, to be applied on all payments exceeding 150,000 euros (£130,620), was also announced as a proposal. Assuming that the proposals will be approved by both the EU parliament and all member states, this will be bad news for many large arable farmers and some medium scale farming businesses, including those in the uplands.It remains to be seen whether the ‘sustainable and inclusive growth’ for European agriculture can really be achieved through these proposals.  I think they could, as they stand, have the opposite effect, acting as a disincentive to invest for farm businesses that are highly-mechanised with lower staffing levels”.

 
Leaked proposals for the reform of CAP entitlements

News has recently been leaked from the European Commission that farmers who claim more than €150,000 from the direct support element of the CAP (Pillar1), will see their entitlement payments progressively capped.  Commenting on the leaked proposals Mike Harrison, a partner of Saffery Champness Landed Estates & Rural Business Group, says: “There is a strongly worded proposal for progressive cuts in the entitlement payments above €150,000 ( £127,000) with a cap of €300,000 (£255,000)”.   Whilst the new regulations will apparently incorporate an allowance which reflects the farm’s wages bill, which is welcome news and should mean that both larger and smaller farms are treated equally, there will be a discrimination for those using external contractors

 

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Home Innovations Plant a free wood
Plant a free wood PDF Print E-mail
Written by Charlie Jacoby   
Tuesday, 03 February 2009 11:27

The National Forest Company (NFC) is looking for landowners of all types to create up to 100 one-acre woodlands within the National Forest – and it will do the work for free.

The company realises that not everyone is able to take advantage of its larger woodland creation schemes and believes that the idea of creating a small woodland could be attractive to a wide range of people.

With plenty of potential to plant more small woodlands in the Forest, it wants to hear from any landowner, for example, farmers or estates, but we are also thinking of businesses, schools and colleges, local councils or community groups who own, or their premises are situated in, a small amount of land.

Each woodland is to be planned, planted and maintained by the landowner or community. In return, the NFC will provide up to 420 trees with canes and guards absolutely free. The trees will be a mixture of native broadleaves with some shrub species.

In addition, the NFC will provide a guide to planting and maintenance, including how to set the woodland out, how to plant the trees and how to prevent weed growth, and a Hundred Acre Woods certificate.

These are the requirements:

  • The applicant must own the land where the wood is to be created, or have the written agreement of the owner of the land.
  • The land must be suitable for tree planting, avoiding, for example, flood plain areas, conservation sites or land which has services (water, sewers, gas, electricity, phone cables, etc.) running through or over it.
  • The land must be in The National Forest.
  • The total area should be around one acre, but this could comprise several parcels of land provided that each is at least a quarter acre in size.

Contact Angela Ashmore, The National Forest Company, Bath Yard, Moira, Swadlincote, Derbyshire DE12 6BA. 01283 551211 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 
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