Farm Woodland Scheme

HC Deb 16 March 1989 vol 149 cc526-7

18. Mr. Brazier

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made with the farm woodland scheme.

Mr. Ryder

There has been a very encouraging level of interest shown by farmers in the farm woodland scheme. In the first five months of the scheme over 750 farmers have applied to plant 5,300 hectares of trees throughout the United Kingdom. A high proportion of the planting will be with broadleaved trees.

Mr. Brazier

This is welcome news indeed. Can I ask my hon. Friend whether MAFF is co-operating with the Department of the Environment in its review of tree preservation orders, as this will offer an opportunity to increase protection of our broadleaved forest and expand its acreage?

Mr. Ryder

Indeed, I have had a meeting with my ministerial colleagues in the Department of the Environment to discuss this matter and their review will be taking into account for TPOs not only trees on roadsides and so forth but trees in hedgerows.