HC Deb 04 July 1956 vol 555 cc110-1W
Mr. Knox Cunningham

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of acres in England and Wales at the present time planted with oak, larch and the other recognised types of timber, respectively, and also the corresponding figures at some convenient pre-war date.

Mr. Amory

Up to date statistics are not available; the areas planted with each species since the last census of woodlands taken in 1947–49 are known only in respect of planting by the Forestry Commission. The area by species of wood- lands of five acres or over in England and Wales at the last census was:

A. HIGH FOREST:
Hardwoods: acres
Oak … 386,400
Beech … 114,700
Other … 224,100 725,200
Conifers:
Pine … 191,600
Larch … 123,600
Spruce … 144,200
Other … 30,800 490,200 1,215,400
B. COPPICE AND SCRUB:
Hardwoods:
Oak … 266,700
Beech … 5,700
Other … 311,400 583,800
Conifers:
Pine … 2,000
Larch … 600
Spruce … 300
Other …3,000 5,900 589,700
GRAND TOTAL … 1,805,100

At the only previous Census of Woodlands, taken in 1924, the area was not classified by species.