HC Deb 09 May 1960 vol 623 cc12-3W
Mr. Wingfield Digby

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much the total woodland area of the United Kingdom now exceeds 6.1 per cent. of the total land area, as mentioned in the Watson Report of 1956, and by the Zuckerman Report in 1957, as representing the smallest proportion of woodland of any other European country; and how much of this 6.1 per cent. is now productive.

Mr. Godber

The area of woods of five acres and over in Great Britain in 1947 was 6.1 per cent. of the total land area, but the total woodland area including smaller woods was 6.4 per cent. This has since risen by 0.85 per cent. to 7.25 per cent., or about one-fourteenth of the total land area. Of the total woodland area in 1947 about 70 per cent. is now productive.