NFU Scotland has welcomed the announcement from Scottish Government that some small areas of woodland created on farms and crofts will soon be eligible for inclusion in support claims following planned changes to legislation.

From November, small woodlands approved under the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) since 2015, can be utilised as Ecological Focus Areas (EFA) to support farmers’ Greening payments.  Claims can be made from the 2023 claim year. In meetings with Scottish Government Cabinet Secretaries Mairi Gougeon MSP and Mairi McAllan MSP at the end of 2022, NFU Scotland had asked for this change to be considered, recognising the valuable contribution that woodlands can make to farms and crofts.  The Union has joined other stakeholders since to work with Scottish Government and Scottish Forestry officials on how changes to legislation could be introduced.

NFU Scotland Director of Policy Jonnie Hall said: “NFU Scotland has always encouraged responsible planting that sees the right tree in the right place, potentially adding biodiversity, livestock shelter, amenity value and an alternative income to a farm or croft.

“Having woodland planting carried out under the SRDP since 2015 eligible as EFA under their Greening options for support is a significant lobbying success for NFUS and will be welcomed by many members.”  Ends