The Benefits of Planting Trees
We work with farmers to increase woodland creation in a mutually beneficial way.
Benefits of planting trees on your land
1. Generate income from diversifying your farm business
Woodlands can be a useful way of generating income from unused land. Also, growing woodfuel timber on your farm is cheaper than using fossil fuels like coal and oil.
2. Shelter and shade for livestock
More extreme weather means providing shade and shelter for animal welfare is important. Shelter belts, like all woodland, needs to be managed.
In 2010/11, SAC, on behalf of Forestry Commission Scotland and Quality Meat Scotland, held focus farm meetings. These looked at maximising woodland's economic benefits whilst maintaining livestock numbers.
3. Windbreaks to protect crops
Trees used for windbreaks can help prevent damage to crops and reduce soil erosion. Shelter belts can also protect farm buildings and prevent snow drifting onto farm tracks.
4. Improvement of the landscape
Planting on unproductive land can improve the landscape and its biodiversity. Woodlands hosts a large number of insects, helping pollination of nearby crops. This also increases a farm's biodiversity.
5. Adapting to climate change and reducing its effects
Planting trees absorbs and locks up carbon, helping to reduce your net carbon emissions. Trees also have the potential for woodfuel use. Read more about how farm woodland can help with climate change.
6. Amenity/sporting opportunities
Woodlands can provide good opportunities to introduce game shooting on farms. Woodlands provide shelter and a good food source for game.
7. Improvement of water courses
Trees can protect against soil erosion. They help prevent runoff of manure and fertiliser into water courses.
Farm woodlands bring many benefits. You can also use shelter trees for woodfuel. You can grow quality broadleaves, and lower quality timber for fencing materials and wood chips for animal bedding.