Premier Woodlands’ managing director, John Hetherington, has expressed frustration at the time its taking the Forest Service in Northern Ireland to process forestry applications for the 2021 Forest Expansion Scheme (FES).

He explained: “The closing date for this year’s applications was set at July 31, a month earlier than was originally the case.

“We are now at the beginning of December and the letters of offer have yet to be issued. It is envisaged that correspondences to FES applicants will be sent out over the coming days, he added.

“But this is highly unsatisfactory. By the time that the letters of offer are confirmed and approved, it could well be the end of January before the required field preparation and planting work can commence."

He explained that except in agreed circumstances, all the required FES-related work must be completed before May 15, after which claims must be submitted as part of the Single Application Form, or SAF.

The Premier Woodlands’ director feels strongly that there should be an open application period for all forestry and woodland related development schemes.

He added: “Within this scenario, Forest Service could quite easily group applications together at particular times of the year to help spread their workload.”

Hetherington also confirmed that FES is expected to continue through until December 2023.

“This is a good news story for the forestry sector, as is the continuing success of the small woodland grant scheme," he said.

“This means coming up with a new and dynamic forest development scheme beyond 2023.

According to the Premier Woodlands’ representative, timber prices remain strong. And the outlook remains equally bullish.

“Northern Ireland is only circa 20% self sufficient overall in timber and wood products,” he commented.

But the Premier Woodlands' forester ended on a note of caution: “The tax exemption rules as interpreted by the Inland Revenue are on the basis of trees being managed as a commercial crop with a view to a profit.

“There have been recent cases of the tax authorities seeking confirmation and evidence that plantations have actually been managed with this objective in mind.

“Quite a number of plantations across Northern Ireland are now coming to an age when trees can be commercially harvested," he said.