Published on Tuesday20thNovember2018

Minster Andrew Doyle launches commencement of the forestry planting season

20181120 Planting Season

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Andrew Doyle today launched the start of the 2018-19 forestry planting season during a visit to tree nursery in Ballymurn, Co. Wexford. This nursery belongs to the None-So-Hardy company and is their specialist broadleaf nursery from where almost 5 million broadleaf trees will be dispatched during the coming planting season.

Speaking at the launch, the Minister Doyle commented:

It’s appropriate that the opening of this year’s planting season is announced at a tree nursery specialising in broadleaf tree production, given the huge uplift in broadleaf planting so far this year. Planting of broadleaf trees are 25% higher than last year and is a direct result of higher grant and premium afforestation rates introduced by my Department earlier this year under the midterm review of the State’s Forestry Programme. This highlights the diversity within the Programme where funding is available for planting to woodland restoration to woodland recreation amenities. It also highlights the significant environmental benefits which the Programme continues to deliver.

The nursery at Ballymurn has 15 million broadleaf plants in production, the vast majority of which are destined for the afforestation scheme. In fact 5 million will be lifted during the planting season announced today by Minister Doyle. The Minister highlighted in particular the level of new Native Woodlands establishment during 2018.

Information about the Afforestation Scheme, including the range of categories and associated rates of premium, on the Department’s website at: https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/forestry/grantandpremiumschemes/2016/AfforestationPDF220816.pdf

Interested landowners may also contact Teagasc for further information at: https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/

Read the full press release here.