February 2020 - Patrick Sawer, Senior News Reporter - telegraph.co.uk
Farmers have warned that plans to plant millions of trees as part of the fight against climate change threaten their livelihood and the future of rural communities.

They say valuable grazing land could be lost and that ‘reforestation’ schemes could eventually lead to villages being abandoned.
Farming campaigners have spoken out in response to plans by the National Trust to create 18,000 hectares (44,478 acres) of new woodland across Wales, England and Northern Ireland by 2030.
The trust is aiming to plant more than 20 million trees in Wales alone in an attempt to create giant ‘carbon sponges’, with between 1,000-2,000 hectares (2,471 - 4,942 acres) of new woodland planted in the principality as part of the scheme.
The National Trust wants to increase the proportion of its land covered by trees from 10% to 17% in a bid to reach a "carbon net zero" target.
It says the extra woodland would help lock up to 300,000 tonnes of carbon - equivalent to the energy output of 37,000 homes a year.
But the National Farmers Union (NFU) has accused the NT of ignoring farmers' concerns.
Chris Cardell NFU, tenants forum chairman, said: “We are concerned about the lack of communication between the National Trust and its tenants on this and we are asking them for urgent guidance and clarity.
“Farmers will be keen to know the scale of the National Trusts plans and how they intend to implement them. For example, small areas of tree plantings on a farm will be much more viable than large numbers of trees, which could have significant impacts on the viability of a farm business.
He added: “Farmers are committed to playing their part in tackling climate change and the NFU has outlined its aspiration for net zero by 2040. However, we cannot achieve this in isolation and it will need a number of approaches such as maintaining and improving woodland and hedgerows, improving farming’s productive efficiency, and boosting our production of renewable energy.”
Glyn Roberts, President of the Farmers' Union of Wales, said he fears grazing areas could be lost in order to meet the tree planting target.
But Mr Roberts, a National Trust tenant farmer near Betws y Coed, Conwy county, said he feared forestry in rural areas could have a negative impact on farmers, food production and communities, if grassland is lost.
"If you look at Penmachno, just a few miles from here, tree planting has caused depopulation and had a negative impact on the Welsh language and culture," he said.
Mr Roberts, a National Trust tenant farmer near Betws y Coed, added: "I feel agriculture has been attacked from all sides during the past six months. This is another blow that we don't need."
The National Trust rejected the fears, saying it will work in cooperation with tenant farmers on its land in order to make the project a success which benefits both the climate and the community.
Patrick Begg, Outdoors & Natural Resources Director at the trust said the climate was at “crisis point” and that everyone had to play their part in tackling the problem.
He said “We know woodland is one of the best ‘all rounders’ to tackle climate change, providing varied habitats for wildlife, capturing and locking up carbon and providing spaces that promote wellbeing for people too.”
Mr Begg added: “We recognise that some land simply won’t be suitable, and our aim is to seek out lower grade land to plant and establish the new woodland, as well as expanding current woodland areas. And, once trees have established, there’s nothing to stop farmers from then introducing suitable breeds of sheep and cows to actually graze amongst the trees.
“We know how woodlands can benefit not only the environment but also people. We anticipate new opportunities for business diversification with tourism perhaps becoming one of the possible outcomes.”