Alan Monckton explains why he believes that woodland owners should be doing more to influence forestry policy makers and offers some practical suggestions on off setting management costs. As one of many disillusioned private woodland owners, I have been looking into the future, more in despair than hope; perhaps these thoughts may help to initiate some policy changes? Until 1988 the 5 year plans approved by the Forestry Commission had been effective protection for us from political and bureaucratic interference. Then it all changed; because the Government disliked rich non-foresters investing in new woods and thereby obtaining tax relief on their expenditure, they ended the tax relief abruptly on all private woodland expenditure. They did this without advice from foresters (they did not consult the FC, nor the RFS, nor the TGO, nor the CLA). Not only could we not treat our woodland as a business for tax, but we still had to pay (and could not reclaim) VAT on our expenditure. Thus our costs rose by40% (tax relief foregone) plus 171/2% (VAT) total 571/2%. They also froze the Basis 1 and 2 grants, and planting grants.
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