Last week DEFRA issued their independent panel report on forestry, a visionary document that proposes to expand woodland coverage in England from 10% to 15% by 2060. Not a big ask when you consider that the average forest coverage for the rest of Europe is 37%.

Is our Government up to such long term commitment? Considering they wanted to sell off state owned forests until recently one has to wonder whether the report will go unheeded.

The payback for investment in woodland creation and associated industry are obvious to some. With only 20% of our wood needs met by home grown timber a canny investor would see that there is a ready made and hungry market – but who has the patience to wait for the trees to grow?