Agricultural Censuses run by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and the devolved administrations collect annual information on the land-use of farms. Table 1.12 below shows the area of woodland on farms.
The area of farm woodland in the UK has increased from 705 thousand hectares in 2008 to 1037 thousand hectares in 2017 (Table 1.12). Slightly over one half (54%) of all farm woodland was in Scotland in 2017, with a further 36% in England, 9% in Wales and the remaining 2% in Northern Ireland.
Table 1.12 Area of farm woodland, 2008-2017
Year | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK |
thousand hectares | |||||
2008 | 318.8 | 59.2 | 317.3 | 9.9 | 705.3 |
2009 | 303.7 | 60.8 | 350.8 | 10.3 | 725.7 |
2010 | 295.3 | 69.1 | 399.8 | 10.2 | 774.0 |
2011 | 304.9 | 44.2 | 426.1 | 10.8 | 785.9 |
2012 | 308.4 | 62.6 | 445.4 | 11.0 | 827.5 |
2013 | 324.9 | 63.4 | 466.8 | 10.3 | 865.4 |
2014 | 331.3 | 75.7 | 479.4 | 11.1 | 897.5 |
2015 | 347.6 | 78.0 | 524.0 | 11.1 | 960.6 |
2016 | 370.5 | 89.2 | 502.4 | 16.1 | 978.2 |
2017 | 368.5 | 92.8 | 560.1 | 15.8 | 1037.2 |
Source: June Agricultural Census – Defra, The Scottish Government, Welsh Government, Northern Ireland Executive.
Figure 1.5 Area of farm woodland, 1981-2017
Source: June Agricultural Census – Defra, The Scottish Government, Welsh Government, Northern Ireland Executive.
Sources chapter: Woodland area and planting
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