The fifth edition of a rural affairs programmes produced by Tyne Tees Television that looks at the future of agricultural and the countryside as it heads towards the new millennium. In this episode presenter Eric Robson looks at the British relationship with forests and what positive benefits new and existing woodland areas bring to both industry and the rural landscape. Resting against a dry-stone wall presenter Eric Robson say he has a theory that the British have a phobia about trees...

The fifth edition of a rural affairs programmes produced by Tyne Tees Television that looks at the future of agricultural and the countryside as it heads towards the new millennium. In this episode presenter Eric Robson looks at the British relationship with forests and what positive benefits new and existing woodland areas bring to both industry and the rural landscape. Resting against a dry-stone wall presenter Eric Robson say he has a theory that the British have a phobia about trees with most of our wild forests now being chopped down. With any tax advantage taken away we are also planting less than anytime this century. However, the forestry interest in fighting back with plans to double if not triple forest land, but how much countryside do we want to give over to trees? Title: Farming 2000 At a forestry logging site heavy machines is being used to move felled trees onto waiting logging truck. In a timber yard interview with the Duke of Buccleuch who states that Britain needs to grow more tress as each year, he states, every individual uses on average two. Britain needs to be planting 116 million trees in a year, currently we are importing 100 million despite the fact Britain can grow conifers quicker and better than supplying countries. General views of a conifer forest, part of which has been cut down. The Duke of Buccleuch believes government grants will encourage investment, but currently there is only grants for new areas rather than finance for re-planting of cleared sites. The logging truck seen previously arrives at Egger (UK) Ltd, a chipboard manufacturer in Hexham. Inside a folk-lift loading newly produced chipboard onto an articulated lorry. The 1988 budget ‘rocked’ the timber industry stripping away tax incentives meaning investment stopped overnight. In his office David Gardner, Managing Director of Wood Products Company explains that further investment on forestry in a necessity as currently the UK consumes 300 million cubic metres of chipboard per annum, but it only produces 1.7 million cubic metres with the rest comes from imports. He talks about the need for tax incentives for private owner investment on a long-term basis. In the yard at Egger (UK) Ltd heavy machines and a conveyor moves the timber around the yard, a crawler loader tips a load of chipped timber into a machine as David Gardner explains that his company uses 200,000 cubic metres of timber annually, the rest of his requirements of 600,000 tons comes from sawmill residues so his and the sawmilling industry are closely linked. Inside a sawmill chips travel along a conveyor, nearby cut timber moves along a different conveyor while a third conveyor moves tree trunks towards the saws. In a conifer forest an areas of cleared woodland, David Gardner states the type of timber both industries needs and so it is important that the right trees and planted in the right conditions to help support both industries for the next twenty to thirty years. Eric Robson continues to speak with the Duke of Buccleuch about the forestry industries reputation as ‘despoilers of the landscape’. The duke accepts this criticism which in the post-war period saw the developments of ‘horrible black blocks’ of Sitka spruce. However, this is mostly now being cleared away and forests are being restricted to be more attractive to the landscape. As the two men chat a piece of heavy machines cut and de-branches a trees in a forest. Aerial of Kielder Forest in Northumberland changes to interview with Steve Tompkins, author of ‘Forestry in Crisis’ on an upland hillside. His concern is that the forestry industry may only be playing lip service to the environment. He fears that if hill prices continue to drop and subsidies rise then we could see our upland areas covered with forests made up of only one or two species of conifer as this is the most profitable. In a commercial forest Dr David Bellamy joins a group of school children learning about forestry. They watch as a computer-controlled machine de-branches a felled tree cutting it into sections. Eric Robson interviews Dr Bellamy in the woods and asks how commercial conifers compares with broadleaf forests. Dr Bellamy says that he has found lots of different plant life in the commercial forest, so it isn’t the blank-black woods of old. The Forestry Commission has stated planting native broadleaf trees around the edges of his commercial forest, so they are getting the balance right. In another timber yard Terence Mallinson from the Forestry Commission talks with Eric about how private forestry today is a mature industry with an environmental purpose. People shouldn’t fear the industry as no changes can take place without environmental concerns be taken into consideration with full participation of the local community. He believes that the right forest growth, in the right place and time containing a mixture of broadleaf and conifer will be easier to live with and a beautiful place to visit. He believes that existing forests are better managed, new forests are nice and together of economic benefit to the nation. In lowland County Durham fields of newly planted trees, part of the Great Northern Forest. Interview with Phil Gates from Durham University about this forest which will surround Chester-le-Street, Washington and Sunderland and create a habitat for wildlife and leisure. It will also include a commercial forest which will change on a rotational basis. The forestry industry has had bad press due to past mistakes with conifer forestry especially on upland areas. He believes that the Great Northern Forest will be integrated into the landscape more carefully considering all the people who would use it. He believes that due to the size of the forest that all interest groups can be accommodated and the commercial side not taking over. A sign for ‘The Woodland Trust’ and other pathway signs in the forest. Phil Gates talks about potential issues of access and the detrimental effect humans can have on the wildlife in forests. A path leading through a forest and past an Egger’s sign asking people to ‘Follow the County Code’. David Gardner from Wood Products Company explains why neither hardwood nor broadleaf trees are of commercial interest to him. While mixed planting is good for the landscape, the thrust must be on conifer planting as a commercial crop. As he speaks a forest on a hillside. Eric asks if forestry could move on from upland areas to different grounds, Mr Gardner believes it is very viable and gives examples from Germany where lowland tree planting has been a success if you can get the product supply right. The demand for chipboard, says David Gardner, is on the rise especially within the furniture and flat-pack markets. More chipboard being loaded onto an articulated lorry changes to a showroom where a selection of decorative kitchen tops made from chipboard are on display. In a sawmill felled trees coming along a conveyor being cut into timber while outside in the yard fresh trees being loaded onto a logging truck. Back on the upland hillside Steve Tompkins is asked if he has any objections to commercial soft woods being planted in the Great Northern Forest. He has no objects to trees such Sitka spruces being planted around towns, as long as the land is freely drained and fertile, and the trees are allowed to grow to maturity. He agrees that grants and incentives would be needed to grow on set aside arable land due to the drop in is value with forestry. A montage showing trees being felled and de-branched in a forest and the wood being turned into timber in the sawmill. Leaning against a stone wall Eric Robson looks forward to next week’s programme visiting one of the showcases of northern agriculture, the Great Yorkshire Show. Footage from that edition over the closing credits. Credit: Camera Simon Elphinstone Sound Ken Davison Electrician John Mason Production Assistants Eileen Young Researchers Liz Woodward Editor Charles Slater Director Malcolm Dickinson Producer/Director Bob Farnworth End credit: © Tyne Tees Television MCMXCV