Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Accepted
We heard concerns that legal restrictions on many tenancies and their short-term length will prevent...
Recommendation
We heard concerns that legal restrictions on many tenancies and their short-term length will prevent many tenant farmers from engaging in tree-planting. Conversely, we also heard concerns that landowners might withdraw land from tenants to benefit from attractive tree-planting subsidies themselves. There was, however, dispute over evidence of this already occurring. We welcome and encourage continued dialogue between the Tenant Farmers Association and Country Land & Business Association on tree planting. We recommend that Defra include within the new Tenancy Working Groups’s remit how to find practical and equitable ways to enable more tenant farmers to contribute to England’s tree-planting ambition. (Paragraph 102) Tree planting 43
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and has included the issue in the remit of the Tenancy Working Group (TWG) and is working with the Tenancy Reform Industry Group (TRIG).
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
We agree with the recommendation and have included this within the remit of the Tenancy Working Group (TWG) Defra has reviewed feedback from tenants on the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) and has revised the grant manual, updated its application process and is currently reviewing ways to transfer EWCO agreement to the next tenant. These actions have been presented and welcomed by Baroness Rock, Chair of the TWG, and the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA). Tree planting is one of the main areas the TWG are looking at and we will look forward to hearing what the TWG recommends. Defra is also continuing to work with the Tenancy Reform Industry Group (TRIG) to find practical and achievable ways to enable more tenant farmers to contribute to England’s tree-planting ambition.