THE Forestry Commission is inviting prospective applicants to quote for a new scheme intended to help UK seed suppliers and tree growers predict supply and demand.

The programme of work being developed by the Forestry Commission and DEFRA to support delivery of the £640 million Nature for Climate Fund has identified that, to meet tree-planting targets of 30,000 ha annually by 2025, there needs to be a significant increase in the UK production of tree planting material, to decrease the reliance on imports.

The Forestry Commission want to introduce a Nursery Notification Scheme (NNS), which will inform UK seed suppliers and tree growers of forthcoming woodland creation and restocking projects and allow them to prepare tree stock accordingly.

READ MORE: Confor calls for urgent action to tackle UK tree-planting failure​

The aim of the work being tendered is to provide the Forestry Commission with costed options for this Nursery Notification Scheme, with a focus on forestry trees, to be developed from 2021 and that meets the needs of:

  • Trade associations representing major tree nurseries; smaller tree nurseries; tree seed suppliers, in order to provide sufficient visibility and certainty so that they can grow the types and quantities of trees that will be required.
  • Major forestry contractors involved in woodland creation; the Forestry Commission and Defra, in order to ensure sufficient supply of the types and quantities of trees required to supply woodland creation and tree planting projects coming forward.

The invitation to quote process is open now and an information webinar will be held for prospective applicants on Friday 15 January.

For more information, click here.

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