Member Article

Forestry sector could create 1,000 jobs across northern England

Northumberland County Council has played a key role in developing a new plan which could bring 1,000 jobs to the forestry sector in Northern England.

Roots to Prosperity is a strategy and action plan which proposes investment of around £23 million to unlock jobs and deliver low carbon growth and sustainable economic development across rural and urban communities.

The company has recently launched forest management operations, and is now running forests from the highlands of Scotland down to North Yorkshire, ranging from plantations of over 1,000 hectares to those totalling just over 20 hectares.

The partnership behind the plan includes Confor (the Confederation of Forest Industries); UKFPA (United Kingdom Forest Products Association); Forestry Commission England; and Northumberland, Cumbria, Durham and North Yorkshire County Councils.

Stuart Goodall, CEO of Confor said: “We have been working with members and partners for over 18 months now so we are delighted to see this exciting work coming to fruition. However, today is just the start of a journey in implementing that plan.”

“It has been hugely gratifying to see the commitment to investment provided by the wood processing industry over the last decade. However, going forward, we must see this matched by an equally enthusiastic commitment from landowners and investors to secure a continuing increase in domestic wood production well in to the future.

“Wood supplies are set to peak, so-called ‘Peak Wood’, around 2025 and that represents a challenge to future investment that we have to respond to vigorously and immediately.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .