Woodland management and restoration can be profitable. Economic advantage covers not just income, but adding value to the woodland as a property, with potentially improved sport and amenity use.
Timber
In most managed woodlands there may be a reasonable volume of timber for thinning in potential operations and sales. Even in previously unmanaged woods, there may be a surprising marketable component. For example, it may be many decades since a coppice compartment was last cut, with stems large enough for milling. Other work such as installing new rides, overdue thinning, or improving quality can result in sawlogs being available for local sawmills. This is likely to yield at least double the price paid per tonne compared with firewood, or much more, depending on species and quality.
Firewood
Strong demand for hardwood firewood continues. Under-managed woodland often has an accumulation of firewood for the local market. This makes it viable to plan for woodland regeneration, since firewood sales and grant funding will pay for the establishment of a new age class of trees.
Woodfuel
Low value produce from woodland will usually at least find a place in the woodfuel market. At current prices, the costs of felling, extraction and transport are ususally covered. This provides a relatively new and important incentive for timely thinning of plantations and good woodland management.
Woodland grants
The Countryside Stewardship Programme is still available for payments by area, though they are now mainly focussed on Ancient Semi Natural woodland, SSSIs or other important habitat.
Help from the Tax Department
Objectives often include a commercial element. There are tax advantages to managing woodland as a business.
Inheritance Tax
Once woodland is managed as a business, it is eligible for Commercial Property relief at 100%. However it is worth bearing in mind that to be eligible, two years must elapse following purchase.
Income Tax
The income and profits from timber sales in woodlands managed commercially are free from both Income and Corporation Tax.
Capital Gains Tax
The gain in value of timber as it grows is entirely free from tax. Only the increase in the value of land is assessed for CGT. For this however, indexation and taper relief are available.
Markets and budgets
While the aims and objectives of woodland management are a central part of planning, global timber markets fluctuate year by year.
Clive can help forecast, order and manage the budgets involved in planning, thinning, harvesting and planting operations.
Management costs
Woodland management is regulated by the Forestry Commission through a complex system of standards, grants and licences. The job of woodland management usually involves consultation, including with the Forestry Commission, inventory and planning, grant applications, contract or work establishment and monitoring, sales, and ensuring regeneration. Time spent on this work is greatest in the first year, while establishing plans and procedures for the following years.
Clive can provide staged budget forecasts as woodland data is collated. Following an initial visit, an assessment of profitability can be given for the first and subsequent years, accounting for sales, grant funding and management costs.
Small pieces of consultation work are established over the phone and charged at an hourly rate.
Contact The Forestry Office concerning woodland income, improved economic benefits, and attention to detail.