- Location
- Scottish Highlands
I went into the scheme to plant 30 acres when it was operating. I was one of the first entrants. Forestry guy came out and approved an additional long strip of birch woodland for "enrichment". The 'inspector' couldn't check the acreage because he hadn't got the gizmo on his laptop to measure it. He seemed utterly clueless on pretty much everything! I had to show him how to measure areas off the plan!
Then they came back and said I wouldn't get the grant on the 30 acres because they'd run out of money. But they approved the long strip -- with the addition of rabbit fencing all round that hadn't been mentioned. That made it totally uneconomic. There were no rabbits anyway.
I didn't go ahead and bureaucrats are no longer welcome here. I've planted a lot of trees in odd corners at my own expense which provides much needed shelter and firewood. I don't need to be paid to farm properly and the clip board wielding bureaucrats even less.
Then they came back and said I wouldn't get the grant on the 30 acres because they'd run out of money. But they approved the long strip -- with the addition of rabbit fencing all round that hadn't been mentioned. That made it totally uneconomic. There were no rabbits anyway.
I didn't go ahead and bureaucrats are no longer welcome here. I've planted a lot of trees in odd corners at my own expense which provides much needed shelter and firewood. I don't need to be paid to farm properly and the clip board wielding bureaucrats even less.