British forestry: 70 years of achievement

After a brief review of changes in major demands for wood before 1900, data for the woodland area in Great Britain at intervals through the present century are tabulated. Tables show how the targets for productive woodland area set in 1915 and renewed in 1943 have been achieved. The main increase in gross woodland area occurred after 1945. The state forest service for Great Britain, the Forestry Commission, was formed in 1919; as a result of its vigorous land acquisition and afforestation policy, at 31.3.96, it owned or leased 35 per cent of the British woodland area. Government support for private forestry has been through grants both for rehabilitating felled woodland and extending areas planted; grants have been paid mostly through the Forestry Commission. The most recent Government policy statements on forestry look to further substantial increases in the woodland of Britain, reflecting the influence both of membership of the European Community and cognisance of global environmental and resource needs.