Duties are varied including woodland design and management, investment and estate forestry, urban and native woodland management, tree planting projects, project management, contracting and consultancy as appropriate to your skills. Tasks will also include GIS mapping, tendering, writing detailed management plans and reports, budgeting, contract management and client liaison. A personable, detailed and professional approach is of utmost importance and GIS skills are essential. We offer excellent career prospects right up to Director level.

Remuneration package includes negotiable salary, car, pension, payment of professional fees and a profit share scheme.

Please submit your detailed letter of application by May 31st supported by a full CV to:

Eamonn Wall BSc MSc Tech Cert Arb FICFor
Managing Director
Eamonn Wall & Co Ltd
15 West Burnside, Dollar
Clackmannanshire, FK14 7DP

Tel: 01259 743 212

This past year ended up being a very busy year for us boosted along by winning some large woodland creation projects, together with a whole range of smaller consultancy and tree survey projects. We planted 259,540 trees which was well up on the previous year. The new grant schemes are starting to encourage more applicants as the rates for new planting keep getting revised upwards. One of our largest projects, the 14km cycle track around Loch Leven, was opened in March to great acclaim. The final section is being planned as we speak.

Trees, Buildings and Architects

The credit crunch dulled the demand for our arboricultural input into new building projects. However demand seems to be increasing again and over the year we carried out numerous tree surveys and condition reports. The 25 tonne strawberry tree we moved two years ago in Edinburgh has taken well in its new location, no doubt helped by the watering system we installed which will probably continue for one more year.

Our interest in both the management and promotion of trees in urban areas together with their interface with development and construction projects is strengthening our expertise. Eamonn attended and reviewed the City Trees Conference in London in November.

During the year we also designed some small arboretums and interesting tree planting schemes. We continue with pleasure to manage the tree resource at Dollar Academy (400 trees now all digitally GIS mapped) which involves regular tree inspections, tree surgery and new specimen tree planting. We manage specimen tree populations at many other properties where we are seeing an increasing number of large old beech trees succumbing to the deadly root decay disease giant polypore (Meripulus giganteus). On a brighter note we have planted many interesting trees including the toffee tree or Katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum), it is a lovely small tree with interesting almost round leaves which turn golden in the autumn smelling of toffee!

Woodland Creation

We were very pleased to be the chosen contractors to undertake the establishment of a large native woodland in Glen Nevis for Rio Tinto and Glen Nevis Estate. This involved helicopter aided erection of 6,365m of deer fencing, and the planting of 153,900 trees. The wet summer has ensured a high success rate with the trees thriving. Actually this applies to all our tree planting schemes (freshly planted and up to 17 years old), where our end of season site visits witnessed strong tree growth over the summer months. We have also noticed an increase in roe deer numbers and those trees not protected by 1.2m tubes or deer fencing are obviously vulnerable. In some areas deer control measures need improving.

The Forestry Commission on behalf of the Scottish Government are keen to see more woodland creation which over the years has slipped to a national low of 2,500ha. Their target is 10,000ha and as such are revising their grant rates upwards and simplifying the grant application process. The rates for new planting are now attractive and we have a number of interesting schemes in the pipeline. So far all our SRDP grant applications have been successful.

Consultancy Projects

Over the year we carried out a great variety of commissions. In Derbyshire we updated for The National Forest their Quantification of the Forest Resource, a survey we carried out a few years ago. In Lancashire we have started working on the Woodlands From Waste project which will see domestic waste being composted and applied to brown-field sites with tree planting to follow. We have been very busy in Central Scotland working for both the Central Scotland Forest Trust and various Local Authorities undertaking woodland design and management projects, WIAT grant applications and footpath surveys. For Midlothian Council we carried out an interesting Veteran Tree Survey.

Practical Works

We carried out a number of footpath construction projects, various tree planting and fencing schemes, timber harvesting and replanting projects, hedging, tree surgery and pruning. Most of our tree planting schemes are now benefiting from formative pruning, and as they get taller, high pruning. We have produced a wee leaflet on pruning so please call us if you would like to receive one. Many of the woods we planted ten to fifteen years ago now require thinning. It is amazing how fast young broadleaved trees actually grow. Some are now 25-30 foot tall (10m) with a diameter of 300mm. Ideal for firewood.

Woodfuel

The use of wood as a heating source is growing in popularity, both as logs for wood burning stoves (now more efficient than ever) and in chipped form for larger automatic installations. We are helping many of our country estate clients consider this option. Grant aid is available for these projects.

Investment Forestry

The growing woodfuel industry is providing good demand for the poorer quality timber coming out of our forests. This in turn has helped to keep demand high for forests and woodlands coming onto the market. We are currently acting for a number of woodland investors.

People

The credit crunch is keeping our team small but active. Congratulations to Eamonn who became a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters. During the year he also climbed his 140^th Munro only another 140 to go! Malcolm’s attempts to conquer ten Mamores in August were curtailed by the worst summer storm for years. Matthew had a good trip in the Pyrenees.

We wish you well for the coming year.

Our team consists of:

Eamonn Wall 
Malcolm Young
Matthew Trewin
Jane Brindley
Jane Deaner

together with all our regular sub-contractors and tree surgeons

Eamonn Wall & Co were pleased to be appointed as Project Manager in April 2006.  Work on Phase 1 of the project started in December 2006 following extensive route survey work and a detailed tendering process. In spite of one of the wettest winters in many years, Phase 1 was completed in Spring 2007, thus creating the first leg of the route from Kinross round to Channel Farm, some 5.52km in distance; this phase was opened to the public on May 17th 2007. Phase 2 construction work commenced in June 2007, which included the installation of a 30m span new bridge over the historic Leven Cut.   Phase 3 was completed in early 2009 with this 'round the loch' 14km trail opened in April 2009.   The last section from Vane Farm back westwards to Kinross is now under detailed planning and works will hopefully commence in 2010.

• Crofting Counties Agricultural Grant Scheme
• Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation Grant Scheme
• Forestry Commission Challenge funds
• The LEADER Initiative
• Less Favoured Area Support Scheme
• Rural Development Contracts
• Skills Development Scheme

The main support for forestry and woodland management will be under the Rural Development Contracts (RDC), Challenge Funds and to a limited extent under the Skills Development Schemes.

The RDC consists of two measures, Land Managers Options (LMO) and Rural Priorities (RP).

Land Managers Options provide a range of 22 grants for land managers based on the size of their land holding.

This allowance is calculated on the size of the farm including IACS registered woodland as follows:

• £75 per hectare for the first 10ha;
• £30 per hectare for the next 90ha;
• £1 per hectare for the next 900ha;
• and 10p per hectare thereafter.

For example, the maximum allowance for a 100ha (247 acres) farm is thus £3,450. There are five woodland options as follows:

• Small scale woodland creation:
  Max 2ha per year
  Max 1ha per block and min 0.1ha
  £2,500/ha, min 2500 conifers per ha and 1100 broadleaves per ha.
  
• Management of farm woodlands:
  Only applicable if there is between 1ha and 30ha of woodland on the farm.
  Survey, management plan and actual works covered by an annual payment of £28/ha/year with a £41/ha/year supplement for removal of livestock from native woodland, five year duration.
  
• Construction of woodland access routes to help management – roads, bridges, entrances etc. 50% of costs.
  
• Management of seed stands, 50% of costs.
  
• Modernisation through electronic data management in forestry

This is the main measure which combines the old Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme, the Rural Stewardship Scheme, together with many new business development options. It is a Tier 3 scheme and therefore Rural Priorities is a competitive mechanism to ensure that contracts are awarded for the proposals which are best able to deliver the agreed required priorities. The range of grants available cover three European strands or Axis, and are as follows:

AXIS 1 Improving the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry by supporting restructuring development, development and innovation. 16 options (six forestry).

AXIS 2 Improving the environment and the countryside by supporting land management. 47 options, basically farm conservation with three woodland options.

AXIS 3 Improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification of economic activity. 12 options mostly land management development.

Out of the 75 options, specific RDC-RP forestry measures are as follows:

AXIS 1 

8. Short rotation coppice
10. Renewable energy
11. Improving the economic value of forests
12. Processing and marketing of primary products
13. Co-operation – forestry supply chain
14. Provision and upgrading of infrastructure

AXIS 2 

45. Woodland creation
46. Sustainable management of forests
47. Woodland Improvement Grant

Note Option 1 relates to organic farming and options 2-44 inclusive are basically farm conservation measures similar to those contained in the old Rural Stewardship Scheme. However, these also include generic options that provide grant for work such as rhododendron control, grey squirrel control and predator control previously supported through SFGS.

The actual grants available for woodland creation, restocking (now referred to as restructuring) and management can be summarized as follows:

Short Rotation Coppice – This grant is paid as 40% (50% LFA) of actual costs, including fencing, up to a maximum of £1,000/ha.

A range of grants are available for establishing new woods. These have been simplified compared to the old SFGS in that now only an area rate is paid with the addition of fencing, no ground preparation or tree guards are separately funded. However a maintenance grant is paid out for five years following planting

A supplement of £1,500/ha is also available for new ‘community’ woodlands near centres of population over 2000 people.

Table 1 – Woodland Creation Grants

Restocking is funded via a restructuring felling grant possibly supplemented by a one-off tree planting grant. These are summarized below as are the new range of woodland improvement grants and pruning/thinning grants:

• Sustainable management grant for restructuring felling @ £130/ha/year for 4 years following felling of a coupe.
• From 2011 an approved Forest Plan will be required for woodlands over 30ha.
• A grant of £20/ha for the first 200ha (£5/ha thereafter) is available towards the cost of Plan preparation (min. payment of £400, max. of £15,000).
• Woodland improvement one-off grant for restructuring/replanting with different tree species.
  - with conifers (other than Sitka spruce) £134/ha
  - with mixed broadleaves £300/ha
  - with native broadleaves £385/ha
  - with Caledonian Scots pine £385/ha

2. Support for Woodland Management (75% grant, some will increase to 100% for SSSI’s etc.)

• Woodland improvement grant for sustainable woodland management:-
  - managing native woodlands (inc PAWS) £28/ha/year for up to10 years.
  - Stock removal from native woodland £41/ha/year for up to10 years.
  - Low impact silvicultural systems management £28/ha/year for up to10 years.
  - Areas subject to high levels of access £28/ha/year for up to 10 years.
  - Reducing deer numbers £30/ha.
  - Re-spacing natural regeneration £600/ha.
  - Pre-commercial and non-commercial thinning £150/ha.
  - Small scale thinning £300/ha.
  - Chipping/mulching £500/ha.
  - Dead wood management £40/ha.
  - Fence removal £2/m.
  - Small scale planting (< 0.25ha) £2/tree/shrub.
  - Control of invasive non-native species (£various).

- e.g. removal of tree crops, blocking drains etc. – various rates.

4. Support for Improving Economic Value of Woodlands (50% grant)

- Early pruning £125/ha.

- High pruning £200/ha.

- Pre-commercial thinning £75/ha.

- Controlling grey squirrels £16/£27/ha.

- Re-spacing natural regeneration £300/ha.

To be eligible for the support under items 2 (annual payments) and 4 you must have an approved Forest Plan. For small woodlands this will be a concise two page document.

Generally, application is a two stage process. Firstly a Statement of Intent is submitted. If this is given an amber light a full proposal submission can be submitted. The process is competitive and the full proposal will be judged against a net of criteria to establish its credentials with those proposals that fulfill the most criteria progressing through to the contract stage.

For exclusively forestry-specific proposals (under RPs 14, 21 and 23) which are considered ‘non-contentious’ and have a total claim value of less than £750,000, applications can be submitted and assessed/approved on a continual basis. There is also an option to by-pass the SoI and proceed directly to submission of a proposal.

The Forestry Commission are providing two Challenge Funds. Woodlands in and Around Towns (WIAT) and Forestry For People (F4P). Both challenge funds are community based and require evidence of consultation and support from the community.

• Forestry for People will fund non capital items only for learning, health and strengthening communities. Funding is up to 90% of costs.

• WIAT will fund capital items for managing woodlands at 75% of costs. Match funding must come from non-government sources only. i.e. private, charitable and non-governmental organisations. SRDP cannot provide match funding.

We provide a complete tree planting, woodland design and management, conservation planning and implementation service to farmers and landowners throughout Scotland.

Within the SRDP Rural Development Contracts – Rural Priorities provides competitive Tier 3 grant aid support for a wide range of farm conservation activities.

Scotland has been subdivided into eleven regions and a committee (RPAC – Rural Priorities Assessment Committee) set up in each region to establish its priorities for grant aid which covers all land management grants such as farm conservation, woodlands and business development. All RP grant applications have to be approved by the RPAC which meets periodically.

Tier 2 grant aid is also available for farm conservation works under the Land Managers Options which replaces the old Land Managers Contracts Menu Scheme.

RDC-RP grants for improving the environment and countryside replace the previous RSS and CPS schemes. RP is a competitive scheme and success rates at this stage are unknown. As before there are a range of annual management grants (e.g. water margins) and enabling one-off capital grants (e.g. fencing).

The management options are as follows, based on a five year commitment

1. Organic farming, various
2. Wild bird seed mix/unharvested crop, £391/ha
3. Mown grassland for wildlife, £174/ha
4. Mown grassland for corn buntings, £224/ha
5. Mown grassland for corncrakes, £271, £381, £691/ha
6. Grazed grassland for corncrakes, £313/ha
7. Creation and management of cover for corncrakes, £800/ha
8. Management of cover for corncrakes, £162/ha
9. Open grazed or wet grassland for wildlife, £111/ha
10. Mammal and bird control, variable
11. Supplementary food provision for raptors, variable
12. Wardening for golden eagles, variable
13. Control of invasive non-native species, £850 or £3,500/ha
14. Management of species rich grassland, £111/ha
15. Bracken management programme for habitat enhancement, £28/ha
16. Creation and management of species rich grassland, £223/ha
17. Management of habitat mosaics, £104/ha
18. Management of wetland, £90/ha
19. Create, restore and manage wetland, £226/ha
20. Management/restoration of lowland raised bogs, £40/ha + £43/ha
21. Water margins and enhanced riparian buffer areas, £286/ha
22. Management of flood plains, £39/ha
23. Buffer areas for fens and lowland raised bogs, £267/ha
24. Coastal or serpentine heath, £77, £44 and £1.30/ha
25. Lowland heath, £123/ha
26. Wildlife management on upland and peatland sites, 70p/ha
27. Management of moorland grazing, £1.30/ha
28. Moorland grazings on uplands and peatlands, £2/ha
29. Moorland – stock disposal, £20/ha
30. Away-wintering of sheep, £21/ha
31. Off-wintering of sheep, £9/ha
32. Muirburn and heather swiping, £67/ha
33. Management of hedgerows, 93p/m
34. Extended hedges, 53p/m
35. Grass margins and beetlebanks, £473/ha
36. Biodiversity cropping on in-bye, £70/ha or £400/ha
37. Cropped machair, £233/£279/ha
38. Management of ancient wood pasture, £50/£105/ha
39. Scrub and tall herb communities, £94/ha
40. Arable reversion to grassland, £250/ha
41. Habitat grazing management, £7.82/hour
42. Livestock tracks, gates and river crossings, up to 50% of costs
43. Conservation management for small units, various
44. Grazing management of cattle - various

Hedge planting, £4.30/m
Stock fencing, £4/m
Stock gates, £100 each
Single trees, £100 each
Post and rail fencing, £10m.

It is a two stage process. A Statement of Intent is firstly submitted. If this is given an amber light you proceed to full proposal submission.

• Income generated from timber sales is free from income and corporation tax;
• Forestry (both land and trees) attracts 100% relief from Inheritance Tax if held for two years;
• Forestry grants are tax free;
• Increasing timber values are exempt from Capital Gains Tax. Only any real increase in land values is liable to CGT, but this is usually argued to be not the case. Any land increase would be taxed at the new flat rate of 18%. However the land value of a mature plantation currently only accounts for approximately 15% of the asset value;
• Roll-over relief for CGT liability arising from the sale of a business asset.

Eamonn Wall & Co assist woodland purchases through two investment vehicles:

• Individual purchases – register with us to find a wood for you;
• Syndicate purchases (i.e. groups of investors form a syndicate to invest over an agreed time frame) with Eamonn Wall & Co as investor/manager;
• ‘Scottish Forestry Investment Fund’ – we are currently researching this vehicle.

Woods can be bought from £30,000 up to and over £1m. Prices per acre vary depending on the size, age, location, condition etc of the wood but in the region £700 - £2,500 per acre (occasionally more). Usually the smaller woods (say £50,000) attract a small wood premium. Bare land can be bought and planted with the help of grant aid and annual payments.

Eamonn Wall has now been established for 16 years and has much experience of investment forestry and woodland management. We help you find the woodland to suit your requirements: amenity -v- commercial , conifers -v- broadleaves, location, bare land, young (0-10 years), mid term (15-30 years) or mature plantations (35 years plus). We then carry out the management and act as investor/chairman of syndicates and as fund/forest managers.