EDWIN POOTS with Scottish Woodlands' Brian Malcomson, landowner David McConaghy, and NI Forest Service's John Joe O’Boyle
NORTHERN IREW=LAND'S Rural Affairs Minister, Edwin Poots, recently visited a large new woodland creation project near Stranocum in North Antrim, which is funded by almost £450,000 from his department.
The 50 hectare site is the largest scheme to benefit from NI's Forest Expansion Scheme to date, receiving approximately £445,000 over 10 years to create a woodland comprising 75% commercial conifers and 25% broadleaves.
As well as delivering significant carbon capture benefits, the woodland will provide potential for tourism development, income from timber production, while conserving and enhancing local biodiversity and the landscape.