Wales’ former National Poet, Gillian Clarke, has been busy planting 4,500 trees at her smallholding near Llandysul in Ceredigion.

And thanks to the Welsh Government’s Glastir Woodland Creation scheme, all farmers and landowners are being encouraged follow her example, maybe making better use of areas of land which are of limited agricultural value in ways that will support the farm business.

The grants can amount to up to £9,000 per hectare and the deadline for expressions of interest is 10 May.

Gillian, who was Wales’ National Poet from 2008-2016, said of the trees: “Four and a half thousand native trees: sessile oak, downy birch, rowan, hazel, wild cherry - even the names are beautiful - newly planted on six acres of our steepest land, fenced off from grazing sheep.

“Already the first leaves are opening. Red kites float overhead, birds are singing. Trees for the future, alive and hopeful. They inspire me to write poems, and a book about trees.”

Sharon Thomas, the Woodland Trust’s woodland outreach manager for Wales, said: “It’s brilliant that Gillian Clarke is setting such a wonderful example to other landowners.

“Native trees can offer us so many benefits, reducing flood risk, improving water quality and providing superb habitats for wildlife, as well of course as a renewable source of valuable timber.

“At a time when, sadly, there is huge uncertainly around farming in Wales, the Glastir Woodland Creation scheme offers a great opportunity to farmers and other landowners to make use of all of their land in ways that are sustainable both economically and environmentally. Glastir Woodland Creation grants can amount to up to £9,000 per hectare. The Woodland Trust can offer free advice and support in making use of these, and we’re finding there is an increasing interest in this among landowners.

“There’s more about the help we can offer landowners online at woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees.”

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