FOR many farmers, planting a forest makes financial sense and provides a more diverse farming enterprise. It is a long-term investment that is often inherited by the next generation. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) offers a broad range of grants to farm enterprises to establish new woodland. For example, the Native Forest Type Grant offers €6,744 / ha excluding fencing with annual premiums of €1,103 for 20 years (ha). The Department covers 100% of the costs to establish the forest, and all payments and earnings are income tax free.

Range of grants

This autumn, Friends of Little Woods, an environmental group, will deliver eight free information and networking events to farmers and other groups interested in taking up the range of grants.

Chris Hillcox from Friends of Little Woods told The Irish Field: “These events will pass on the information farmers will need to plan their woodland investment and connect them with all the organisations that will make their plans a reality. We will have speakers from Teagasc, foresters, forest service companies and accountants. We will even have representation from small businesses that could make use of the woodland.”

The events take place on the following dates and locations and you can scan the QR code to book a place:

Sligo: September 11th, 2025 Raddison Blu hotel

Letterkenny: New date - September 20th, 2025, Raddison Blu hotel

Cavan: October 10th, 2025 Farnham estate

Roscommon: October 11th, 2025 Abbey hotel

Castlebar: November 7th, 2025 Breaffy House

Tullamore: November 8th, 2025 Tullamore Court hotel

Tipperary: December 5th, 2025 Ballykisteen Hotel

Wicklow: December 6th, 2025 Glen View hotel

All the events are 11am to 1pm