U-turn on Welsh tree rule after backlash by farmers

Plans that would require Welsh farmers to have trees on 10% of their land to qualify for government funding have been dropped after widespread protests. 

The requirement was part of planned changes to Welsh farming subsidies through the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), which is to be introduced in 2026. The 10% mandatory tree coverage is now set to be replaced by “a tree planting and hedgerow creation plan”. 

The new scheme would help farmers gain access to the “universal” layer of funding, with tree-planting grants available in an “optional” layer, designed to reward farms willing to go above and beyond the entry-level requirements. 

In a speech at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair in Llanelwedd, Powys, National Farmers’ Union Cymru president Aled Jones said: “Today marks an important step forward in the development of the SFS. 

“We have seen the budget for farming eroded by inflation and subjected to in-year cuts. The need to restore and enhance the budget cannot be overstated.” 

“I am confident that if we continue to work in partnership, the SFS can help to deliver on our ambitions for food, nature, climate and communities.”