Scottish Woodlands sponsors leading UK industry conference
Scottish Woodlands Ltd is returning as a headline sponsor of the UK's leading forestry and wood policy conference, to be held in London on Thursday 5th December.
Green Growth through Forestry and Wood takes place at the QEII Centre at Westminster and will examine how industry can support the new Labour Government's priorities - including rural economic growth, a significant house building programme, and a focus on long-term timber security.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has been told that it needs to contribute to the Government’s mission for economic growth and Environment Secretary Steve Reed has said he wants to “turbo-charge the rural economy”.
The new Government has also said it wants to establish a Trees Taskforce and to increase tree planting, including the creation of three new national forests. All of these areas represent strong opportunities for the forestry and wood industry to grow and thrive.
The conference, organised by forestry and wood trade body Confor, will also have a strong focus on the skills needed to expand the industry - an area where Scottish Woodlands Ltd has a proud record because of its industry-leading Graduate Development Programme.
David Robertson, Investment and Business Development Director at Scottish Woodlands Ltd, said: "We're delighted to be back sponsoring this event again, at a crucial time for our industry. This is a rare opportunity to influence a new UK Government - and Labour's core pledges around economic growth, house building and economic security resonate very clearly with what the forestry and wood sector can offer."
"The welcome increase in woodland creation in 2023/24 shows that there is a real appetite for more tree planting, to help deliver the green growth that the new Government wants. This conference allows us to work out how we can move forward on the National Wood Strategy for England and the Timber in Construction roadmap to ensure the priorities of the forestry and wood industry are aligned with, and at the heart of, the new Government's approach to rural policy."
"It's so important for Scottish Woodlands to be involved in these conversations, and we look forward to joining the debate once more."
Mary Creagh MP, the Under Secretary of State at Defra with responsibility for forestry, has been invited to speak at the event. Confirmed speakers include Ross Hampton, Executive Director of the International Sustainable Forestry Coalition, Richard Stanford, CEO of Forestry Commission, Paul Brannen, author of Timber! How Wood can save the world from Climate Change and Kelly Harrison, Director, ESG Impact Strategy, Whitby Wood.