Agriculture Committee Gets to the Root of Forestry Bill

An evidence-gathering session on a proposed Forestry Bill in Castlewellan Forest Park provided an ideal opportunity to look at the importance of commercial and recreational forests.

The meeting, on Thursday 21 January, was held by the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development, which is looking at presentations on all aspects of forestry as part of its scrutiny of the proposed bill.

Speaking after the session, the Committee Chairman, Mr. Ian Paisley Jnr said: “The Committee feels that they need to listen to the views and opinions of all those with an interest in our forests so that they can take the key issues coming out of this Legislation to the Department and guide them into making this a better and more appropriate Bill.”

“The evidence session at Castlewellan Forest Park gave the Committee the opportunity to look at the Forestry Bill in a commercial forest setting and a location that caters for a range of social, environmental and recreational activities.”

During their visit, the Committee also planted a native oak tree in the forest to emphasise the importance of forest husbandry to the local economy.

ENDS