Farming: U-turn on Welsh tree rule after angry backlash

The new requirement 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.

There will also be an overall target set for the amount of additional tree cover provided by the subsidy scheme as a whole, though this figure is yet to be decided.

Other changes to the original plans include cutting the checklist of actions farmers would have to sign up to in order to access the scheme’s universal layer from 17 to 12.

This includes moving a requirement for all farms to manage and create new ponds, and have wash stations to the scheme’s optional layer.

A range of tasks around animal health, welfare and biosecurity have been merged into one.

Farms are still being asked to manage 10% of their land as habitat for wildlife under the new proposals.

Irranca-Davies, who also has responsibility for rural affairs, said he remained “committed to listening to and working with our stakeholders to ensure the final scheme… will help support the economic resilience of farming businesses, the sustainable production of food, our climate and nature objectives and our rural communities for current and future generations”.

The changes come shortly after large, separate, protests in Llandudno, Conwy, and Westminster against UK government changes to inheritance tax for farmers.