In a speech at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair, Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies acknowledged farmers' concerns, stating "it was clear changes were needed - we said we would listen - and we've done just that." This reflects the government's responsiveness to widespread protests against the initial tree-planting requirement.
The original plan to mandate that Welsh farmers plant trees on 10% of their land for government subsidies has been replaced with a more flexible approach, emphasizing optional tree-planting grants as part of a broader initiative aimed at increasing tree cover.
The new strategy will also reduce the necessary checklist of actions for accessing the universal funding layer from 17 to 12, while still requiring 10% of farm land to be managed as wildlife habitat, demonstrating a balance between agricultural and environmental goals.
Huw Irranca-Davies emphasized the importance of collaboration with stakeholders, stating his commitment to ensuring the final scheme supports economic resilience in farming, sustainable food production, climate goals, and benefits for rural communities.
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