2.1.1 1924
According to the first Forestry Commission survey, 5.6% of Scotland's land area was covered by trees.
Broadleaves covered 2.3% of the country (1,830 kmē), and conifers covered 3.2% (2,527 kmē).
2.1.2 1947
Despite heavy felling during the Second World War, the Forestry Commission census of 1947 showed that woodland cover had increased to 6.8%.
2.1.3 1980
By 1980, the total area of Scotland covered by trees had increased to 11.8%. This was due to the rapid expansion of plantations after the Second World War, particularly in the Uplands on moorland and peatlands. The area of conifers increased to cover 10.7% of Scotland (8,381 kmē).
Many broadleaved and native pinewood sites were replaced or underplanted by conifer plantation. Broadleaved cover had declined to 1.1% of the land area (829 kmē) (Figure 2).
2.1.4 By the late 1980s, interest in the natural heritage value of woodland had increased. The Forestry Commission's Broadleaves Policy of 1985 recognised that broadieaved woodland should be maintained and enhanced. The new Broadleaved Woodland Grant Scheme awarded higher rates of grant than were available for planting conifers.
2.1.5 Tax benefits, which had driven the growth of private sector conifer plantation in previous decades, were discontinued in 1988. In their place, a new Woodland Grant Scheme was introduced, with enhanced grants for planting broadleaves and native pine.
2.2 Trends from 1988 to 1997
2.2.1 1988-1991
Under the first Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS1), broadleaved planting increased gradually and the planting of exotic conifers dropped sharply.
2.2.2 1992-1994
A revised WGS (WGS2) introduced management grants, and a 'Better Land Supplement'. The latter encouraged planting on arable and improved agricultural land, and therefore increased planting in the lowlands. Broadleaved planting increased sharply and, in 1994, exceeded conifers for the first time.
2.2.3 1994-1997
Reduced funding for planting and managing small woods (WGS3) was reflected in a slight drop in broadleaved planting. Nevertheless, in 1997 the rate of broadleaved planting was almost double that of exotic conifers.
Changes in grants for natural regeneration led to a decrease in the area of woodland established in this way, and a proportional increase in planting of native woodland (Figure 3).
Between 1988 and 1997 the planting of broadleaves by Forest Enterprise (FE) remained relatively stable. However, conifer planting decreased. By 1997, broadleaves comprised 13% of new FE planting, compared with 6% in 1988.
Overall, 569 kmē of broadleaved woodland was planted through WGS funding and planting on FE land between 1987 and 1997.
By 1995, broadleaves covered 2,180 km2 (2.8% of Scotland), whilst conifers, including Scots pine, covered 10,641 km2 (13.6% of Scotland).
