The Fast Lane of Urban Fringe Forest Economics

An urban fringe planting project in the South HertfordshireCommunity Forest is described. Economic appraisal shows thateligibility for the Farm Woodland Scheme increases net presentvalue significantly, but continuing agricultural use of thesite would still be much more profitable than timber production. However, planting would redistribute and concentrate developmenthope value on to an adjacent unplanted area, open the prospectof redeveloping a redundant farm building site and improve neighbourhoodamenity. Hence planning policy, development opportunities andthe housing market will be important determinants of overallprofitability.