Wales could be set for a tree-mendous future if landowners take their lead from a Pembrokeshire farm.

Froghall Farm near Spittal has just been awarded a prestigious woodlands award at the Royal Welsh Show for its work.

The prize comes in the wake of the Welsh Government’s new Woodland and Trees Strategy, which was launched by environment minister Hannah Blythyn in June and has been warmly welcomed by the Woodland Trust (Coed Cadw).

The new strategy aspires to increase woodland cover in Wales by at least 2,000ha a year from 2020 to 2030.

It proposes an increase in tree cover in the wider environment, on farms, the rural landscape and in areas around towns and cities, both to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and also to create a resilient and productive agriculture and towns that are healthier and more pleasant to live in.

Froghall Farm won the Bronze Award in the best managed woodland, 11-50 hectares category.

In a glowing report the judges praised the planting of a new woodland area of 27.5ha on a dairy farm.

While the majority of the this area is native woodland, to maximise the conservation benefits, there are also areas of conifer that will produce high quality spruce over a short rotation period so as to provide an income flow throughout the life of the woodland.

As the judges concluded: “This scheme has shown what can be achieved with a little bit of thought and good planning.”

Froghall Farm also won a separate prize for the same woodland, a bronze award in the broadleaf planting or restocking under 10 years old category.

The award was presented to Mrs Sarah Higgon and her two sons Ed and Laurie at an award ceremony at the Royal Welsh Show. The forester responsible for managing the work was Alison Wheeler of Hugh Wheeldon and Co.

Sharon Thomas, the Woodland Trust’s Woodland outreach manager for Wales says: “I’d like to congratulate the Higgon family on winning this well-deserved accolade.

"Native trees can offer us so many benefits, reducing flood risk, improving water quality and providing superb habitats for wildlife, as well of course as a renewable source of valuable timber.

"The Woodland Trust is always ready to provide free advice and support for any landowner thinking of planting native trees on their land and can be contacted through our website at woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant.”

The Woodland Trust has just launched a campaign to try to ensure there is support and encouragement for farmers and landowners to retain and plant trees in any new post Brexit land use policy, in other words, support for agroforestry.

Anyone can support the campaign by going to woodlandtrust.org.uk/wales