Some UK hardwood sawmills are continuing to be badly impacted by foot and mouth disease, according to the Association of Professional Foresters.
Feedback from APF members indicates that private estates are still being hit by the outbreak with government restrictions remaining in place over a large part of the UK including the Scottish Borders, Cumbria, the Yorkshire/ Lancashire border and the North Yorkshire Moors.
New cases continue to be reported at 7-10 per day and the DEFRA website shows only four parts of the UK that are unaffected.
APF general-secretary Jane Karthaus said: ‘We are not back to normal; the infected areas are still in difficulty. We understand there have been particular problems trying to get valuable hardwood out of private estates, many of which have very strict restrictions in place.’
In a bid to alleviate the financial hardship of the sector, the APF has arranged for the ARC-Addington Fund charity to accept and distribute contributions to forestry companies.
The fund is currently worth £14,000, with seven forestry applicants so far being awarded £3,200.
