Ragna Christ Zorin - Suckler Farmer

I got into forestry because I've always been interested in in native trees. I had actually planted some native trees in pockets around my land before I entered the Native Forestry Scheme. We have an ash woodland, a couple of acres of ash at the centre of our farm. That's been a valuable shelter for my cattle, and it's something that's always been here. And now with the ash dieback, the future of it is uncertain. So, I wanted to diversify and make sure that there were more trees on the landscape for whoever comes after me. I've planted approximately half of my farm, which is about 8 hectares, and manage a suckler herd of Dexters on the rest. I hope the new woodland will be a valuable shelter down the road as well.

I think there are several benefits. It's helped me to scale back the farming and there’s a steady income for 20 years. It makes economic sense for me. Also, I think that the Irish landscape really needs more native forestry on it because it aids things like biodiversity. I've planted approximately half of my farm, which is about 8 hectares, and manage a suckler herd of Dexters on the rest. I hope the new woodland will be a valuable shelter down the road for them. Forest cover is also something that we have a very low percentage of in Ireland. I think future generations will be able to enjoy the fruits of what I started here.

I had a Teagasc adviser out before I contacted any forestry agent, and then the whole process was made easy by my forestry agent, John Paul Fahy. It was a seamless process once I made the decision to go into forestry. Making the decision itself is probably the slowest part because changing the land use of a family farm is a big decision.

I hope that the value of the farm will increase, and I also hope that there will be some sort of monetary income from the forestry after 20 years of premiums end, so that it'll be recognised as an asset in some other form. But that's difficult to say right now. But in terms of sustainability, I think that more forestry is necessary in terms of climate change and the weather events that we're getting. And I think in terms of the kind of farming that I'm doing, which is relatively small scale, I'm part-time, I think the forestry will be of great benefit in terms of shelter and refuge for the animals.

If you're thinking of planting your farm, I would say do your research. It's a big decision. Speak to Teagasc. Speak to the forestry agents and maybe go and see some plantations. Sit down with everybody who's affected, all the stakeholders. Go to other farms where they've planted. If you do decide to plant native forestry as I have, I think you're doing a good thing at the right time.