The Woodland Trust (WT) has challenged the Forest Service's decision to reduce its plans for the creation of new woodland across Northern Ireland by more than half.

It had been planned that the Forest Service would create 1,650 hectares (4,077 acres) of new woodland in 2008-11, which works out at an average of 550 hectares (1,359 acres) per year. However, the WT said that only 200 hectares (494 acres) is earmarked this year - a decision the trust says contradicts the Northern Ireland Executive's wider forestry expansion plans.

WT government affairs officer Lee Bruce said: "On the one hand, we've seen and warmly welcomed pledges for woodland creation made by a number of political parties in their election manifestos "Then, in complete contrast, we find that Forest Service now sets itself a target which lacks any ambition; a target which is in fact lower than recent achievement; and one which, when reached, will have little impact on Northern Ireland's limited woodland cover."

Image: Adam Burton