I am not exactly new. I worked on a market garden for 2+ years which grew and sold vege to the local community so have a good idea what is involved, having been there through a couple of on and off seasons.If you're new to growing veg, start small. You'll need a lot of compost and a few years before you get really good results. It will also be a learning curve as to what really wants to grow there. Don't underestimate the amount of time an input required. If you start with a few raised beds which you can keep on top of, you could get good results. Turn over too much land to growing food and you could easily put in several hundred hours and get £50 worth of vegetables for your efforts...
Tbh, as I think about it more, since I hardly eat vege, apart from dried legumes and pulses I am thinking I could take or leave that. Woodland seems more interesting now since the willow suggestion was made. That and making it a conservation space.
The council like you if you make woodlands too don't they (in theory whether in practice is another matter). I read you can get subsidies and also there are better allowances for working woodlands.