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Sensitivity maps for woodland creation

We have developed a series of sensitivity maps based on nationally available and consistent spatial data. These maps will help to indicate whether there is likely to be potential to establish new woodland on land parcels or where there may be sensitivities that would prevent tree planting or woodland creation.

Where the maps show there is a low sensitivity to woodland creation, this does not guarantee that we will approve planting. However, the low sensitivity areas do not have any clear constraints to address on the basis of national datasets, and it should be easier to agree creating new woodland here than in other areas.

Likewise, creation of new woodland, particularly of native woodland, may be appropriate outside low sensitivity areas. We will determine the appropriateness of proposals in these areas. Where relevant, we will respond to the views of Natural England, Environment Agency, Historic England, the local authority and other stakeholders.

The sensitivity maps exclude all land that is unsuitable for planting, for example land mapped as urban areas, existing woodland, assumed woodland, or habitats that are considered too wet, or too rocky or too salty to support the growth of trees. This is achieved by restricting the sensitivity maps to the following land covers, based on the most recent update of Landcover Map (UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, 2021):

• acid grassland
• arable and horticulture
• calcareous grassland
• heather
• heather grassland
• improved grassland
• neutral grassland

Variants of the full sensitivity map and low sensitivity map version 4.0

We have also developed 3 variants of the full sensitivity map and associated low sensitivity map, which assign low sensitivity status to either one or both of 2 datasets that are treated as medium sensitivity in the full sensitivity map, as set out below:

England woodland creation low sensitivity map version 4.0 variant 1

• agricultural land class 3a: changed to low sensitivity
• protected landscapes (National Parks and National Landscapes): changed to low sensitivity

England woodland creation low sensitivity map version 4.0 variant 2

• agricultural land class 3a: remaining medium sensitivity
• protected landscapes: changed to low sensitivity

England woodland creation low sensitivity map version 4.0 variant 3

• agricultural land Class 3a: changed to low sensitivity
• protected landscapes: remaining medium sensitivity

The variants of the full and low sensitivity maps have been developed because, in the case of agricultural land quality, the decision to plant on the best and most versatile land is largely an economic decision made by the landowner. Variants 1 and 3 reveal underlying sensitivities of ALC3a land. For protected landscapes, where woodland creation may be desirable, particularly of native woodland, variants 1 and 2 reveal sensitivities to woodland creation other than protected landscape status.

Relationship with the low-risk map for woodland creation

The low sensitivity map v4.0 is a development of the low-risk map for woodland creation, as defined in the Environmental Impact (Forestry) Regulations (2017), with the main differences set out below:

• all areas of peat included in Natural Englands England peat map are excluded from the low sensitivity map (and its variants), with deep peat classified as high sensitivity and shallow peat and other soils with peaty pockets classified as medium sensitivity

• areas of land included in the wader zonal maps for curlew and golden plover as strata 2 to 5 are excluded from the low sensitivity map (and its variants), with strata 4 and 5 treated as high sensitivity and strata 2 and 3 as medium sensitivity

• areas of land included in the wood pasture and Parkland Priority Habitat layer are excluded from the low sensitivity map (and its variants)

• areas of land included in the historic environment ridge and furrow layer are excluded from the low sensitivity map (and its variants).

• amended buffers are, in some cases, applied to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Ramsar sites: details of the buffer that applies to each are set out in the section Summary of the types of Woodland Creation sensitivity maps

• some layers have also been updated, including the Priority Habitat Inventory

The low-risk map for woodland creation will continue to be used for meeting the requirements of the 2017 EIA (Forestry) regulations in terms of determining where notification may apply, rather than EIA screening. However, the full and the 3 low sensitivity maps represent a more current view of sensitivities to woodland creation.

National breakdown of land sensitivity for woodland creation

National statistics of land sensitivity for the full and low sensitivity maps are given in Table 1, including for the 3 variants.

Table 1. National breakdown of land sensitivity for the England woodland creation full sensitivity map v4.0, the low sensitivity map v4.0 (restricted to blocks more than 2 hectares in area) derived from it, and the 3 variants.

Summary of the types of woodland creation sensitivity maps

The datasets now available are:

England woodland creation full sensitivity map v4.0

This dataset is the product of geospatial analysis to identify areas that may have sensitivities that need to be considered when creating new woodland in England. It identifies places regarded as either:

• low sensitivity
• medium sensitivity
• high sensitivity
• unsuitable (for woodland creation)

The full sensitivity map covers all of England to the high-water mark with the entire country assigned to one of the four categories set out above.

England woodland creation low sensitivity map v4.0

This

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