Forestry Commission
Use this page to help you:
- design a forestry project
- apply for a felling licence
- apply for a forestry Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
- apply for a forestry grant scheme
- create a woodland management plan
Use this page alongside:
This page walks you through the considerations and actions you should take in relation to forestry projects that involve specific constraints. In addition to these specific constraints, there are some considerations and actions that you need to undertake in relation to all forestry projects.
Please see the Forestry project checks: all projects page for more information.
How to find constraints on your land
Use the Forestry Commission map browser to look at environmental information about your land. Within this browser, you can use the Forestry Commissions Land Information Search tool to create a report that shows common constraints and designations on, and information about, your land.
Other important environmental information, such as information on Higher Level Stewardship and Agricultural Land Classifications, can be found on Defras MAGIC map.
Once youve found out what constraints and designations are on your land, or might be affected by it, use this quick guide page to see whether you need to engage with stakeholders, apply for a licence, or get consent or other permission prior to carrying out your project.
MAGIC and the Forestry Commission map browser will not show every constraint on your land. Not all data is nationally mapped, for example, Tree Preservation Orders and Conservation Areas.
Using MAGIC and the Forestry Commission Map Browser should be part of your wider due diligence, which should also include local records checks see Forestry project checks: all projects.
Acid Vulnerable Catchments (AVCs)
Where to check for this constraint
Use the Forestry Commission Map Browser Layer: Targeting and scoring > CS HT Water Water Quality Acidification (Silvicultural Transformation).
Key points for applicants
Forestry is known to affect water acidification and so it is important to manage forestry within vulnerable areas to ensure acidification is not exacerbated. This is particularly important in relation to large-scale conifer planting. Check Forest Researchs Acid Vulnerable Catchment (AVC) mapping, which marks areas that are at risk or marked as fail.
If you are planning an afforestation project, AVCs are excluded from low risk land for the purposes of forestry EIA.
What to do if this affects your proposal
If your proposal is in an area that is at risk or failing, refer to Forest Researchs Practice Guidance Managing forests in acid sensitive water catchments to identify whether youre required to carry out a critical load assessment.
If significant acidification of soils could present an issue, you must engage potential stakeholders, such as the Environment Agency or local water authorities. The Forestry Commission will take the Environment Agencys views on your proposal, and suggested mitigation, into account in determining your application.
Further guidance
Forest Research AVC mapping
Forest Research Practice Guide: Managing forests in acid sensitive water catchments
Agricultural Land Classification (best and most versatile agricultural land Class 1, 2 and 3a)?
Where to check for this constraint
Use Defras MAGIC map Layer: Landscape > Landscape Classifications > Agricultural Land Classification Provisional (England).
Key points for applicants
Agricultural land in England and Wales is classed using Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) from 1 (best) to 5 (very poor quality). Best and most versatile agricultural land is in Classes 1, 2 and 3a. It is important for identifying land that may be best preserved for food production.
If you are planning an afforestation project, the best and most versatile agricultural land is excluded from low risk land for the purposes of forestry EIA.
The data on Defras MAGIC map is from before 1988. If you believe the data to be incorrect, you should raise your concerns with Natural England. Natural England also has a series of Regional Agricultural Land Classification maps, which may be of use.
What to do if this affects your proposal
If you are unsure about whether your proposal is likely to affect best and most versatile agricultural land, you can contact Natural England for further advice. However, you do not need any additional consents in relation to forestry works on this land type. Loss of agricultural production may be taken into consideration by the Forestry Commission in determining your application.
Further guidance
About ALC grades
Natural England Regional Agricultural Land Classification Maps
Ancient Woodland
Where to check for this constraint
Use Forestry Commission map browser Layer: Constraints > Ancient Woodland, then choose:
- Ancient & semi-natural woodland
- Ancient replanted woodland
Use Defras MAGIC map Layer: Habitats and species > Habitats > Woodland > Ancient Woodland (England)
- Ancient & semi-natural woodland
- Ancient replanted woodland
Key points for applicants
Ancient woodlands are areas in England that have been wooded continuously since at least 1600 AD.
Ancient woodland includes ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW) and plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS), also known as ancient replanted woodland.
Other distinct forms of ancient woodland are ancient wood pasture and parkland (AWPP) and infilled ancient wood pasture and parkland (IAWPP). However, many of these do not appear on the ancient woodland inventory (AWI) because their low tree density does not register as woodland on historic maps, and as a result they are not identified in our map browser or on Defras MAGIC map.
The value of an ancient woodland lies in its pristine, undisturbed soils, which provide a unique habitat. Many of the trees standing within an ancient woodland are often not particularly old.
The UK Forestry Standard places restrictions on the s