Public registers and consultation on forestry projects
Source: gov.uk (2025-05-01)

Use the public registers to find details on proposed forestry work and Forestry Commission decisions to approve or reject proposals.

Use the consultation register (https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/d7b0fd8800164bc3af7e50983517d191/) to view and give feedback on woodland grant proposals and regulation applications, during the public consultation period.

Use the decision register (https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/5dbc8a02c9234b0f91e73c3b89b54429/) to view decisions made by the Forestry Commission on woodland grant proposals and regulation applications.

What’s on the consultation register

You can search for:
- grant-aided woodland creation proposals
- afforestation proposals where an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (full notification) is made
- tree felling (except those permitting thinning works, felling of cricket bat willow where like for like restocking is proposed, or where an exemption to the consultation register applies)
You can view and comment on grant-aided woodland creation proposals, afforestation proposals where an EIA (full notification) are made, and tree felling applications for a period of 21 days.

During this time, you can provide feedback on the proposal by submitting a comment on the register. Your comment should relate to the UK Forestry Standard (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uk-forestry-standard) requirements.

On the consultation register, you can find the date the proposal was published and the last date for comments. Comments received after the end date will not be considered.

EIA stage 2 applications

The consultation register also informs you of EIA ‘stage 2’ applications for consent at the consultation stage.

We may decide at ‘stage 1’ that a project could have a significant impact on the environment. The project proposer must then seek advice and produce an Environmental Statement as part of a ‘stage 2’ application for consent. This statement will include written evidence about how the impact may be mitigated.

Details of the Environmental Statement, will be on the register for public comment for 30 days. We will assess the Environmental Statement and may also consult other bodies during this period, before reaching a final decision.

Find more information about the EIA process on the EIA guidance page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/environmental-impact-assessments-for-woodland).

England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO)

Proposals that relate to applications under EWCO are put on the register as soon as possible.

This means the schemes may not have been checked for compliance with the UK Forestry Standard. Where schemes change significantly, to ensure compliance with the UK Forestry Standard and EWCO rules, the proposal will be relisted on the register. The public will then have 21 days to comment.

Consultation register: which tree felling applications are exempt?

Some felling licence applications may be excluded from the consultation register due to an exemption.

The exemption allows proposed tree felling for an overriding biosecurity or public safety benefit to be dealt with swiftly. It includes felling licence applications that are:
- directly related to the management of tree pests and diseases
- made due to a public safety issue
The exemption from the consultation register does not impact:
- the outcome of whether or not a tree will be felled
- the need for the Forestry Commission to consult with statutory bodies, where relevant
- other conditions related to approving a felling licence (for example, the need to restock)
For more information about exemptions, read Forestry Commission simplify felling licence applications to protect trees and people (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/forestry-commission-simplify-felling-licence-applications-to-protect-trees-and-people).

How to comment on an application or get more information

Submit a comment on the consultation register website (https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/d7b0fd8800164bc3af7e50983517d191/) against the proposal you’re interested in.

Your comment should relate to the proposal’s compliance with the UK Forestry Standard (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uk-forestry-standard).

Most applications are for forestry work on private land.

Request more information or comment by post

Find out which body is responsible for the application. You’ll see ‘Forestry Commission’ or a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) partner listed next to ‘Organisation’ in the public register.

You can then find the correct contact details (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/consultation-and-the-public-registers#contact).

Contact the Forestry Commission or Defra partner

Forestry Commission proposals

Email or write to the appropriate Forestry Commission administrative hub (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/forestry-commission/about/access-and-opening#operational-delivery-team) and include the case reference number.

Defra woodland creation delivery partner proposals

Include the case reference number when contacting the following woodland creation partners:
- City of Trees (https://www.cityoftrees.org.uk/)
- Derbyshire Heartwood (https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/environment/conservation/trees-and-woodland/heartwood-community-forest/derbyshires-heartwood-community-forest.aspx)
- Forest of Avon Trust (https://forestofavontrust.org/)
- Forest for Cornwall (https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/environment/countryside/forest-for-cornwall-programme/)
- Forest of Marston Vale Trust (https://www.marstonvale.org/)
- Forest of Mercia (https://www.forestofmercia.com/)
- Great Western Community Forest (https://www.swindon.gov.uk/info/20059/land_and_premises/1134/great_western_community_forest)
- Greenwood Community Forest Partnership (http://www.greenwoodforest.org.uk/)
- Humber Forest (http://heywoods.org.uk/)
- National Forest Company (https://www.nationalforest.org/)
- North East Community Forest (https://northeastcommunityforest.org.uk/)
- Northumberland Woodland Creation Partnership (https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Economy-Regeneration/Programmes/Rural-Growth-and-Innovation/Great-Northumberland-Forest.aspx)
- Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest (https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/planningandbuildingcontrol/parksnatureandgreenspaces/plymouthandsouthdevoncommunityforest#:~:text=The%20Plymouth%20and%20South%20Devon%20Community%20Forest%20is%20an%20ambitious,mosaic%20of%20different%20forest%20habitats)
- Raise: Cumbria Community Forest (https://www.raisecumbria.co.uk/)
- Thames Chase Trust (https://www.thameschase.org.uk/)
- The Mersey Forest (https://www.merseyforest.org.uk/)
- Trees on Tees (https://teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/treesontees/)
- White Rose Forest (https://whiteroseforest.org/)
- Woodland Trust (https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/)
How your personal information will be treated

Read the privacy notice on the consultation public register (https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/d7b0fd8800164bc3af7e50983517d191/) to find out how any personal information you provide will be treated.

What’s on the decision register

Search the register for details of decisions on proposals for:
- grant-aided woodland creation
- tree felling (except those permitting thinning works, felling of cricket bat willow where like for like restocking is proposed, or where an exemption to the consultation register applies)
- EIAs on forestry projects (afforestation, deforestation, forest roads and forest quarries)
The Forestry Commission or Defra partner may have consulted other bodies, and taken their views into account, before making a decision.

Decisions are published on the decision register for 28 days. During this time, you can view details including:
- the project type
- the date the decision was made
- the outcome and when the decision expires
You cannot submit comments on the decision register.

If you feel you need to comment on a proposal on the decision register, contact the appropriate Forestry Commission administrative hub (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/forestry-commission/about/access-and-opening#operational-delivery-team) or woodland creation delivery partner with the case reference number. Your comment will be forwarded to the team responsible for the original decision.

Where to find legacy decisions

The Forestry Commission is required to keep a long-term record of decisions, particularly those related to EIA cases.

You can find legacy decisions about the following on the Land Information Search map browser (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/use-the-land-information-search):
- individual grant schemes
- felling licence
- EIA
- map and dataset records
If you need more specific information about decisions that are no longer in the decision register, email us at xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

How to make a complaint

Firstly, find out which body (Forestry Commission or a Defra partner) is responsible for the application. You can find it in the public register next to ‘Organisation.’

To complain about a Forestry Commission decision, follow the complaints procedure (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/forestry-commission/about/complaints-procedure).

To complain about a Defra woodland creation partner decision, contact the organisation directly (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/consultation-and-the-public-registers#links).

Contact the Forestry Commission’s support team

Email our support team at xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) if you:
- cannot access the registers
- have problems using the registers
- need a copy of the underlying data in an accessible format (such as a csv. file)
- need further information