Create a woodland management plan
Find out what's involved in creating a plan, giving you a structured way to organise the management of woodland.
Applies to England
If you are writing a woodland management plan with grant funding then you need to have your grant agreement in place before you start work on your plan.
A woodland management plan gives land managers a structured way to plan and organise the sustainable management of woodland to a common industry standard.
The UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) sets out the UK government’s approach to sustainable forestry and woodland management, including standards and requirements, regulations and monitoring, and reporting. It applies to all woodland and woodland operations, regardless of who owns or manages it.
Why create a management plan?
- Creating a woodland management plan can demonstrate sustainable forest management and it supports the planning and implementation of work proposals and their long term monitoring.
- Some grant schemes ask land managers to have an approved management plan in place prior to making an application.
- The plan of operations which makes up part of the management plan means it is possible for land managers to plan for and be issued with a felling licence for up to 10 years of felling.
If you want to create a woodland plan, you should include all woodland on your property.
How to produce your plan
For woodland up to 3 hectares, you should use the small woodland plan template:
For woodland between 3 and 10 hectares, you can use either the small woodland plan template or the full woodland management plan template.
A grant is available to help fund the production of a woodland management plan for woodland over 3 hectares. Read more about the Countryside Stewardship option PA3.
If you wish to apply for the grant, you must use the full woodland management plan template:
If you do not intend to apply for the grant, you may use the small woodland plan template for woodlands up to 10 hectares. This will still enable you to apply for a felling licence.
For woodland over 10 hectares, you should use the full woodland management plan template.
Woodland management plan applications must include:
- the plan of operations template
- your own maps
- information about the woodland including its history, previous management, structure and composition, risks and issues and how they will be addressed
- the work you intend to do
For non-Forestry Commission woodland plan templates that don’t match our woodland plan template, use this that states the UKFS criteria being assessed and provides a consistent framework for us to review the plan. Non-Forestry Commission woodland plan templates are not eligible for funding to prepare a woodland management plan through Countryside Stewardship.
Download and complete the inventory and plan of operations. It sets out your woodland inventory and must relate directly to compartments and sub compartments shown on your map(s). The Plan of Operations also gathers information relating to felling and restocking and is necessary for issuing a felling licence. Use this , which highlights where data entry errors exist on the worksheets so you can make corrections. Alternatively, you can use the , it enables you to enter data more freely, but it has no error checking and we may have to return it to you for corrections.
Produce a map: they’re an excellent way to communicate information to support your management plan. Use several maps to show a variety of topics or themes affecting your woodland. You must ensure that each compartment you show on the map is reflected in the Inventory of the Plan of Operations. You can create a map by:
- submitting a map request
- using myForest service
- using your own Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
You can use our guidance on . This guidance will help you complete a woodland management plan successfully, using the Forestry Commission plan template, the Inventory and Plan of Operations worksheet and your associated maps. Read this guidance thoroughly and refer to it regularly.
If you are drafting your plan with the intention of applying for a Countryside Stewardship (CS) Higher Tier, please refer to this to help you understand what should be included to ensure you are covering all relevant information in your plan. Your woodland management plan must support and validate your CS Higher Tier application.
Submit your draft woodland management plan to the administrative hub covering your area. Make sure you include:
- a completed woodland management plan template
- an inventory and plan of operations
- a map
- a if you’re receiving funding from the Countryside Stewardship scheme
Administrative hub contact details
For more information, contact the administrative hub that covers your area.
Check if your woodland is designated or has special features
Designated areas or features should be indicated on one of the annotated maps within your plan. If a designation applies, please provide details.
Magic Map
Use Natural England’s ‘MAGIC’ map to check if your woodland is designated, for example, as an SSSI. You can also search for other features (such as scheduled monuments, priority habitats and species) and information such as Countryside Stewardship scheme details in your area.
The Land Information Search
The Forestry Commission’s Land Information Search (LIS) is another map-based tool that allows you to search for information about land designations or features that might already apply to your woodland. Examples of these features include:
- previous felling schemes
- grant schemes
Find out how the Forestry Commission supports you if you do own woodland on an SSSI.
Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) are protected by law to conserve their wildlife or geology so you must declare designations, as some require consent before you begin work on your proposed plans. If you fail to disclose any designations or features you may be acting illegally.
Example woodland management plans
See examples of completed woodland management plans:
Authorise an agent to act on your behalf
If you choose to appoint an agent to develop your woodland management plan you must sign a form to give an agent authority to act for you when dealing with the Forestry Commission. You can submit this agent authority form as part of your application for funding.
You’ll also need to set agent permission levels using the Rural Payments service to appoint an agent to act on your behalf if you’re applying for Countryside Stewardship funding.
Contact the Forestry Commission
Contact your local Woodland Officer for advice and guidance on completing a woodland plan, and potentially having a pre-draft site visit.
Last updated 25 April 2024 + show all updates
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Added alternative formats for 2 forms: 'small woodland plan template' and 'full woodland management plan template'.
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Document updated: 'Checking aid for your Woodland Management Plan when Applying for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier'.
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New paragraph added and the attachment 'WMP checking aid to support an application for CS Higher Tier'.
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First published.