Trees and woodland guidance for local authorities
Guidance and resources to help local authorities plan, protect and manage trees and woodland.
Applies to England
These resources cover the woodland creation process from planning and funding to woodland management.
Planning trees and woodland projects
Guidance on starting woodland creation projects, including timelines, landscape design requirements and when to consult the Forestry Commission.
- Woodland creation timeline: from planning to planting – the steps involved in woodland creation using government funding
- Landscape and woodland design for woodland creation – information on landscape character appraisal that promotes integrated woodland design
- Planning applications affecting trees and woodland – when you need to consult the Forestry Commission
- A guide to planning new woodland in England – this guide supports anyone who wants to plan, design and create new woodland in England
- Forestry project checks: all projects – this checklist walks you through key actions you should take in relation to every forestry project
- Trees in the townscape: a guide for decision makers – a guide for local authorities on urban trees and how to maximise their economic, social and environmental returns
- Tree species selection guide: a guide for specifiers – how to select the appropriate tree species for urban environments
- Trees and woodland strategy (TAWS) toolkit – designed to help local authority tree managers create a TAWS
Planting and caring for trees
Practical guidance on establishing new trees and woodland, including planting techniques and ongoing maintenance to help young trees thrive.
- Tree planting and woodland creation: overview – an introduction to woodland creation funding, legal requirements and best practice for sustainability
- Urban tree planting manual – advice on selecting and procuring the right tree for the right place in urban areas
- UK Forestry Standard eLearning platform – advance your knowledge on the standards for sustainable forestry management
Protecting trees and woodland
How to use Tree Preservation Orders, protect ancient woodland and veteran trees and manage the urban forest.
- How to protect and manage the urban woodland – a collection of resources on the benefits of urban forests and how to manage them
- Tree Preservation Orders and trees in conservation – understand the legislation behind Tree Preservation Orders and how to identify trees that need conservation
- Ancient woodland, ancient trees and veteran trees: advice for making planning decisions – advice to take into account when making planning decisions that affects ancient woodland, ancient trees and veteran trees
- Protecting trees from mammal damage: technical guidance – how to identify and prevent mammal damage
Funding and support for trees and woodland
Grants and financial support available for woodland creation and natural flood management projects.
- Woodland Creation Planning Grant – find out how to apply for the Woodland Creation Planning Grant to support the development of a woodland creation plan
- England Woodland Creation Project – get support to plant and establish woodland using the England Woodland Creation Offer
- Natural flood management programme – get funding through the natural flood management programme to increase flood resilience
Case studies
Examples of how local authorities have used woodland creation to address climate change and biodiversity loss.
- Helping local authorities respond to the climate emergency – how woodland creation can support net zero ambitions
- Helping local authorities respond to the biodiversity emergency – how woodland creation can support nature recovery plans
This page contains resources and guides from external organisations. The Forestry Commission has included these resources to support woodland projects but does not endorse or take responsibility for the content or views within these external publications.