Guidance

Felling and restocking definitions

Published 2 August 2024

Applies to England

Definitions of felling

Clear felling

The removal of all or most trees in an identified area of a woodland in one operation. This may in rare cases be the whole woodland. Sometimes a scatter or small clumps of trees may be left standing within the felled area.

In most cases, you will need to re-establish similar woodland cover on the felled area. In some cases, restocking could involve a different composition of woodland cover, for example Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) restoration from conifers to broadleaves. Restocking could also take place in one or more agreed alternative locations.

This activity requires a felling licence if the tree stem (trunk) is 8cm or greater in diameter when measured 1.3 metres from the ground, unless an exemption applies.

Deforestation

The permanent removal of trees forming, or with the potential to form, woodland cover.

This applies when the intent is to use the land for a non-woodland purpose, and there is no intention of restocking the felled area.

This includes projects for the restoration of priority non-woodland habitats. It also applies to the removal of:

• short rotation coppice (SRC)
• short rotation forestry (SRF)
• other woody energy crop systems
• Christmas tree plantations

There is usually no need to restock on deforested sites. In some cases, there may be a need for compensatory planting elsewhere.

This activity requires a felling licence if the tree stems (trunks) are 8cm or greater in diameter when measured 1.3 metres from the ground, unless an exemption applies.

If you are applying for a felling licence for deforestation, you may also need to complete the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) deforestation application form.

For more information on forestry EIA, please see Environmental Impact Assessments for woodland.

Felling of coppice

The felling of some or all woody stems growing from a coppice stool, undertaken to stimulate new woody growth from that stool.

If felling a single stem tree for the first time to create coppice, this should be considered under one of the other felling types.

The coppice location will typically require restocking. This is usually achieved via ‘coppice regrowth’. If the coppice regrowth fails to establish, there will likely be a need to restock the felled area by planting.

A felling licence is only required for this activity if the woody stems being removed are, individually, greater than 15cm in diameter measured 1.3 metres off the ground, unless an exemption applies.

Felling of individual trees

The felling of specifically identified individual trees. For example, parkland trees, trees within hedgerows or trees otherwise specifically identified.

Restocking or regeneration of the felled tree/trees is required. This activity requires a felling licence if the tree stem (trunk) is 8cm or greater in diameter when measured 1.3 metres from the ground, unless an exemption applies.

There is a commonly used exemption for landowners felling individual trees. You may fell up to 5 cubic metres of timber within any calendar quarter (January to March, for example) without the need for a felling licence. This is provided you do not sell more than 2 cubic metres.

For help calculating timber volumes, please see the Forestry Commission’s timber volume calculator.

Felling to create open space

Felling within the bounds of an existing woodland to create permanent open space which benefits the woodland. This is typically to form rides, glades, tracks, and forest roads.

The open space created must:

• improve the internal structural diversity of the woodland
• create additional internal woodland habitats
• improve the overall woodland condition

Open spaces must be appropriately scaled to the size of the woodland. This is dependent on overall woodland size as shown:

In woodlands up to 10ha in area:

• individual areas of open space should not exceed 0.5ha
• the total area of open space should account for no more than 10% of the total woodland area

In woodlands more than 10ha in area:

• individual areas of open space should not exceed 0.5ha. On occasion they can be larger if they serve a particular purpose
• the total area of open space should account for between 10% and 20% of the total woodland area

The open space created is still part of the woodland, so restocking is not needed. This type of felling is also not considered deforestation provided a land use change is not applied.

This activity requires a felling licence if the tree stems (trunks) are 8cm or greater in diameter when measured 1.3 metres from the ground, unless an exemption applies.

Find more information on open spaces in woodlands.

Regeneration felling

Felling selected dominant canopy trees to allow the growth of sub-canopy natural regeneration or under-planted trees. There should be some retention of dominant woodland canopy.

Regeneration felling enables greater age class, structure, and species diversity in woodland. It can be used to promote and secure restocking in different woodland management systems such as:

• uniform shelterwood - opening a canopy evenly and gradually to develop regeneration and achieve a new stand
• group shelterwood - opening the canopy in groups and then expanding them to develop regeneration and achieve a new stand
• irregular shelterwood - opening the canopy irregularly to develop regeneration and achieve a new stand
• selection system - where felling and regeneration are continuous over the whole area, group selection involves felling groups of trees (generally less than 0.25ha in area), and single tree selection involves felling single trees

Restocking is required, primarily through natural regeneration. There may be a need for replanting if natural regeneration is not expected to meet the required stocking density or species mix, or if it fails to do so.

This activity requires a felling licence if the tree stems (trunks) are 8cm or greater in diameter when measured 1.3 metres from the ground, unless an exemption applies.

Thinning

The felling of selected trees in an even distribution across an established woodland area. Thinning is typically used to promote growth and greater value in the remaining trees by adjusting density or species composition.

Thinning is normally undertaken on a cycle of once every 10 years for broadleaves and once every 5 years for conifers. Gaps in the canopy are expected to close within the thinning cycle.

The felling operation for thinning will typically not:

• remove more than 30% of the total number of trees per operation
• remove more than 30% of the original canopy cover per operation

The appropriate number of trees to be removed through thinning will vary with each woodland. It should be calculated carefully. The percentages above do not represent the maximum thinning that can be done without deviating from good forestry practice.

Thinning activities do not require restocking. This activity requires a felling licence if the tree stems (trunks) are 10cm or greater in diameter when measured 1.3 metres from the ground, unless an exemption applies.

For all felling licence exemptions please see Tree felling: getting permission.

Definitions of restocking

Restock the felled area with coppice regrowth

The regeneration of woody stems from a coppice stool. This is typically following:

• the removal of some or all the growing stems from an existing coppice stool
• the felling of a single stemmed tree for the first time to create coppice

To be successful, the tree must be of an appropriate species and age for coppicing. Should the coppice regrowth fail to establish, you will most likely need to replant the felled area.

Restock the felled area through natural regeneration

The re-establishment of tree cover on previously wooded sites using natural processes.

This is achieved through:

• natural seed fall
• seed dispersal by wind, birds or mammals
• through vegetative suckering where new growth forms from the stem or roots of adjacent trees

It can include enrichment planting of individual trees or sowing of seeds to enhance the species diversity of the woodland.

Restock the felled area by planting

The planting of seeds, saplings, or young trees to replace individual trees or areas of felled woodland.

Stock an alternative area

Establishment of new trees in a different agreed location to the felled area.

This can be achieved through the planting of seeds, saplings, or young trees. In some cases, natural colonisation may be used. See Other definitions for natural colonisation.

Restock with individual trees

The planting of seeds, saplings, or young trees to replace felled trees in an identified location.

Plant an alternative area with individual trees

The planting of seeds, saplings, or young trees to replace felled trees in a different agreed location.

Do not intend to restock

Where restocking or replacement of trees is not required after felling.

This applies:

• where restocking is not likely to be successful, such as following thinning
• where restocking is not proposed, for example for deforestation, or to create open space within a woodland

Although no restocking is required on deforested sites, compensatory planting elsewhere may be required.

If you are applying for a felling licence for deforestation, you may also need to complete the EIA deforestation application form.

Other definitions

Natural colonisation

The establishment of tree cover on previously unwooded sites using natural processes.

This is achieved through:

• natural seed fall
• seed dispersal by wind, birds or mammals
• through vegetative suckering where new growth forms from the stem or roots of adjacent trees

It can include enrichment planting of individual trees or sowing of seed to enhance the species diversity of the woodland.

Glossary

• tree - see Definitions of trees and woodland
• woodland - see Definitions of trees and woodland
• canopy cover - the area covered by the branches and leaves of a tree when viewed from above
• rides - open space used to separate forest areas and provide an access route. See the UKFS Glossary and Open spaces in woodland
• glades - a grassy area of land within a woodland without trees
• plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) - planted forests of native or non-native tree species that have replaced the original ‘natural’ woods on sites with a long history of woodland cover. See the UKFS Glossary
• short rotation coppice (SRC) - trees (usually willow or poplar) typically grown as an energy crop and harvested at intervals of about 3 years. See the UKFS Glossary
• short rotation forestry (SRF) - the practice of growing single or multi-stemmed trees of fast-growing species on a reduced rotation length primarily for the production of biomass. See the UKFS Glossary
• coppice stool - the stump of a felled tree that produces new regenerative growth

Guidance and support

Tree felling: getting permission
EIA deforestation application form
Timber volume calculator
Environmental Impact Assessments for woodland
Definition of trees and woodland