Guidance

Ecological survey and assessment for woodland creation in England

Find out how to assess whether your site might be suitable for woodland creation by carrying out species and vegetation surveys.

• From: Forestry Commission
• Published: 22 December 2021
• Last updated: 13 June 2024 — See all updates

Applies to England

• Publication for Northern Ireland
• Publication for Scotland
• Publication for Wales

Documents

Ecological survey and assessment for woodland creation (England)

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Ecological survey and assessment for woodland creation (England)

PDF, 453 KB, 36 pages

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Annexes: Ecological survey and assessment for woodland creation (England)

MS Word Document, 2.12 MB

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Annexes: Ecological survey and assessment for woodland creation (England)

PDF, 878 KB, 31 pages

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Details

You should use this guidance when the Forestry Commission tells you that ecological surveys (for example peat, habitat or breeding birds) are needed on or adjoining a proposed woodland creation site.

This guidance replaces all other Forestry Commission guidance on natural environment surveys.

Published 22 December 2021
Last updated 13 June 2024 + show all updates

1. 13 June 2024

   Fixed links, added description of a survey method for peat, Edited the pricing schedule in Annex 3, report templates are now available for 2 survey types, and an additional Annex has been created (10) containing the templates.

2. 9 November 2023

   This document was updated and renamed in October 2023 to reflect our experience from surveys carried out in 2021/2022 and in response to recent research and small changes to Forestry Commission incentives. Information has been clarified in relation to timing and data searches, and minor changes have been made to requirements for survey methods, mapping, reporting and assessment. The guidance has been endorsed by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM).

3. 30 November 2022

   'Natural environment survey and assessment instructions' updated.

4. 22 December 2021

   First published.