Do I need a felling license?

This question has been raised a number of times recently by our clients, so we thought some additional information on felling licenses might be helpful.

The Forestry Commission (FC) is the government department responsible for protecting, expanding and promoting sustainable management of woodland, and for increasing the value of trees and woodland to society and the environment.

They are the regulator for tree felling, responsible for assessing applications and for issuing licences. They monitor compliance where replanting is a condition of a licence, and use enforcement action on individuals who allow the felling of trees when a licence was required.

Tree felling is a legally controlled activity. You will normally need permission from the FC to fell growing trees and they will normally provide this by issuing a felling licence.

The licence will allow you to fell identified trees and woodland legally. Please note, in certain circumstances you may still need other permissions from other organisations, such as local authorities, before you can fell the trees. Sometimes this applies even if you do not need a felling licence.

Everyone involved in the felling of trees – whether it is an owner felling trees themselves or employing others to do the work, such as an agent, timber merchant or contractor – must ensure that a felling licence or other permission has been issued before any felling is carried out, or that one of the exceptions specified in the Forestry Act, and elsewhere, applies.

There is a helpful guidance note that covers felling licenses in much more detail, which can be found by clicking here: Tree_Felling_-_Getting_Permission_-_web_version.pdf

Applying for a felling licence three or more months prior to felling will help ensure your licence is in place before you want to commence felling.

Should you require further help or advice please get in touch: