Guidance

Public registers and consultation on forestry projects

Use the public registers to find details on proposed forestry work and Forestry Commission decisions to approve or reject proposals.

Applies to England

Use the to view and give feedback on woodland grant proposals and regulation applications, during the public consultation period.

Use the to view decisions made by the Forestry Commission on woodland grant proposals and regulation applications.

What鈥檚 on the consultation register

You can search for:

  • grant-aided woodland creation proposals
  • afforestation proposals where an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (full notification) is made
  • tree felling (except those permitting thinning works, felling of cricket bat willow where like for like restocking is proposed, or where an exemption to the consultation register applies)

You can view and comment on grant-aided woodland creation proposals, afforestation proposals where an EIA (full notification) are made, and tree felling applications for a period of 21 days.聽

During this time, you can provide feedback on the proposal by submitting a comment on the register. Your comment should relate to the UK Forestry Standard 谤别辩耻颈谤别尘别苍迟蝉.听听

On the consultation register, you can find the date the proposal was published and the last date for comments. Comments received after the end date will not be considered.

EIA stage 2 applications

The consultation register also informs you of EIA 鈥榮tage 2鈥� applications for consent at the consultation stage.

We may decide at 鈥榮tage 1鈥� that a project could have a significant impact on the environment. The project proposer must then seek advice and produce an Environmental Statement as part of a 鈥榮tage 2鈥� application for consent. This statement will include written evidence about how the impact may be mitigated.

Details of the Environmental Statement, will be on the register for public comment for 30 days. We will assess the Environmental Statement and may also consult other bodies during this period, before reaching a final decision.

Find more information about the EIA process on the EIA guidance page.

England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO)

Proposals that relate to applications under EWCO are put on the register as soon as possible.

This means the schemes may not have been checked for compliance with the UK Forestry Standard. Where schemes change significantly, to ensure compliance with the UK Forestry Standard and EWCO rules, the proposal will be relisted on the register. The public will then have 21 days to comment.

Consultation register: which tree felling applications are exempt?

Some felling licence applications may be excluded from the consultation register due to an exemption.

The exemption allows proposed tree felling for an overriding biosecurity or public safety benefit to be dealt with swiftly. It includes felling licence applications that are:

  • directly related to the management of tree pests and diseases
  • made due to a public safety issue

The exemption from the consultation register does not impact:

  • the outcome of whether or not a tree will be felled
  • the need for the Forestry Commission to consult with statutory bodies, where relevant
  • other conditions related to approving a felling licence (for example, the need to restock)

For more information about exemptions, read Forestry Commission simplify felling licence applications to protect trees and people.

How to comment on an application or get more information

Submit a comment on the consultation register website against the proposal you鈥檙e interested in.

Your comment should relate to the proposal鈥檚 compliance with the UK Forestry Standard.

Most applications are for forestry work on private land.

Request more information or comment by post

Find out which body is responsible for the application. You鈥檒l see 鈥楩orestry Commission鈥� or a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) partner listed next to 鈥極rganisation鈥� in the public register.

You can then find the correct contact details.

Contact the Forestry Commission or Defra partner

Forestry Commission proposals

Email or write to the appropriate Forestry Commission administrative hub and include the case reference number.

Defra woodland creation delivery partner proposals

How your personal information will be treated

Read the privacy notice on the to find out how any personal information you provide will be treated.

What鈥檚 on the decision register

Search the register for details of decisions on proposals for:

  • grant-aided woodland creation
  • tree felling (except those permitting thinning works, felling of cricket bat willow where like for like restocking is proposed, or where an exemption to the consultation register applies)
  • EIAs on forestry projects (afforestation, deforestation, forest roads and forest quarries)

The Forestry Commission or Defra partner may have consulted other bodies, and taken their views into account, before making a decision.

Decisions are published on the decision register for 28 days. During this time, you can view details including:

  • the project type
  • the date the decision was made
  • the outcome and when the decision expires

You cannot submit comments on the decision register.

If you feel you need to comment on a proposal on the decision register, contact the appropriate聽Forestry Commission administrative hub聽or woodland creation delivery partner with the case reference number. Your comment will be forwarded to the team responsible for the original decision.

Where to find legacy decisions

The Forestry Commission is required to keep a long-term record of decisions, particularly those related to EIA cases.

You can find legacy decisions about the following on the Land Information Search map browser:

  • individual grant schemes
  • felling licence
  • EIA
  • map and dataset records

If you need more specific information about decisions that are no longer in the decision register, email us at [email protected].

How to make a complaint

Firstly, find out which body (Forestry Commission or a Defra partner) is responsible for the application. You can find it in the public register next to 鈥極rganisation.鈥�

To complain about a Forestry Commission decision, follow the complaints procedure.

To complain about a Defra woodland creation partner decision, contact the organisation directly.

Contact the Forestry Commission鈥檚 support team

Email our support team at [email protected] if you:

  • cannot access the registers
  • have problems using the registers
  • need a copy of the underlying data in an accessible format (such as a csv. file)
  • need further information

Updates to this page

Published 9 July 2018
Last updated 1 May 2025 show all updates
  1. The layout was updated to improve the user journey.

  2. Added a note that data can be requested in an alternative format.

  3. Added Derbyshire Heartwood to the list of partners.

  4. Added Trees on Tees to the list of Defra partners.

  5. Added Cumbria Community Forest to the Defra woodland creation partners.

  6. Added latest version of the guide 'How to use the Forestry Commission Consultation Register and make comments online'.

  7. Updated to reflect the consultation public register period has changed from 28 to 21 days.

  8. Downtime information added.

  9. Update about system downtime.

  10. Additional information about EWCO and the public register.

  11. Updates to reflect a new Public Register portal system for non-FC delivery partners

  12. Guidance added for Consultation Public Register felling licence exemptions

  13. The 'How to use the Forestry Commission Consultation Register and make comments online' document has been updated.

  14. The new public registers have been added to this page.

  15. First published.

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