A woodland management plan gives land managers a structured way to plan and organise the sustainable management of woodland to a common industry standard.

The UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) sets out the UK government’s approach to sustainable forestry and woodland management, including standards and requirements, regulations and monitoring, and reporting. It applies to all woodland and woodland operations, regardless of who owns or manages it.

WhyBenefits createof a woodland management plan?plan

1. Creating

   A a woodland management plan can demonstratehelp sustainableyou:

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   • demonstrate how you will manage and theirmonitor longyour termwoodland monitoring.area sustainably
   • Someapply for grant schemes askthat landrequire managers to have an approved management plan in place before makingyou an application.apply
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How to produce youra woodland management plan

You should include all woodland on your property, in your woodland management plan.

For woodland management plans up to 3 hectares use the small‘small woodland plan template:template’ (excluding CS Higher Tier applications):

• small woodland management plan template (ODTMS Word Document, 160168 KB)
• small woodland management plan template (MS Word DocumentODT, 168160 KB)

For woodland management plans between 3 and 10 hectares, use either the small woodland management plan template or the full woodland management plan template.

AFor grant is available to help fund the production of a woodland management plan for woodland over 310 hectares.hectares, Readand moreCS aboutHigher theTier Countrysideapplications, Stewardship option PA3.

If you wish to apply for the grant, you must use the full woodland management plan template:

• full woodland management plan template (ODTMS Word Document, 7342.01 KBMB)
• full woodland management plan template (MS Word DocumentODT, 2.01734 MBKB)

Using non-Forestry Commission woodland plan templates

For non-Forestry Commission woodland plan templates that don’tdo not match our woodland plan template, use this cover sheet (MS Word Document, 36.543 KB). It explains the UKFS criteria being assessed and provides a consistent framework for us to review the plan.assessed.

Complete the inventory and plan of operations worksheet

For all woodland plan template types,types (excluding small woodland), complete the inventory and plan of operations worksheet. It sets out your woodland inventory and must relate directly to compartments and sub-compartments shown on your maps.

The plan of operations also gathers information relating to felling and restocking and is necessaryneeded forto issuingissue a felling licence.

There are 2 versions of thisthe worksheet:worksheet to choose from:

• Inventoryinventory and plan of operations worksheet (V4): with formulas (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 1.07 MB): thiswill highlightsshow wherewhen data entryis errorsentered existincorrectly, on the worksheets so you can make corrections straight away
• Inventoryinventory and plan of operations worksheet (V4): no formulas (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 321 KB): thiswill letsallow you to enter data more freely,freely itbut haswill nonot errorcheck checkingfor soerrors we(your mayworksheet havecould tobe returnreturned it to you forto correctionscorrect any errors)

Produce a mapmaps

MapsYou helpneed tomaps communicate information to support your woodland management plan. Use several maps to show a variety of topics or themes affecting your woodland. YouMake mustsure ensure that each compartment you show on the map is reflected in the inventory of the plan of operations.

You can create a map by:

• requesting a map using the Forestry Commission map request service
• using myForest service
• using your own Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Ensure you have the right to use any mapmaps submitted to us for commercial purposes.

ReadUse the guideForestry ‘howCommission guide to createcomplete athe woodlandplan management plan’template

TheRead guide how to create a woodland management plan using the template (PDF, 635394 KB, 2827 pages), willwhich helpincludes youguidance complete a woodland management plan successfully using:on:

• ourcompleting the Forestry Commission plan template
• the inventory and plan of operations worksheet
• your associated maps

ReadThis this guide is for creating a UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) compliant management plan. Read it thoroughly and refer to it regularly.

CountrysideWhat Stewardshipto (include in a CS) Higher Tier application

If youyou’re are drafting your plan for a Countryside Stewardship (CS) Higher Tier application, read the checking guide (ODT, 68 KB). It tellswill help you understand what should be included to ensureinclude you’re covering all relevant information in your plan.

Your woodland management plan must support and validate your CS Higher Tier application.

Submit your draft woodland management plan

SubmitYou yourmust draftuse woodland management plan to the Operational‘full Delivery Team Hub covering your area. Make sure you include:

• a completed woodland management planplan’ template
• an inventory and plan of operations worksheet (version 4)
• your map(s)
• the GIS shapefile data of your map, if possible
• a plan submission proforma (MS Word Document, 16.3 KB) if you’re receiving funding from the Countryside Stewardship scheme

template.

Submit your shapefilespatial data

If you have created shapefilesspatial data for your maps in GIS software, itfor wouldexample bea helpfulshapefile, you can submit it to sharethe thatForestry dataCommission. withAlthough us.

Shapefilesthis areis not mandatory,essential, butspatial theydata can help speed up processingthe andapproval could lead to your management plan being approved faster.process.

If you can not provide shapefile data, your application may take longer to process.

By sending us your shapefiles,spatial data, you agree we can use the data for any purpose necessaryneeded forto theprocess processing and approvingassess of your management plan.

As a public authority we are subject to Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations. We may be required to disclose any information we hold in compliance with the open information legislation.

Check if your woodland is designated or has special features

YouIf needyour toland showhas us any designated areas or featuresspecial usingfeatures, anyou annotatedneed mapto withinprovide yourdetails plan.on Ifan aannotated designationmap applieswithin youyour need to provide details.plan.

ThereYou arecan use the following search tools availableto forcheck checking if your woodland is designated or has special features.

Magic map

Use Natural England’s ‘MAGIC’ map to check if your woodland is designated, for example, as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI).

You can also search for other features (such as scheduled monuments, priority habitats and species) and information such as Countryside Stewardship scheme details in your area.

The Land Information Search (LIS)

TheUse the Forestry Commission’s Land Information Search (LIS) isto acheck map tool for searching land designations or features that might already apply to your woodland. Examples of these features include:

• include previous felling schemes
• and grant schemes

schemes.

Further forestry checks

Learn how to identify common constraints and designations within your woodland management plan area, and how to rectify them, read:

• forestry project checks: all projects
• forestry project checks: constraints

Get support for woodland on a SSSI

Find out how the Forestry Commission supports you if you do own woodland on an SSSI.

SSSIs are protected by law to conserve their wildlifeflora, fauna or geology.geological features. You must declare designations because some require consent before you begin work on your proposed plans.

If you fail to disclose any designations or featuresfeatures, you may be acting illegally.

Example woodland management plans

See examples of completed woodland management plans:

• Woodland management plan: example 1 (PDF, 474 KB, 26 pages)
• Woodland management plan: example 2 (PDF, 393 KB, 23 pages)
• Woodland management plan: example 3 (PDF, 446 KB, 28 pages)

Authorise an agent to act on your behalf

If you choose to appoint an agent to develop your woodland management plan you must sign a form to give anthem agent authority to act for you when dealing with the Forestry Commission. YouSubmit canan submit this agent authority form as part of your application for funding.

You’llIf you’re applying for Countryside Stewardship funding, you’ll also need to set agent permission levelslevels. usingUse the Rural Payments service to appoint an agent to act on your behalfbehalf.

Submission checklist

Email or post your draft woodland management plan to the Operational Delivery Team Hub covering your area.

Make sure you include the correct documents for your woodland management plan:

1). Woodland management plan template

The correct woodland management plan template must be sent in an editable format, such as MS Word, ODT, or via MyForest (editable PDF). Use either: 

• small template for woodlands 0ha to 3ha
• small or full template for woodlands 3 to 10ha
• full template for woodlands over 10ha and all CS Rural Payments Agency funded plans

Include the Forestry Commission cover sheet if you’re applyingusing a non-Forestry Commission template. Use the Forestry Commission, or MyForest, template for CountrysideCS StewardshipRural Payments Agency funding.

2). Maps

Maps with highlighted compartment boundaries, including:

• location maps
• compartment maps
• operations maps and constraints maps
• shapefiles of your map, if possible

3). Agent authority form

For all plans where an agent is acting on your behalf.

4). Inventory plan of operations (v4)

For all applications with a felling licence, except small woodland management plans (less than 3ha).

Contact the Forestry Commission

Your local woodland officer can give you advice on completing a woodland plan. They can also arrange a pre-draft site visit, if needed.

Your nearest Operational Delivery Team Hub offers guidance on processes and timings and your application.