Felling Licence Exceptions

Anyone wishing to fell trees in Britain may need permission from the Forestry Commission (FC). The FC deal with applications for felling licences at local FC Conservancy Offices. The process of applying for a licence will take at least ten weeks.

Failure to have the correct licence may result in the prosecution of anyone involved in the unauthorized felling. A licence carries an expiry date after which felling must cease, even if all the agreed felling has not yet been accomplished. A new licence then has to be applied for. If in any doubt about the need for permission or a licence, enquire at your local FC office.  List of FC offices

These exemptions applied as of October 2002. Check the FC website for any subsequent changes to the regulations which may have occurred.

Felling that does not require permission:

In any calendar quarter (1st January - 31st March, 1st April - 30th June, 1st July - 30th September, 1st October - 31st December) 5 cubic metres can be felled without a licence, provided no more than 2 cubic metres are sold.

The following are also currently exempt from the need for licences:

• Lopping and topping. This usually includes activities such as tree surgery, pruning and pollarding.
• Felling included in an approved Dedication Plan or approved under the Woodland Grant Scheme before 1st April 1998.
• Felling fruit trees, or trees growing in a garden, orchard, churchyard or designated public open space.
• Felling trees which when measured 1.3m from the ground;
  Have a diameter of 8cm or less.
  If thinnings, have a diameter of 10cm or less.
  If coppice, have a diameter of 15cm or less.
• Felling trees immediately required for development authorized by planning permission, or to allow vital access for suppliers of essential services such as gas, water and electricity.
• Felling necessary for the removal of danger or abatement of a nuisance (for example where a third party may be threatened).
• Felling necessary to prevent the spread of a quarantine pest or disease, in accordance with a notice served by an FC Plant Health Officer.
• Felling in compliance with any obligation imposed by or under an Act of Parliament.

Tree Preservation Orders  

Tree Preservation Orders (TPO's) are made by local planning authorities (usually the local council) to protect valued individual trees or areas of woodland. The presence of a TPO covering a site prevents the felling, lopping, topping or uprooting of trees in the area without permission from the planning authority.

Before felling, lopping, topping or uprooting any tree within a Conservation Area, permission must be sought from the local authority. Unless one of the exceptions applies, you will in any case need to apply for a felling licence from the Forestry commission. Failure to declare knowledge of the presence of TPO's or Conservation Area status in an application which results in a licence being issued, renders the licence invalid. You will commit an offence by cutting down the trees concerned.

Tree felling that will affect Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI's) will either need to be agreed with English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage, or the Countryside Council for Wales, depending on tree location.

Timber Movement

Restrictions on the movement of timber are imposed by the Forestry Commission in order to control the spread of pests and diseases. Check with your local FC Plant Health Officer. List of FC offices

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