Woodland Creation application guidance

Consider your management objectives

Within the context of the UKFS, the first stage of developing a proposal is to outline the short and long term objectives for the proposed woodland.

These will inform the remainder of the process and may, for example, include:

• timber production
• carbon sequestration
• future revenue generation
• capital appreciation
• recreational
• improving biodiversity

See pages 10-11 of the ‘Design techniques for forest management planning’ practice guide. 

Design Techniques for Forest Management - A Practice Guide

Consider what information is available and identify any new requirements

Applicants are expected to pull together available information about the land proposed for tree planting. This will include information relevant for:

• UKFS
• EIA
• grant schemes
• WCC

Table 1 provides an indication of the topics you should cover.

In the intitial proposal, applicants should summarise available survey data, such as:

• aerial photographs
• soil
• wayleaves
• habitat surveys

The source and date of surveys should be recorded as well as where any full survey data is kept.

Supporting information may need to be shared later either with Scottish Forestry or stakeholders in order to inform their understanding of the proposal.

If there are designated sites or features that influence the proposal, additional information may be required; these could include:

• historic environment
• biodiversity
• landscape
• water environment
• other designations

See pages 12-13 of the ‘Design techniques for forest management planning’ practice guide. 

Applicants considering grant support should also be familiar with the eligibility requirements and scheme rules.

Create an Issues Log

Applicants must develop an “issues log” at this early stage of the process.

The Issues log will help to create a record of the journey through the proposal process, including:

• sensitivities and opportunities identified
• any actions taken

A Concept map that complements the issues log is also important.

Please refer to Appendix 3 of this guidance for an example issues log. 

The issues log can provide a basis for stakeholder engagement, feedback and discussions with Scottish Forestry. 

The issues log can also help to simplify the process.

For example, where a number of stakeholders raise the same issue, that issue only needs to be included once in the log, together with a summary of the actions and decisions made in response.

When producing an issues log, consider how to record personal information in accordance with data protection laws including the Data Protection Act 2018 and the associated General Data Protection Regulation. 

Data Protection Act 2018 (leglisaltion.gov.uk)

This is important because an issues log will be shared with third parties during the development of a proposal.

Following Scottish Forestry guidance on this and using the forms produced by them will help minimise the collection of personal information and reduce the need for redaction at later stages of the process.

At the end of step 1.1 the applicant should have summary information which will:

• provide base line information for the site to allow for consideration of the objectives, sensitivities and opportunities identified
• note what additional information, surveys or assessments may be required for the next step (Step 1.2) in the process
• provide a basis for discussions with stakeholders

You should also check our supporting Information document for more details (HTML based? Or the old doc?)

Please refer to the Consultees Joint Working Agreement online for guidance about when to engagement with these organisations.

Scottish Forestry and Statutory Consultees Joint Working Agreement