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The Forestry Commission is the regulator for controlling tree felling in England. It does this by granting felling licences. Applications for a felling licence must include the proposed felling type and, if applicable, a restocking method.

The Forestry Commission returns many felling licence applications for extra input or correction when inaccurate use of these terms is identified.

The felling and restocking terms used in the application process are not defined in, or under, The Forestry Act 1967. However, the law does require applicants to specify the type of felling and proposals for restocking within their felling licence applications.

We have produced this guidance to clarify the terminology used by the Forestry Commission relating to the felling of trees and restocking of land. These definitions will be used for its regulatory purposes.

Find more information on the definition of trees and woodland.