Sensitivity maps for woodland creationOverview

We have developed a series of sensitivity mapsmaps, based on nationally available and consistent spatialdatasets data. These maps will help to indicate whetherwhere there isare likely to be potentialfewer to establish new woodland on land parcels or where there may be sensitivities thatto would prevent tree planting or woodland creation.

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England areas,Woodland existingCreation woodland,Offer assumed(EWCO) woodland,fast ortracking

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• acid

  Applications grassland

• arablereceived andafter horticulture
• calcareous1 grassland
• heather
• heatherJanuary grassland
• improved2027 grassland
• neutralfor grassland

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Introduction associatedto low sensitivity map,maps whichfor assignwoodland lowcreation sensitivityversion status5.0

This topage eitherprovides onethe ormetadata bothfor a series of 2related geospatial datasets that areidentify treatedquantified asassessments mediumof sensitivity in the fullrelative sensitivity map,of asplaces setfor outnew below:

England woodland creation lowacross sensitivityall mapof versionEngland. 4.0Their variantpurpose 1

• agriculturalis landto classinform 3a:decisions changedon toproposals lowfor sensitivity
• protectednew landscapesplanting (Nationalof Parkswoodland.

  The andresultant Nationalgeospatial Landscapes):datasets changed(map tolayers) lowhave sensitivity

Englandbeen woodlandcreated creationfrom lowan sensitivityanalysis mapof versiona 4.0range variantof 2

• agriculturalother landmap classlayers 3a:and remainingallocate mediumall sensitivity
• protectedland landscapes:in changedEngland according to lowits sensitivity

England to woodland creation lowinto sensitivityone mapof version4 4.0 variant 3

• agricultural land Class 3a: changed to low sensitivity
• protectedmedium landscapes:sensitivity
• high remainingsensitivity
• unsuitable mediumfor sensitivitywoodland creation

The variantslow ofsensitivity category has additionally been used to derive the full‘England andwoodland creation low sensitivity mapsmap’ havegeo-spatial beendata developedlayer because,to inhelp thelandowners caseand ofgrant agriculturalapplicants landengage quality,with theplanting decisionnew towoodlands.

Relationship with the low-risk map for woodland creation

The low sensitivity map v4.0version 5.0 is a development of the low-risk map for woodland creation, as defined in the Environmental Impact (Forestry) Regulations (2017), with the main differences set outas below:follows:

• all areas of peat included in Natural England’s England peat map are excluded from the low sensitivity map (and its variants), with deep peat classified as high‘high sensitivitysensitivity’ and shallow peat and other soils with peaty pockets classified as medium‘medium sensitivitysensitivity’

• areas of land included in the wader zonal maps for curlew and golden plover as strata 2 to 5 are excluded from the low sensitivity map (and its variants), with strata 4 and 5 treated as high sensitivity and strata 2 and 3 as medium sensitivity

• areasamended ofbuffers landare, included in thesome woodcases, pastureapplied andto ParklandSites Priorityof HabitatSpecial layerScientific areInterest, excludedSpecial fromprotection theAreas, lowSpecial sensitivityAreas mapof (andConservation itsand variants)RAMSAR sites

• areasintegrated ofwater landbodies includedthat inare vulnerable to water resource constraints where existing woodland cover of the historicrelevant environmenttype ridgeis andmore furrowthan layer20% are treated as medium sensitivity and excluded from the low sensitivity map (and its variants).

• amendedland buffersincluded are, in somethe cases,enhanced appliedSelected toHeritage SitesInventory offor SpecialNatural ScientificEngland Interestgeospatial (SSSIs),layer Specialis Protectiontreated Areasas (SPAs),medium Specialsensitivity Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Ramsarexcluded sites:from details of the bufferlow that applies to each are set out in the section Summary of the types of Woodland Creation sensitivity mapsmap

• some layers have also been updated, including the Priority Habitat Inventory

The low-risk map for woodland creation will continue to be used for meeting the requirements of the 2017 EIA (Forestry) regulations in terms of determining where notification may apply, rather than EIA screening.screening; However,however, the full and the 3 low sensitivity maps represent a more current view of sensitivities to woodland creation.creation

National

What’s breakdownchanged ofbetween land4.0 sensitivityand for5.0 woodlandof creation

NationalVersion statistics5.0 has been developed from version 4.0 of landthe sensitivity maps with the following changes:

• the Selected Heritage Inventory for Natural England (SHINE) geospatial layer has been added as an additional sensitivity – any of the full3 categories (low, medium and lowhigh) are categorised as medium sensitivity
• a mapsgeospatial layer identifying Integrated Water Bodies (IWBs) that are givenvulnerable into Tablewater 1,resource includingconstraints forhas been added as an additional sensitivity – IWBs where the 3relevant variants.
  woodland cover (conifer or all woodland) exceeds 20% have been categorised as medium sensitivity
• the 2024 Land Classification Map has been incorporated as an update
• the 2024 National Forestry Inventory has been incorporated as an update

National breakdown of land sensitivity for woodland creation

Table 1. National breakdown of land sensitivity for the England woodland creation full sensitivity map v4.0,version 5.0, the low sensitivity map v4.0 (restricted to blocks more than 2 hectares in area) derived from it,it and the 3 variants.variants. 

Potential area for woodland creation

Any land that falls under the following land classifications in the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) Land Cover Map 2024 (25m raster):

The following non-woodland components of the National Forest Inventory are also included:

• agriculture land
• bare area
• grassland
• low density
• other vegetation
• shrub

Summary of the types of woodland creation sensitivity maps

The datasets now available are:

England woodland creation full sensitivity map v4.0

This dataset is the product of geospatial analysis to identify areas that may have sensitivities that need to be considered when creating new woodland in England. It identifies places regarded as either:

1. lowLow sensitivitysensitivity.
2. mediumMedium sensitivitysensitivity.
3. highHigh sensitivitysensitivity.
4. unsuitableUnsuitable (for woodland creation)creation).

The full sensitivity map covers all of England to the high-water mark with the entire country assigned to one of the four categories set out above.

England woodland creation low sensitivity map v4.0

This dataset is based on a subset of the ‘England woodland creation full sensitivity map v4.0’v5.0’ dataset, for England, showing only land regarded asas:

        1a. low sensitivity (as in the full sensitivity map), but with the additional criteria that these areas are greater than 2 hectares in extent.

Three variants of the low sensitivity map are also presented:presented, further detail follows in the relevant sections:

•         1b. England woodland creation low sensitivity map v4.0v5.0 -– variant 1

•         1c. England woodland creation low sensitivity map v4.0v5.0 -– variant 2

•         1d. England woodland creation low sensitivity map v4.0v5.0 -– variant 3

The low sensitivity map covers all of England to the high-water mark and shows where the land is assigned as low sensitivity according to the respective criteria for the specific map asthat fully detailed below.follows.

Woodland

What Creation Opportunity Area

Any land that falls under the followingsensitivity landmaps classifications in the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) Land Cover Map 2020 (25 m raster):

The followingEngland non-woodlandwoodland componentscreation offull thesensitivity Nationalmap Forest Inventory are also included:

v5.0

• agriculture land
• bare ground
• grassland
• low density tree cover
• other vegetation
• shrub

How land is classified unsuitable or low, medium, high sensitivity

Extent: England
Format: Raster grid,grid. polygonPolygon format is also availableavailable.
Grid resolution: 25 metres by 25 metres

Land

Low that is low sensitivity land for woodland creation

Land with a low sensitivity for woodland creation is defined in this map layer as land with any one or more of the following designations:

It is not:

• unsuitable
• high sensitivity for woodland creation
• medium sensitivity for woodland creation

It is also within land from the following land cover categories of the Land Cover Map (2021)(2024) (LCM) published by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH)::

• acid grassland
• arable and horticulture
• calcareous grassland
• heather
• heather grassland
• improved grassland
• neutral grassland

The following non-woodland Interpretedinterpreted Forestforest Typestypes (IFTs) from Forest Research’s National Forest Inventory (NFI) woodland map (2020)(2024) are also included:

• agriculture land
• bare groundarea
• grassland
• low density tree cover
• other vegetation
• shrub

LandMedium that is medium sensitivity land for woodland creation

Land with a medium sensitivity for new planting of woodland is defined in this map layer as land with any one or more of the following designations:

It is not:

• unsuitable
• high sensitivity for woodland creation

It is also in map layers defined as:

1. acidAcid vulnerable catchments:catchments. catchmentsCatchments are assessed for acid vulnerability using the Waterwater Frameworkframework Directivedirective classification of water quality, published by the Environment Agency. We define acid vulnerability from the results for pH (one element of the Physico-Chemicalphysico-chemical Qualityquality test) and both fish and invertebrates,invertebrates which are elements of the biological quality test (i.e. all areas defined as ‘FAIL’, or ‘FAIL_BIO’ in the 2019 data)

   data).
2. Agricultural Land Class ( ALC):. In areas ALC 1, or ALC 2 or ALC 3a as defined in the provisional agricultural land classification.
3. National Landscapes,landscapes previously(previously known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs)Beauty).
4. Birdlife International Important Bird Areas (IBAs)Areas.
5. Countryside StewardshipStewardship. (CS): a) Land parcels with CSCountryside schemeStewardship agreementsScheme Agreements with end dates later than 31 December 2021;2021 plus b) Land parcels in all Higher-tier agreementsagreements.
6. Countryside Right of Way (CROWCRoW) Act 2000 -– S4 Conclusive Registered Common LandLand.
7. Environmental Stewardship Higher Level Agreementsagreements.
8. Local Naturenature Reserves (LNRs)reserves.
9. National Parksparks (NPs)and the Broads.
10. Natural England peatPeat map:Map on(2008). On land with either shallow peaty soils = medium sensitivity and other soils with peaty pockets = medium sensitivitysensitivity.
11. Priority Habitat Inventory:Inventory. inIn places that are any one or more of the following:following, fragmented heath, grass moorland, good quality semi-improved grasslandgrassland.
12. Wader Zonal Map for goldenGolden ploverPlover and curlewCurlew breeding wading bird species (a combined layer showing highest sensitivity for either species):species). In either strata 2 or strata 3 areas (i.e. medium sensitivity)sensitivity).
13. ridgeRidge and furrow:furrow. ridgeRidge and furrow with no buffer applied:applied. detectionDetection areas onlyonly.

LandSHINE. thatAny isof highthe three categories (low, medium and high).

Integrated Water Bodies (conifer). Where conifer woodland cover exceeds 20%.

Integrated Water Bodies (broadleaf). Where total woodland cover exceeds 20%.

High sensitivity land for woodland creation

Land with a high sensitivity for new planting of woodland is defined in this map layer as land within any one or more of the following designations:

It is not unsuitable.

It is also within:

• Nationalnational Naturenature Reservesreserves
• Natural England peatPeat map:Map. inIn areas of deep peaty soils
• Priority Habitat Inventory:Inventory. withinWithin other than fragmented heath, grass moorland,moorland and good quality semi-improved grassland
• RamsarRAMSAR sites:sites. in,In, or within a 700700m mile buffer
• registered battlefields:battlefields. in,In, or within a 200200m mile buffer
• registered parks and gardens:gardens. in,In or within a 200200m mile buffer
• scheduled monuments:monuments. in,In or within a 200200m mile buffer
• Special Protection AreasAreas: (SPAs):in in, or within a 2,0002,000m mile buffer
• Sites of Special Scientific InterestInterest. (SSSIs):If if the land is above the moorland line, then in, or within a 1,0001,000m mile buffer
• Sites of Special Scientific InterestInterest. (SSSIs):If if the land is below the moorland line, then in, or within a 250250m mile buffer
• Special Areas of ConservationConservation. (SACs):If if the land is above the moorland line, then in, or within a 700700m mile buffer
• Special Areas of ConservationConservation. (SACs):If if the land is below the moorland line, then in, or within athe 250250m mile buffer
• Wader Zonal Map for goldenGolden ploverPlover and curlewCurlew breeding wading bird species (a combined layer showing highest sensitivity for either species):species). inIn either strata 4 or strata 5 areas (i.e. high sensitivity)
• Worldworld Heritageheritage Site:site. in,In, or within a 200200m mile buffer
• wood pasture and parkland priority habitat:habitat. allAll categories

Land that is unsuitable for woodland creation

Land that is unsuitable for new planting of woodland is defined in this map layer as land with any one or more of the following designations:

designations based on Land Cover Map (2021)(2024) (LCM) from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH): Inwith placesthe definedfollowing as:land classifications:

NationalOr Forestany Inventoryof (NFI)the woodlandfollowing mapinterpreted (2020)forest types from the National Forest Research.Inventory woodland Themap following(2024) Interpretedfrom Forest Types (IFTs):Research:

• assumed woodland
• broadleaved
• conifer
• coppice
• coppice with standards
• failed
• felled
• ground prep
• mixed mainly broadleaved
• mixed mainly conifer
• open water
• quarry
• river
• road
• uncertain
• urban
• windblown
• young trees

All areas of England not thus defined as ‘unsuitable’ have gone on to be identified as either low sensitivity, medium sensitivity,sensitivity or high sensitivity.

The England woodland creation low sensitivity map v4.0

Extent: England
Format: Raster grid,grid. polygonPolygon format is also available available.
Grid resolution: 25 mmetres by 25 mmetres

This is a separate geospatial map layer based onupon a subset of the England woodland creation full sensitivity map v4.0.v5.0.

It shows land parcels that fulfil both of the following criteria:

1. lowLow sensitivity for woodland creation in the England woodland creation full sensitivity map v4.0v5.0.
2. ofOf an extent of more than 2 hectares or(i.e. more> 2.0ha).

The England woodlandeoodland creation low sensitivity map v4.0:v5.0 further– 3 further variants

Extent: England
Format: Raster grid,grid. polygonPolygon format also availableavailable.
Grid resolution: 25 mmetres by 25 m metres
Of an extent of more than 2 hectares or(> more 2.0 ha)

These are 3,3 further, separate geospatial map layers based on the England woodland creation low sensitivity map v4.0:v5.0:

England woodland creation low sensitivity map v4.0v5.0 -– variant 1

This is the England woodland creation low sensitivity map v4.0v5.0 plus areas of land that have different sensitivities assigned compared to the core England woodland creation low sensitivity map v4.0:v5.0:

• Agricultural ALC Land Classification 3a assigned as low sensitivity
• Nationalnational Landscapeslandscapes (previously Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) assigned as low sensitivity
• Nationalnational Parksparks and the Broads assigned as low sensitivity

England woodland creation low sensitivity map v4.0v5.0 -– variant 2

This is the England woodland creation low sensitivity map v4.0v5.0 plus areas of land that have different sensitivities assigned compared to the core England woodland creation low sensitivity map v4.0:5.0:

• Nationalnational Landscapeslandscapes (previously Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) assigned as low sensitivity
• Nationalnational Parksparks and the Broads assigned as low sensitivity

England woodland creation low sensitivity map v4.0v5.0 -– variant 3

This is the England woodland creation low sensitivity map v4.0v5.0 plus areas of land that have different sensitivities assigned compared to the core England woodland creation low sensitivity map v4.0:5.0:

• ALC Agricultural Land Classification 3a assigned as low sensitivity.
  sensitivity

Spatial datasets used in sensitivity mapping

Note 1: UKCEH Land Cover Map

UK Centre for Ecology &and Hydrology’s Land Cover Maps are parcel-based thematic classifications of satellite image data covering the UK. They are used in a wide range of applications by government departments and agencies, county councils, charities and environmental management bodies.

Further details of the land cover map used for the woodland creation sensitivity maps can be found in:via Mortonthe RD;Digital MarstonObject CG;Identifier; O’NeilMorton, AWR,D; andMarston RowlandC.G.; CSO’Neil.A.W.;Rowland.C.S; (2021). Land Cover Map 20202024 (land parcels, GB) NERC EDS Environmental Information Data CentreCentre..

Note 2: Natural England peat map 2008

FindUse peatyPeaty soils location data for more information on this data layer and licensing.licensing. By using this data you are accepting the terms of use of a 3rdthird party supplier. You will be provided with the relevant terms of use. BGS,British Geological Survey (BGS), Cranfield University and OSOrdnance Survey must be acknowledged in any reports or documents produced as a result of using the peat layer.

ProvisionalNote Agricultural3: LandProvisional Classification

AgriculturalData Land Classification data that havehas been further refined using the ‘Likelihood of Best and Most Versatile’ (BMV) layer to split class 3 land into 3a and 3b. 3b. For Forthis BMVlayer’s Licencelicence information contactemail data.services@naturalengland.org.uk.

© Natural England copyright [2019], reproduced with the permission of Natural England. © Crown Copyrightcopyright and database right.right [year]. Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000851168. Derived from 1:50 000 scale BGS Digital Data under Licencelicence 2006/072 British Geological Survey. © NERC. National Soils map . © Cranfield University (NSRI) . © Crown Copyrightcopyright and database rights [2026].

Note 4: The Acid Vulnerable Catchments layer

Waterbodies that have failed for pH (low pH - acidic) and/or biology due to acidification are treated as failing and their catchments are flagged by failing in the column ‘RBMP_c3’. The mapping will be updated for each cycle of the Riverriver Basinbasin Managementmanagement Plans.plans. The ‘At‘at Risk’risk’ category has been removed as there is enough evidence to determine if the catchment is vulnerable (failing) or not.

Waterbodies that have failed for pH (low pH – acidic) and/or biology due to acidification are treated as Failing and their catchments are flagged by failing in the column ‘RBMP_c3’.

Note 5: Important Bird Areas (IBA)

Data reproduced with the permission of RSPB. © Crown Copyright.copyright. Ordnance Survey licence number 100021787 (2022).

Note 6: Ridge and Furrowfurrow

This dataset is subject to restrictions. It can only be used internally by the Forest ServicesCommission (Forest Services) and for inclusion in sensitivity and opportunity mapping where the data is aggregated with other large-scale datasets.

TheNote Acid7: VulnerableThe Catchmentsvulnerable IWB layer

WaterbodiesThis thatwas havedeveloped failedby forthe pHEnvironment (lowAgency pHas -the acidic)most and/orappropriate biologyspatial duescale to acidificationundertake arewater treatedresource asvulnerability failingmodelling and theirguidance/regulation catchmentsfor arethe flaggedoriginal byresearch failingand indevelopment theproject. columnThis ‘RBMP_c3’.dataset Theis mappingsubject willto restrictions. It can only be updatedused internally by the Forest Commission (Forest Services) and for eachinclusion cyclein ofsensitivity and opportunity mapping where the Riverdata Basinis Managementaggregated Plans.with Theother ‘Atlarge-scale Risk’datasets.

Note category8: hasSHINE

This beendataset removedis assubject thereto restrictions. SHINE data is enoughowned evidenceand created by local historic environment services and provided under licence to determineForest ifServices. It can only be used internally by the catchmentForest Commission (Forest Services) and for inclusion in the land sensitivity mapping and the historic environment opportunity map for new woodland where the data is vulnerableaggregated (failing)with orother not.large-scale datasets.

NationalMaps overviewand variants of the full sensitivity map version 4.05.0

Map 1: England woodland creation full sensitivity map version 4.05.0.

Map 2: England woodland creation full sensitivity map version 4.05.0 variant 11.

Map 3: England woodland creation full sensitivity map version 4.05.0 variant 22.

Map 4: England woodland creation full sensitivity map version 4.05.0 variant 33.

Map 5: England woodland creation low sensitivity map version 4.05.0.

Map 6: England woodland creation low sensitivity map version 4.05.0 variant 11.

Map 7: England woodland creation low sensitivity map version 4.05.0 variant 22.

Map 8: England woodland creation low sensitivity map version 4.05.0 variant 33.

Further

Contact us and further information

For further information on any of these woodland creation sensitivity map geospatial data layers you can contact contact:

evidence@forestrycommission.gov.uk.

Version

Previous 4.0sensitivity representsmap theversions

Version most up to date mapping of known sensitivities to woodland creation. You can also view this guide in PDF format:4.0:

PDFForestry guideCommission’s to sensitivity maps for woodland creation (v.4.0)

PDF, 3.33 MB, 22 pages

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