Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many felling licences Forestry Commission England has granted for clearfelling operations within a) ancient semi-natural woodlands and b) plantation on ancient woodland sites in each of the last 5 years.

The Forestry Commission regulates tree felling in England. In ancient semi-natural woodland, felling is generally limited to no more than 10% of the woodland area within any five-year period and no more than 20% within any 20-year period, unless there are overriding biodiversity or social benefits. The best available estimates of felling licences granted for clear felling in ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW) and plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) over the last five years are shown below. These figures generally relate to clear felling individual coupes within larger woodlands. Most licences require restocking following felling operations.

Number of felling licences