Protected species and tree felling or woodland management: how to avoid committing an offence

You should aim to manage your tree felling, woodland management or forest operation so that you can avoid harming protected species in a way that would cause an offence.

If your work could affect protected species, or the places they use to rest or breed, you will need to ensure you can keep within the law.

Read protected species and woodland management: our regulatory approach for information about: 

• legislation
• how to manage your woodland without breaking the law
• when you might need a species licence

Follow our good practice for each protected animal species to help you avoid committing offences:

• Bats
• Where is the advice on badgers?
• Hazel dormice
• Great crested newts
• Otters
• Pine martens
• Red squirrels
• Water voles