What Is the National Forest Inventory?
The National Forest Inventory (NFI) is the Forestry Commission's authoritative database of every woodland area of 0.5 hectares or more in England. The 2024 release is the latest cycle and represents the most up-to-date national picture of woodland cover, species mix and management status.
For land buyers, developers and planning consultants, the NFI is a critical constraint layer. Woodland identified by the NFI can trigger:
- UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) compliance requirements for any felling or management.
- A felling licence under the Forestry Act 1967 for trees exceeding 8cm (or 10cm) stem diameter at breast height.
- Tree Preservation Order overlap where land overlaps with council-protected trees — map and check before any site alteration.
How the NFI dataset is structured
Each woodland polygon in the NFI is classified by woodland type: broadleaf, conifer, mixed, open space, assumed woodland (satellite-derived), undefined. Canopy density is recorded at the woodland-wide level.
Why Woodland Status Affects Land Value
Wooded land is not equivalent agricultural land. The presence of mature timber affects land value materially — both in terms of development potential and long-term timber revenue. For developers, the cost to fell and clear woodland can range from £2,500–£12,000 per hectare, and ecology constraints (bats, breeding birds, priority habitats) can extend programmes.
- Loss of value from a parcel that cannot be built on (e.g. Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland with limited felling rights) can be 60%+ compared to equivalent agricultural land.
- Well-managed woodland can support carbon credits, biodiversity offset sales and short-rotation forestry income.
How to Check a Site Against the NFI
The fastest way is to overlay the ancient woodland and National Forest Inventory layers on the Maplify viewer.
- Open the Map Viewer and toggle on the National Forest Inventory layer.
- Navigate to the proposed site boundary.
- Identify any intersecting woodland polygons and their type classification.
- Cross-reference against the Tree Preservation Orders layer for individually protected trees and groups.
Tip: Where woodland overlaps a settlement boundary, also check for Article 4 directions and conservation areas, which often restrict tree works even outside formal TPO protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NFI dataset publicly available?
Yes. Forestry Commission releases the NFI as open data, updated every five years with annual interim updates based on satellite imagery and ground survey.
Do I always need a felling licence?
For most trees over a defined stem diameter, yes — a felling licence is required unless an exemption applies (such as trees in a domestic garden, or unavoidable safety works). Failure to obtain a licence is a criminal offence under the Forestry Act 1967.
How accurate is the National Forest Inventory?
The dataset is typically accurate to the canopy edge within ±5 metres in the most recent release. Woodland boundaries are updated approximately every five years, so interim changes may not be reflected until the next release.
Key Takeaway
The NFI 2024 release is a first-screen, must-check dataset for any UK land professional evaluating a wooded or edge-of-settlement parcel. Pair it with Ancient Woodland and TPO layers for the complete tree-constraint picture — then scope your ecology surveys and budget for felling, replanting and 30-year management before making an offer.