Government agency, the Forestry Commission, has secured the highest combined penalty for unlicensed tree felling.

During January and February 2023, a contractor illegally felled 586.20m³ of mixed woodland near Belford, Northumberland, lacking the required licence.

In July of this year, at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court, the business was fined £30k, plus a £2k surcharge and £2k in prosecution costs. The landowner was also fined £400 for the same offence: felling growing timber without a licence, in violation of Section 9(1) of the Forestry Act 1967.

In a recent social media post, the Forestry Commission emphasised that Restocking Notices are standard in such cases, requiring landowners to replant trees to offset environmental damage. Failure to comply may result in an Enforcement Notice, mandating not only restocking but also a decade of maintenance.

By imposing substantial fines, the Commission has signalled its enforcement role and sent clear guidance: unlicensed felling, where a license would typically be required, constitutes a criminal offence.

Find out when you need to apply and how to report a suspected illegal felling here.