Permissive and traditional uses include:

• Permissive access routes
• De facto access to well-known landmarks
• Gathering fruit or fungi by the public for their own consumption where this does not jeopardise the achievement of biodiversity objectives (having regard to codes of good practice)
• Water supplies.

Permissive routes can be closed annually to maintain their permissive status.

Traditional uses that exploit the woodland resource (e.g. peat cutting) should be carried out at a traditional scale.

‘Integrity’ refers principally to the ecological maintenance of the woodland.

Woodlands containing or adjoining notable historic environment or ecological features may attract large numbers of visitors even to small properties. This presents an opportunity to promote public access and/or educate visitors about the multiple benefits of forestry.

Professional associations can advise on necessary safety and insurance provisions, ways of supporting educational visits and studies, and methods for recovering some or all of the extra costs of satisfying public demand.

In Scotland:

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act (2003) provides for responsible access on foot, cycle or horse and also for responsible management of access by land owners and managers.

The Scottish Outdoor Access Code provides guidance on responsible behaviour of those taking and managing access together with circumstances where access may be restricted.

In addition, supplementary guidance is published on specific aspects such as events and core paths.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland:

There is no statutory right of general access to woodland thus emphasising the value of allowing some public access which may be provided through one or more of:

• A permissive freedom to roam
• Public rights of way through or beside the wood
• Publicised open days or guided walks each year
• Permissive access on specified routes
• Access management agreements with local authorities
• In England and Wales only – by voluntarily dedicating woodland for public access under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW).

Public access, other than on public rights of way, and environmental education may be denied in the following example situations:

• Woodlands under 10 ha in size with a high private amenity value
• Areas that adjoin dwellings or private gardens
• Isolated woodlands to which there is no ready access route for the public across adjoining land
• Woodlands where there is current evidence of serious and sustained abuse or damage. Persistent vandalism may force owners/managers to place particular woodland blocks or areas ‘out of bounds’. Reasons should be communicated through local schools, libraries, post offices and parish halls to help stimulate community co-operation to combat damage
• Areas of the woodland that contain sites, species or features that would be particularly vulnerable to disturbance
• Periods or days when country sports, outdoor recreation or special events would be jeopardised
• Temporary closures in order to ensure public safety.

Examples of impacts include:

• Public safety and access implications of woodland operations
• Timber traffic, particularly in and around the woodland
• Natural hazards to workers and the public, e.g. hazardous trees
• Smoke
• Management of hazards caused by visitor use.

Promotion of integration into the local economy may be achieved by:

• Allowing local or specialist markets opportunities to purchase small-scale or specialist parcels
• Promoting and encouraging enterprises which will strengthen and diversify the woodland economy and the local economy
• Making equitable provision for local employment for contractors and suppliers to provide services and supplies and making this known.

The woodland’s potential products include non-timber woodland products and recreational activities.

An example of how the owner/manager might help to diversify the processing industry is that a proportion of timber parcels are advertised and sold by open tender or auction.

Reference to country forestry strategies and engagement with local woodland and community forest initiatives may highlight opportunities to fulfil this requirement.

This requirement relates to anyone on the work site, including workers and members of the public.

Advice to owners/managers

With respect to health and safety, it is important for owners/managers to be aware of their legal responsibilities in regard to fulfilling one or more of the relevant management roles as described in FISA guidance.

See FISA Guidance listed in the appendix of references.

Where requirements of the work are likely to change, a programme of ongoing training and development should be undertaken.

Promotion of training may be achieved through:

• Providing sites for training courses
• Offering subsidies for training courses.

The statutory national living wage is defined in national minimum wage regulations. The owner/manager may choose to pay wages that are higher than the statutory national living wage, for example a voluntary living wage such as that calculated by the Living Wage Foundation.