Woodland

Size: 1 hectare (no minimum block size)
Age: 3 - 15 years
Type of Planting: Any
Objectives: One or more of: biodiversity gains, habitat creation, improved air, soil or water quality, flood risk mitigation, recreational access for health and wellbeing, sustainable production, natural regeneration.
Assessed On: Extent to which the woodland contributes to any of the above public goods

Size: 1 hectare, (no minimum block size)
Age: 15 – 50 years
Type of Planting: Any productive stand.
Objectives: Productive woodland: Can be conifer or broadleaf, so long as there are commercial outputs from the wood. This could include timber for construction industry through to fencing and woodfuel for biomass boilers.
Assessed On: Woodland managed sustainably, whilst producing a crop that has a commercial value. Perhaps younger stands only showing potential for crop at this stage in its life.
Silvicultural systems to encourage timber suitable for specific markets?
Has it been thinned/brashed? How well is it meeting the needs of society today and into the future? Is it supporting the green economy or helping to reduce our reliance on timber imports?

Size: No minimum
Age: 3+ years
Type of Planting: Agroforestry / Woodpasture
Objectives: Tree planting as part of a commercial farming system, for the benefit of crops or livestock.
Assessed On: Increased productivity, animal welfare as well as wider environmental benefits such as soil quality. May also have a secondary objective to use the tree productively in time, such as domestic firewood.

Size: 1 hectare minimum (whole woodland)
Age: From 15 years
Type of Planting: Productive woodland
Objectives: Undertaken significant interventions to improve the quality/quantity of healthy trees and improve the resilience of the woodland. Could include examples of natural regen, replacing ash with climate resilient species, thinning, protection from pests and diseases, include examples good silvicultural interventions including Irregular Forestry techniques. Interventions must have taken place in the last 10 years.
Assessed On: Timeliness, innovation and efficacy of interventions. Compliance with UKFS; Clear management objectives being achieved; bonus for UKWAS certification, sensitivity of works.

Size: 1 hectare minimum (whole woodland)
Age: 20 years plus
Type of Woodland: Native Woodland
Objectives: Undertaken significant interventions to improve the condition of or extend existing woodland with specific emphasis on meeting the conditions required by ecologically significant woodlands, e.g rainforest (lichens and bryophytes) ancient woodland specialist flora etc. Should include examples of natural regen/colonisation, innovative design or management for maximum structural diversity, removal of invasive species, wildlife management, grazing management, management for water.
Interventions must have taken place in the last 10 years.
Assessed On: Innovation and efficacy of interventions. Compliance with UKFS; Clear management objectives; sensitivity of works eg minus points for soil damage.