Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Forestry (Felling of Trees) Regulations 1979 (S.I. 1979/791) in relation to a number of procedural matters, mainly arising from the introduction in the Forestry Act 1986 of powers for the Forestry Commissioners to require the restocking of land with trees after unauthorised felling. The amendments–
(1) prescribe the method of application for a felling licence and now set out in the Regulations the prescribed form of application for such a licence (regulation 2(1) and (7));
(2) prescribe a period of three months as the time in which a person served with a restocking notice may serve notice of appeal to the appropriate Minister (as respects England the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as respects Scotland the Secretary of State for Scotland, and as respects Wales the Secretary of State for Wales) and set out the prescribed form for such an appeal (regulation 2(2) and (5));
(3) re-enact regulations 13, 14 and 16 of the principal regulations (which make various procedural provisions for enforcement and appeals in relation to felling licence conditions and felling directions) so that the existing provisions of those regulations will in addition now apply to enforcement and appeals relating to requirements in a restocking notice (regulation 2(3), (4) and (6)).