Tree Felling and Forestry Operations affecting Public Rights of Way

From time to time, it is necessary for land managers to either prune back, remove individual trees, thin out, or clear-fell entire woodlands on their land. This may be for commercial, safety or conservation reasons and it is important that this can be carried out in a convenient and timely manner.

If these works affect a public right of way or access land, then consideration must be given to safe and convenient public access and in certain circumstances, a temporary closure order for a path may be required. The public have a right to use public paths in reasonable safety and without undue hinderance unless a formal closure is put in place by Exmoor National Park Authority.

Before works begin

Contact your Area Ranger who will be able to advise you further.
If a temporary closure for any affected rights of way is required, the Area Ranger can advise further. Please see the advice on temporary closures for further guidance on timings, the process and the costs involved.
As part of your risk assessment process, please include the expectation that the following members of the public will be present:
On footpaths; walkers
On bridleways; walkers, cyclists and horse-riders
On Restricted Byways; walkers, cyclists, horse-riders, and carriage-drivers
On Byways Open To All Traffic; walkers, cyclists, horse-riders, carriage-drivers, and vehicles
Notices should be posted on relevant paths before any felling works start, regardless of the scale of the works. Ideally at least two weeks before to give time for regular users to be made aware in advance.
It is recommended that at this stage, photos are taken of any affected rights of way, i.e., the surface and any furniture such as gates, steps etc.

General advice during the works

Consider the access route for vehicles to and from the site where you will be working and avoid using tracks that coincide with public rights of way wherever possible.
During operations, vehicles should ideally not be used to either run along or cross, any affected public rights of way. Sometimes this is unavoidable, in which case extra measures may be required and any damage to the surface or furniture should be made good soon after works are complete. Your Area Ranger can advise more on this.
Any affected public right of way should be left in no worse a condition than as found before the works, and any surface damage repaired as soon as possible once felling and extraction is complete.
Landowners and occupiers should hold public liability insurance and insurance companies can often advise their customers on good working practice.
During works, marshals/banksmen should be provided to keep a look out for the public approaching from all directions and then guide them through the works area when it is safe to do so. It is also good practise to turn off any machinery for the duration too – especially if horses and riders are passing.
It is reasonable to ask people to wait for a few minutes where necessary but long waits should be avoided or a formal closure put in place.

When leaving site, all public rights of way must be left unobstructed and open for use; especially overnight, over weekends and on Bank Holidays, unless a formal closure is in place.

Re-stocking

If the felled area is to be restocked, any planting must be planned around any rights of way to ensure that corridors are left where the maturing trees will not obstruct free passage. Widths and heights are:

Footpaths – 2m (6ft) wide x 2m (6ft) high.
Bridleways & Restricted Byways – 5m (16ft) wide x 4m (13ft) high.
Byways Open to All Traffic – 5m (16ft) wide x 5m (16ft) high.

The Area Ranger can arrange for any affected rights of way to be clearly marked out, if necessary.

Enquiries

Please direct any enquiries to the Area Ranger for your area of the National Park or email access@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk