Forestry and scheduled monuments

A partially cleared forest, and within it there is a clearing with a circular shape cut out from the grass

From ancient woodland to modern timber plantations, many of Scotland's historic places are located close to trees and forests.

We provide advice for anyone involved in creating, planting, felling or managing forestry, woodland or other trees on or near scheduled monuments. Our advice also applies to other forest operations such as roads, drainage or fencing. It should help land managers to do their work in a way that keeps scheduled monuments safe.

Our work with Scottish Forestry

We work closely with Scottish Forestry to ensure proposed work does not damage Scotland's historic places.

Scottish Forestry consult us on:

Long-term forest plans
Woodland creation proposals under the Forestry Grant Scheme
Felling permission applications and restocking

We can help make sure that your proposals have taken account of protected historic places. This can avoid delays when your application reaches Scottish Forestry.

We recommend that you consult us pre-application if your proposals have the potential to affect scheduled monuments, listed buildings, World Heritage sites, or sites on the inventories of Gardens and Designed Landscapes or Historic Battlefields.

Search for protected historic places

Our guidance

We have specific guidance on forestry and scheduled monuments. This should help you to design proposals that will:

meet the guidelines and requirements of the UK Forestry Standard
be acceptable to us and to Scottish Forestry
ensure you avoid undertaking any works without consent

Forestry operations on scheduled monuments need scheduled monument consent from us, as well as other consents. Our guidance should help you identify the need for scheduled monument consent so that you can make an application at the right time and ensure you have the permissions you need.