A felling licence, under some circumstances, may be required before trees may be felled. The licences are issued through the Forestry Commission and must be applied for if the following are true.
The total amount to be felled in the area within one calendar quarter is over 5 cubic metres or the total amount to be sold is over 2 cubic metres
The trees are not located within a garden, public open space or churchyard.
The trees measure (at a height of 1.3m) 8cm or more in diameter if felling, 10cm or more in diameter if thinning or 15cm or more in diameter if coppicing
The felling is not already approved under a formal Forestry Commission scheme
The trees are not dead, dangerous or causing a nuisance .