How to Respond to and Prepare Woodlands for Extreme Weather

Guidance

How to respond to and prepare woodlands for extreme weather

How to respond to extreme weather events affecting your woodland and the steps you can take to improve its resilience against future risks.

From: Forestry Commission Published 24 April 2026 Get emails about this page

Applies to England

Print this page Climate change continues to affect the UK’s weather. Winters are becoming milder and wetter while summers are becoming hotter and drier. As a result, extreme weather events such as storms, windthrow, flooding, prolonged drought and wildfires are becoming more frequent.

Extreme weather events can have a devastating impact on woodlands and forests. It is important to know how to respond to and prepare for an extreme weather event.

A wildfire burning through a woodland. Credit: Forest Research

How to respond to an extreme weather event in your woodland

While every event will be different and require its own response, following this 6-step process will help you to stay safe while allowing you to assess the damage to your woodland before taking any necessary action.

Step 1: ensure your safety

When responding to an extreme weather event, safety is paramount. To ensure your safety:

• do not enter the woodland until the weather event has passed or emergency services confirm access is safe
• assess access routes for hazards such as standing dead, windblown, snapped or fallen trees, damaged powerlines, flooded roads and landslips
• consider whether you need specialist support before entering

Step 2: assess the damage

After assessing the woodland and it is confirmed as safe, you can:

• survey the extent of damage to your trees, paths, fences, infrastructure and utilities
• photograph and document affected areas to evidence damage
• identify any immediate hazards and their risks to neighbouring land, roads or utilities

Step 3: report and notify

You should contact:

• your local authority if fallen trees are blocking public rights of way
• relevant utilities if power lines, substations or infrastructure are affected
• your insurance provider

Step 4: prioritise clearance work

To take action to clear the damage caused by an extreme weather event:

• clear access routes and public paths first
• ensure you use skilled, trained chainsaw operators to remove windblown trees as they are more hazardous to work on compared to normal tree felling
• you typically do not need a felling licence if you are removing dangerous trees as a result of extreme weather events. Check when you need to apply for a felling licence
• remove dangerous hanging branches and seek professional help if needed
• stack or process fallen timber safely

Uprooted and broken trees caused by high winds. Credit: Bob Thurston

Step 5: review your woodland management plan

If you do not have a woodland management plan then it’s advisable to create one. After an extreme weather event, you should:

• update your plan to reflect changes to your woodland’s structure
• consider whether replanting or natural regeneration is more likely to deliver the fastest and most effective restoration of your woodland
• check if you need to amend any existing felling licences or grant agreements

Step 6: seek support and funding

We recommend that you:

• check for grants to support replanting or restoration work
• speak to your local Woodland Officer for further support and expert advice

How to prepare your woodland for extreme weather events

A healthy and resilient woodland can help your trees to recover more quickly after an extreme weather event or adapt to new conditions, reducing overall impact.

Taking proactive steps can improve your woodland’s resilience and protect it from future extreme weather events. Consider implementing these 7 measures:

1. Create a woodland management plan

Having a woodland management plan in place will help you to assess the threats to your woodland and identify the practical steps needed to manage them. Including a contingency plan, such as measures to build wildfire resilience into your forest management planning, is considered good practice under the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS).

Speak to your local Woodland Officer for advice on how to meet the UKFS and make your woodland management plan as effective as possible. If you have a woodland management plan, we recommend that you include climate resilience adaptation as an objective. Plan for long-term diversity and revisit your plan regularly, as conditions and guidance change.

2. Diversify tree species

When tree planting:

• plant a mix of native and non-native species that are well-suited to your site and soil conditions that best deliver the objectives you have for the woodland
• check that your chosen species can thrive in the conditions expected over the lifetime of the tree, including future changes in temperature and rainfall
• avoid planting large areas of a single species throughout your woodland

3. Manage tree density and structure

To manage your woodland:

• thin your woodland regularly to give retained trees space to develop healthy crowns
• protect the soil from compaction to help trees develop strong, stable root systems
• include trees of different ages and sizes to create a more varied and resilient structure

4. Strengthen woodland edges against wind

You can build a protective buffer around woodland edges to reduce wind exposure. To do this:

• create gradual transitions from open ground to dense woodland
• plant shrubs and smaller trees along exposed boundaries
• keep stable, well-established trees at the edges to shelter the woodland interior

5. Improve drainage and water management

To improve your woodland’s resilience to flooding events:

• keep ditches, culverts and natural watercourses clear to prevent trees from becoming waterlogged
• consider creating wetland areas that can absorb and safely hold excess water
• avoid using heavy machinery on wet ground, as this can compact the soil and affect drainage

6. Monitor tree health

Inspect trees regularly and report notifiable pests and diseases. You should also:

• inspect trees near public access routes regularly for signs of decline or structural weakness that might impact safety
• inspect trees after significant incidents, such as storms or wildfires
• remove or manage hazardous trees that are a risk to people, property, other trees and the wider woodland, but retain deadwood habitat where it is safe to do so

7. Plan access and infrastructure

To reduce the impacts of extreme weather events on access and infrastructure:

• design access routes to cope with heavy rain, flooding and wildfires
• position buildings and equipment away from risk areas
• keep emergency access routes clear and in good condition

Financial support available

There are a variety of grants and financial incentives for woodland creation, maintenance, management, tree growing and tree health. The main grants include:

• England Woodland Creation Offer – funding for woodland creation and management activities
• Woodland Creation Planning Grant – funding to help you prepare a woodland creation design plan
• Countryside Stewardship – funding for woodland management and tree health, including help for restoration of damaged woodland
• Tree health pilot scheme – funding to support woodland owners manage pest and disease impacts. This can also cover weather damage where it has made trees vulnerable to health issues

Tree planting case studies to manage flooding and drought

The following case studies show how landowners across England have used tree planting to reduce flooding, improve drainage and increase resilience to drought.

• Hilley Farm – trees were planted to reduce the impact of severe flooding events
• Blenheim Estate – trees were planted as part of a natural flood management approach
• High Meadows – trees were planted beside an existing pond and stream to reduce flood risk, to manage waterlogged fields and to provide shade during hot and wet weather
• Elslack Estate – a woodland was planted on hilly terrain to slow water flow and reduce flooding during periods of heavy rainfall
• Cherryrock Farm – trees were planted in response to increased rainfall associated with climate change
• Orchard Farm – trees lost to drought and flooding were replaced with species better suited to wet conditions and a changing climate The Forestry Commission has more case studies of successful tree planting and woodland creation projects from across England.

Planting a diverse range of tree species is one of the most effective ways to protect your woodland against a changing climate, extreme weather events, pests and disease. If one species struggles, others can fill the gap, helping to ensure the long-term resilience of your woodland.

A flooded tree planting site. Credit: Forest Research

Further resources

The Forest Research Climate Change Hub is the UK’s leading source of guidance on forestry climate change adaptation. The Climate Change Hub brings together the latest information and UKFS guidance for practitioners.

Resources include practical advice, tools, case studies to support decision-making, the 5-step adaptation framework and guidance on possible adaptation measures to help increase your woodland’s resilience to climate change and extreme weather events.

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Published 24 April 2026

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