We are pleased to announce another exciting collaboration between Sylva Foundation and the Forestry Commission, supporting woodland creation across England through the provision of historic environment data layers in myForest.
myForest users can now access the ‘Historic Environment Opportunity Map for New Woodland’, which was launched by the Forestry Commission last year. The composite layer combines data from numerous sources, assisting users to identify the most suitable land for afforestation, considering a range of historic environment data, at an early stage.
Designing a new woodland can be a complex process. Even small woodland creation projects need to consider multiple aspects, including soil, landscape, climate change and biodiversity. Whilst it can be difficult to assess and understand historic features, especially those that are hidden or buried, the UK Forestry Standard does require these heritage assets to be identified and protected.
The challenge when designing a new woodland has often been the difficulty in accessing the information on the historic environment. Data is held in multiple places; some at a national level and some at a local level. Landowners and managers working on woodland designs can now use myForest to access a range of key historic environment datasets. As well as mapping that shows the extent of historic features, attribute data and links to the individual online records relating to many heritage assets can also be viewed, all from one place directly in the myForest mapping interface.
In 2025, newly available historic environment data layers were added to myForest which included designated heritage assets, such as Scheduled Monuments and Registered Battlefields. Crucially, buffers could be added to these features for the first time, enabling users to ensure their woodland creation plans comply with the latest guidelines in the UK Forestry Standard.
Powerful additional functionality was also implemented to provide access to locally held historic environment data – SHINE (Selected Heritage Inventory for Natural England) which covers non-designated heritage assets. Thanks to an agreement between the Forestry Commission and the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers, myForest provides access to SHINE data from 33 Local Historic Environment Services which cover almost 50% of land in England, with more coverage to be added in the coming years.
In 2026 the ‘Historic Environment Opportunity Map for New Woodland’ has now been added to myForest. Built from a wide range of historic environment data, the simple colour coding highlights land in England that may be suitable for new woodland planting, as well areas which may be less suitable due to historic environment constraints.
myForest is now truly a one-stop shop for all the available historic environment data layers relevant to woodland creation in England, and is the only place where such a wide range of such information can be accessed.
Combined with the existing woodland creation and management mapping and planning tools, the suite of historic environment data layers allows users in England to take into consideration a wide range of historic environment data at an early stage when developing their plans. Ultimately this will save time and result in more robust plans.
Andrew Clark, Head of Forestry at Sylva Foundation, commented:
”The addition of the Historic Environment Opportunity Map for New Woodland to the existing data layers in myForest provides users with another powerful decision-making tool to aid in the planning of woodland creation. By providing a rapid assessment of the suitability of land for afforestation from an historic environment perspective, the Opportunity Map will help smooth the process of woodland creation planning, ultimately improving outcomes and reducing delays.”
Tom Sunley, National Historic Environment Datasets Project Manager at Forestry Commission, said:
“We are delighted to see the Historic Environment Opportunity Map for New Woodland now available on myForest. This dataset is designed to be easy to use, and a great first step for woodland proposers to assess the historic environment opportunities and constraints of their land when designing schemes. It will promote those important conversations that will ensure compliant and successful proposals and ultimately help get trees in the ground!”
More Information
To speak with a member of the project team, please contact Sylva Foundation: 01865 408018 or info@sylva.org.uk
myForest is a mapping and data solution provided by Sylva Foundation, designed by foresters for foresters. It provides access to mapping backgrounds, data layers, drawing tools, data storage and unique reporting linked to regulation and incentives. Its user base includes private woodland owners, community groups, and forestry professionals who collectively have mapped more than 210,000ha of woodland across the UK. If you want to know more about how myForest can support your woodland creation and management – just get in touch with the myForest team or visit myforest.sylva.org.uk
Sylva Foundation is an environmental charity focussing on trees and woodland. It uses its forestry knowledge and information technology skills to provide innovative solutions to some of the greatest environmental challenges facing modern society. As well as myForest, in collaboration with partners it has also developed tools such as the Woodland Wildlife Toolkit, the Woodland Condition Assessment app and land-based matchmaking platform NatureBid, which has supported the delivery of more than £35M of environmental funding in the last eight years. From its base in south Oxfordshire, Sylva Foundation runs a Wood Centre and Wood School supporting training and promoting the use of home-grown timber.www.sylva.org.uk
