Overview

This one-day course provides NRW staff involved in woodland management, forestry operations, regulation, permitting, compliance, and operational planning with a practical understanding of how the GN72 regulatory approach applies to forestry works in Wales.

The course focuses on the operational application of protected species guidance within woodland management activities and explores how forestry works can be planned and undertaken lawfully and proportionately under NRW guidance.

A key focus of the training is understanding the change in regulatory approach and how protected species responsibilities are intended to be applied proportionately within operational woodland management.

Objectives

The training is designed around practical woodland operations and focuses on:

• Understanding the change in regulatory approach

• Proportionate, risk-based decision making

• Operator responsibility and due diligence

• Use of Species Good Practice Guides (GPGs)

• Structured walkover surveys and evidence gathering

• Application of professional judgement within operational forestry scenarios

• Understanding when escalation, ecological advice, or licensing may be appropriate

This is not intended to be detailed species identification or ecological survey training. The emphasis is on operational application of the guidance in practice.

The morning session is classroom based and focuses on the legal framework, the regulatory approach, and practical implementation within forestry operations.

The afternoon session applies these principles outdoors through a structured woodland walkover exercise involving operational scenarios, habitat recognition, proportionate mitigation, and evidence-based decision making.

Instructor

Graham Morgan MICFor CEnv MCIEEM - The SLIM Woodlands C.I.C

Course Structure

Morning - Classroom Session

• Legal framework and regulatory context

• EPS vs UK Protected Species

• Understanding the GN72 regulatory approach

• Good Practice Guides and reasonable steps

• Records checks, walkover surveys and due diligence

• Operator responsibility and professional judgement

Afternoon - Woodland Walkover Session

• Habitat feature identification

• Woodland operational scenarios

• Applying proportionate mitigation

• Operational decision making in practice

• Recording evidence and demonstrating reasonable steps

Who should attend?

This course has been developed primarily for NRW staff involved in:

• Woodland management

• Forestry operations

• Regulation and permitting

• Compliance and enforcement

• Operational planning and supervision

• Felling licence processes and environmental conditions

Bookings

Please direct booking requests to learninganddevelopment@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk who will confirm the booking on your behalf.

Other Information

PPE: The course will include visiting site in a forestry and woodland environment. The ground will be uneven so there will be a need to wear PPE suitable for outdoor visits appropriate to the conditions and weather.

Refreshments will be provided but please bring your own packed lunch.