Filming with Forestry England: permits and fees

Who issues permits

Forestry England’s film and events team handles all filming enquiries centrally. Local district offices assist with site-specific access arrangements once an initial enquiry is made.

Process

Submit an enquiry via the Forestry England filming page with details of the production, the specific forest or woodland area, proposed dates, and crew and vehicle numbers. The team confirms availability, identifies site-specific requirements — such as ground impact protection for heavy vehicles — and issues a permit. Allow at least two to four weeks for standard applications.

Fees

Fees are scaled by production type and access duration. Recce visits are typically at reduced or no cost. Commercial productions are charged day-rate fees. Any ground impact or remediation costs are charged to the production separately.

What’s covered

All publicly managed forests in England including Forest of Dean, Delamere Forest, Kielder Forest, Sherwood Pines, Thetford Forest, and Alice Holt Forest among over 1,500 sites. The variety of habitats — ancient woodland, conifer plantation, heathland edge — makes Forestry England a flexible partner for productions needing non-specific outdoor settings.

Typical restrictions

Vehicle access routes must be agreed in advance. Heavy vehicles on unsurfaced tracks may require ground protection matting. Seasonal restrictions apply during active forestry operations and bird nesting periods (broadly March to August for sensitive species). Night filming requires specific safety briefings. Open fires are prohibited in all Forestry England woodlands.

Contact

• Email: filming@forestryengland.uk
• Web: forestryengland.uk/filming

Apply on the Forestry England website → forestryengland.uk