Do you need planning permission to change pastureland into woodland?

Question

Do you need planning permission to change pastureland into woodland?

Answer 1

All relevant regulations attached.

Answer 2

No, you do not, because you are conserving habitat and the government wants that. What you should do is contact your states DNR. Most of them have a program where you can trees and shrubs that wildlife love for about 30 cents a tree, as long as you promise to use it to construct a habitat.

Answer 3

I wouldn't even ask just do it, it's a good thing. I love trees.

Answer 4

If it's your land you can do whatever you want with it, but you will get tax abatements if you report to the state Ag. department that you are changing it to a woodland.

Answer 5

It depends on where you are, the size of the pasture you're converting back and what the surrounding land is.

This is a great idea and most likely you'll face no serious local or community issues on this.

The best means to go about this is bring in an organization like the Nature Conservancy or the Arbor Day Foundation.  They can guide you through the issues you might face; aid you in the best methods to restore the land to woodland; guide you on following sustainable practices; and even how to help bring back native wildlife to the wooded area.

This practice is becoming more common than most people think -- in Vermont there is now more natural forest in the state than in the first years after the Revolutionary War!