§ 1. The Timber Growers' Organisation, the Country Landowners' Association, the Forestry Commission and the National Parks Commission are anxious to secure that in the future use of land in National Parks, proper regard should be given both to the needs of forestry and to the preservation and enhancement of the natural beauty of the landscape.
§ 2. Under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, the use of any land for the purposes of agriculture and forestry (including afforestation) is not deemed to involve development of the land. Proposals for afforestation do not, therefore, require planning permission. In National Parks, the Park Planning Authorities are statutorily responsible for the preservation and enhancement of the natural beauty of the area and for encouraging the provision of opportunities for open-air recreation, and they have a duty under section 84 of the National Parks Act, 1949, to have due regard, in the exercise of their functions, to the needs of agriculture and forestry.
§ 3. In order to try to avoid conflict between the needs of forestry and the preservation and enhancement of natural beauty, the parties to this agreement believe that the closest cooperation should be maintained between those concerned with afforestation and those responsible for accomplishing the purposes for which National Parks have been established. Accordingly, they agree that the Park Planning Authorities should be given the opportunity of commenting upon all proposals for the afforestation of any land which has hitherto not been planted.
§ 4. In each National Park (except one or two where special arrangements have already been made) the National Parks Commission will advise the Park Planning Authority to carry out, in association with the Forestry Commission, a survey with a view to compiling maps which would divide the land in the park as far as possible into three categories:—
- (a) areas where there is a strong presumption that afforestation would be acceptable;
- (b) areas where, although there is a presumption against afforestation, proposals might be acceptable; and
- (c) areas where there is a strong presumption against afforestation.
§ 5. These categories are devised as a general guide to policy, and are not to be regarded as precise or rigid; they should be adjusted where necessary to meet the particular circumstances of individual parks.
§ 6. The surveys should be discussed between the planning authorities and the National 131W Parks Commission, who will as necessary consult amenity societies, and also between the Forestry Commission, the Timber Growers' Organisation and the Country Landowners' Association. The surveys, amended as necessary after these consultations, will be made public, and it is intended that private landowners will frame their afforestation proposals in accordance with them; the Forestry Commission will certainly do so.
§ 7. In case of disagreement at any stage, the good offices of the Government Departments concerned will be available.
§ 8. Pending the completion of the surveys, which must of necessity take a considerable time, the Timber Growers' Organisation and the Country Landowners' Association will advise their members to consult the Park Planning Authorities about their afforestation proposals. Arrangements for such consultation will be made locally in each Park.
§ 9. These arrangements will not apply outside National Parks, nor will they apply to proposals for the re-planting of existing woodlands including felled, devastated and scrub woodlands.