Statutory plant health notices

Welsh Government have published a Phytophthora ramorum map showing Disease Zones.

All SPHNs are at least a 100 metre radius around any infected or symptomatic larch tree as this is the distance that the majority of the spores are initially spread.

Types of statutory notices

We issue three types of statutory notices.

SPHN

A SPHN is a Notice that requires the destruction of larch trees within a defined time period. This time period also depends where in Wales the trees are:

In the Disease Limitation Zone (DLZ) this is either by the next 31 March or 31 August, depending on when the disease was confirmed and allowing reasonable time period for the work to be completed.

In Core Disease Zone 2 (CDZ2), this is either by 31 March or 31 August in three years’ time, depending on when the disease was confirmed.

If you have an SPHN, then this gives you an order to fell the trees as identified in the notice. No felling licence is required.

Although an SPHN does not legally require a site to be restocked, failing to restock can lead to a permanent loss of woodland and may put the landowner at risk of breaching Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) deforestation regulations. To protect woodland cover and avoid regulatory issues, it is important that the area is restocked

SPHN(m)

SPHN(m) is a movement notice which enables the infected material to be contained on site or moved  under licence.  There is no requirement to destroy (fell) the trees; however, the timber must be transported by licensed hauliers and delivered to a licensed sawmill. A Felling Licence is required when an SPHN(m) is in place. There is no time limit associated with an SPHN(m).

You need permission to fell the trees and must complete the felling licence form.

SPHN(mr)

An SPHN(mr) is a movement notice issued by us, where the owner has agreed to treat the trees as infected. There is no requirement to destroy (fell) the trees; however, the timber must be transported by licensed hauliers and delivered to a licensed sawmill. A Felling Licence is required when an SPHN(mr) is in place. There is no time limit associated with an SPHN(mr).

You need permission to fell the trees and must complete the felling licence form. 

From 1 February 2026, we will automatically issue an SPHN(mr) for all felling applications involving larch, unless the site has already been inspected, regardless of the time of year. If an applicant does not want an SPHN(mr), they can request a larch inspection by completing the larch inspection request form which is part of the felling licence form.

Between 1 April and 31 August Forest Regulations and Tree Health team may contact you to arrange a site visit. 

If no infection is found, the SPHN(mr) will be rescinded.

If infection is present, the notice will be replaced with the relevant SPHN type for the disease management zone:

DLZ: SPHN, requiring the felling of the larch within a specified period (typically within 6 to 9 months)

CDZ2: SPHN, requiring the felling of the larch within a specified period

CDZ1: SPHN(m).

Permission you'll need to fell trees

If you have an SPHN, then this gives you an order to fell the trees as identified in the notice. No further permission is required.

If you have been served an SPHN(m) or requested a SPHN(mr), then you'd need permission to fell the trees via a Felling Licence Application (FLA) from our permitting team.

Felling other tree species in the red area on your map

Only species detailed in Section 3 of the notice can be felled as part of the SPHN.

If you wish to fell other uninfected tree species you will require a felling licence.

Make a felling licence application.

Biosecurity measures

The felling and movement of your timber must comply with biosecurity instructions noted under the movement licence supplied to the hauliers by Forest Research.

To prevent moving the disease to other sites, we recommend simple precautions are taken such as sticking to paths, brushing dirt and leaves off footwear or tyres when leaving a forest and, if working in and around the trees yourself, consider the use of an appropriate disinfectant.

We advise you maintain this approach for at least three years after felling infected trees as spores of the disease can remain active for this period.

Find out more about biosecurity.

Moving infected timber

Find a list of the mills licenced to process infected larch on the Forest Research website.

Apply for a movement licence if you wish to move the timber yourself.

Restocking

If the felling has been carried out under an SPHN then there is no requirement under the Plant Health Order to replant, but if the felling results in a significant loss of woodlands there may be a breach under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) Regulations 1999.

Advice on felling and replanting

We cannot provide direct advice on felling or replanting for individual sites or recommend contractors.

If you are unsure how to go about forest operations or grant applications you can contact a private forestry agent. We can give you a list of forestry agents. You can also use an agent not on the list. Contact us at treehealth@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk.

We do not recommend you replant with trees susceptible to Phytophthora ramorum.

Visits from tree health professionals

Colleagues from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) may conduct a follow up survey of the surrounding area and may wish to visit your woodland as well. They will make contact with you before visiting.

We may also re-visit the site as part of our standard compliance checks to ensure the fulfilment of the notice, and to determine if it is appropriate to close/revoke the notice.

Duration of the statutory notice

We generally revoke the notice three years after felling is completed, if all the infected material has been removed.