Forestry England opens up woodlands for more horse riding
Forestry England has announced it will significantly reduce the number of woodlands needing permits for horse riding, following a comprehensive public review.
From May 2025, horse riders can ride in 49 more woodlands across England, without needing a permit. This change follows Forestry England's thorough review of its horse-riding permit system during 2023/24.
The review included extensive consultation with the equestrian community and their representative bodies to better understand how the nation's forests can serve horse riders while still protecting sensitive habitats and maintaining safe access for all.
Mike Seddon, Forestry England’s chief executive explained:
"We are delighted to announce this huge reduction in woodlands that need permits for equestrian access. This will make horse riding accessible to more riders across the nation’s forests. Our decision reflects our commitment for the nation’s forests in our care to be as welcoming and available to visitors as possible, including our equestrian community.
"The two woodlands where permits will stay need to keep the extra management because they are ecologically sensitive wildlife sites.
"Thank you to everyone that took part in our review and for your patience while we worked through each and every permit.”
Mark Weston, Director of Access at The British Horse Society:
“We are delighted to hear of the decision to significantly reduce the requirement for equestrians to buy permits to access Forestry England forests.
“The British Horse Society believes that all riders and carriage drivers should be able to enjoy safe off-road networks in the vicinity of where they keep their horses. This is a great step towards allowing equestrians the freedom to explore and enjoy our nation’s countryside in a safe and accessible manner”.
The two sites that will keep paid permits are:
- Forestry England Bramshill in Hampshire/Berkshire.
- Forestry England Hodgemoor Woods in Buckinghamshire.
The cost of the permits will be based on recovering the administrative costs.
For more information about horse riding in the nation’s forests, visit the Forestry England horse riding web page.
Notes to Editor
- Forestry England manages and cares for the nation’s 1,500 woods and forests, with over 285 million visits in 2023/24. As England’s largest land manager, we shape landscapes and enhance forests for people to enjoy, wildlife to flourish and businesses to grow. We are continuing the work we have already started to make the nation’s forests resilient to climate change and by 2026 we will:
- create at least 6,000 more hectares where we integrate wilding activities in our productive forests
- increase the diversity of visitors to the nation’s forests and have one million hours of high-quality volunteer time given to the nation’s forests
- plant at least 2,000 hectares of new, high quality, predominantly broadleaf woodlands
For more information visit forestryengland.uk. Forestry England is an agency of the Forestry Commission.
- The review covered 51 woodlands with permits, of which 48 were paid-for, and closed to public comments on 9 April 2023 with the internal review ending in February 2025.
Bramshill is an SSSI for freshwater habitats and others.
Hodgemoor Wood is an SSSI and has sensitive soils.
Media contact:
media@forestryengland.uk