Management of vegetation in or near inland freshwaters

If you cut or uproot a substantial amount of vegetation in any inland freshwater, or so near that it falls into an inland freshwater, and don’t take reasonable steps to remove the vegetation from the water, then you are undertaking a water discharge activity.

However, you may be exempt from the requirement to hold a permit if you can meet the following conditions:

• vegetation removed from the waters is deposited in accordance with DEFRA guidance;
  
  
• if it is necessary to allow vegetation to pass downstream:
  • you give prior notice of the activity to anyone that may be affected and
  • there is sufficient flow to convey the vegetation;
• you register the exempt activity with us;
  
  
• the activity must not cause pollution.

DEFRA has produced guidance on these conditions. You will find this in Annex 4 of the document below:

• Environmental Permitting Guidance: Water Discharge Activities (PDF, 818KB)

You may register a single point for the activity, or an operational area. If you want to register a single location you can register online. If you want to register stretches of watercourse you should use the paper form, accompanied by an Ordnance Survey map showing the area of vegetation cutting.

To register an exemption please visit the following web page:

• Register your exemption