Membership questions you may have
These FAQs are designed to answer questions regarding Forestry England membership.
Becoming a Forestry England member
- What is membership and what options do I have?
- How do I become a member and can I visit the forest straight away?
- What is included in the membership pack?
- I am buying online and I cannot see where I enter my car registration details?
- Can I use my membership for any type of vehicle?
Membership as a gift
- I would like to buy a membership as a gift, how do I do this?
- How do I redeem my Forestry England membership gift voucher?
Renewals
Parking disc (applies to Pay & Display and Pay-by-phone sites only)
- I want to regularly move my parking disc between my two cars, what can I do?
- The membership allows me to register two cars, so can we have a second disc?
- Can I display my membership card, a photocopy of my disc, or my confirmation email in my window instead?
- My membership parking disc or membership card is completely damaged, can it be replaced?
Membership at forests using number plate recognition (ANPR)
- Which forests use number plate recognition (ANPR) instead of parking disc?
- How does ANPR work for members?
- I have not been able to update my details before my visit. What should I do?
Changing details on the membership
- How do I change details of my registered cars?
- Can I change the details of car registrations on my temporary membership document?
- How do I change my address / phone number / email address?
- Why am I not receiving membership newsletters or how do I stop these?
Car park enforcement notices
- I'm a member, but I've received a parking charge notice (PCN) during or after parking at the forest?
- Why are you issuing parking charge notices (PCNs) or administration fees?
Lost and stolen
Payments
National membership specific questions
- What is the Forestry England national membership?
- How does it differ from the local membership scheme?
- What forests can I visit as a national member?
- Are there any exceptions or special rules for visiting certain forests?
- Which forest car parks are not free for national members?
- Will I be able to move from local membership to national membership at any point in the year?
Something not covered? Get in touch and we'll do our best to help
Please email us at membership@forestryengland.uk or call us on 0300 068 0400.
What is membership and what options do I have?
Choose Forestry England national membership , where alongside other benefits, national members have the opportunity and freedom to use all of our paid for car parks for free.
Alternatively local membership allows you to join one of our forests, supporting and enjoying free car parking at that specific forest throughout the membership year.
How do I become a member and can I visit the forest straight away?
You can join either online or by phoning 0300 068 0400. You can also buy membership in person at some of our Forest Centres. If joining online or by phone, you will be sent a membership confirmation by email, and you can enjoy visiting the forest straight away. Your membership confirmation email will give you instructions on how you can visit while waiting for your welcome pack to arrive. Your full membership pack will arrive by post within six weeks. Your membership is only valid on the vehicles you have registered, as confirmed by email.
If you have joined in-person at one of our Forest Centres (where applicable), you will be given a temporary membership document to use straight away, and your full membership pack will follow by post within six weeks.
- The majority of our chargeable locations now use Automatic Number-plate Recognition (ANPR). This means we recognise our members by vehicle details provided. Make sure you provide accurate vehicle details when joining and keep these updated throughout your membership.
- The following locations use exit barriers: Alice Holt Forest, Bedgebury Pinetum & Forest, Cannock Chase Forest, Dalby Forest, Delamere Forest, High Lodge (Thetford), Sherwood Pines Forest, Wendover Woods.
If visiting any of these forests on the day of joining or amending your member vehicle details, please be prepared with your membership documentation and visit our friendly staff at the Information Point on-site, or press the call button on the exit terminal. We can help you to exit the site. At some locations you will need to display a membership parking disc. If applicable for your chosen local membership or if a national member, you will receive a disc in your membership pack. If visiting before your pack arrives, please display the temporary membership document where provided. The disc or temporary membership should be displayed at the following locations:
Bellever Forest, Ennerdale, two locations in Forest of Dean (Cannop Ponds and Wenchford), parts of Gisburn Forest & Stocks, Kielder Forest & Waterside, Rendlesham Forest, Seven Sisters Country Park (in partnership with South Downs National Park Authority).
What is included in the membership pack?
This will vary depending on which membership type you have chosen and the way in which car parks are managed at your chosen forest. Your pack will include a welcome letter and a single, personalised membership card which can be used to obtain a range of member benefits. National members also receive a map and booklet to inspire your forest adventures across England.
The majority of our Forestry England managed car parks use Automatic Number Plate recognition (ANPR) instead of having a membership parking disc. See our 'Membership at forests using number plate recognition' section for more information.
If applicable to your local membership, or if you are a national member, you will also receive a parking disc in your pack. The disc must be clearly displayed in your vehicle when visiting the relevant forest. See the section 'Parking disc' for more information. If you have registered two vehicles, you will need transfer the disc between the registered vehicles. We provide a disc holder to display it in your windscreen and transfer between vehicles.
I am joining online and I cannot see where I enter my car registration details?
When joining on-line, you can enter up to two vehicle registrations. If you already have a membership account, you will need to log-into your account and select manage your details to edit your information.
Can I use my membership with any type of vehicle?
Memberships cannot be used with minibuses or vehicles carrying more than 7 people. Please contact your local forest for details of minibus arrangements. Search forest name for visitor information and contact details.
Motorhomes are permitted during standard opening hours, where height restrictions allow access. Overnight stays, where available, are not included and may be subject to additional fees.
I would like to buy a membership as a gift, how do I do this?
At this time, gift vouchers are unavailable to purchase. We hope you will still consider recommending Forestry England membership to your friends and family.
We will relaunch our gifting process in time for Christmas, please contact us if you need further help.
How do I redeem my Forestry England membership gift voucher?
Any outstanding gift vouchers from our previous system (ending July 2025) cannot be redeem online. To redeem your gift voucher (subject to expiry date) please email a copy of your voucher to membership@forestryengland.uk and we will come back to you to assist with this process.
Do you remind me when my membership needs renewing?
You will be sent reminders by emails (if an email address has been provided) before your membership expires (and after if applicable). We may also text you a reminder on the last day of your current membership term provided we have a mobile number for you and if not already renewed.
If you have paid for your membership by Credit/Debit card or gift voucher, you will be invited to renew for another year. You can log-in to your online account and renew your membership. Renewing online is the easiest option. If you are unable to renew online please email us at membership@forestryengland.uk or call 0300 068 0400.
If you set-up a Direct Debit Instruction with us, your membership will be automatically renewed for you unless you instruct us otherwise (prior to renewal) or have cancelled the Direct Debit. We will notify you by email in advance of your next membership term to notify you that the automated payment collection is approaching and what to do if you wish to cancel.
If we have not been able to email you for some reason, and so you don't miss out on being alerted, you will receive a letter by post instead. This is approximately four weeks before your membership is due for renewal.
I want to regularly move my membership parking disc between my two cars, what can I do?
If applicable to your membership location and for national members, you will have received a parking disc in your membership pack. The Forestry England membership pack also includes a holder (like a former tax disc holder). The holder enables you to easily move the membership parking disc between each of your registered cars. If renewing your national membership, we ask you to re-use your holder to help us save on resources. If you need a replacement holder, you can contact membership@forestryengland.uk to request one.
The membership allows me to register two cars. Can I visit with both cars at the same time?
The vehicle recognition systems in use will check your details when you arrive. If your household brings two vehicles at the same time, then the second vehicle to arrive will need to pay normal parking charges. Access is for one car per membership at any one time. You can register up to two cars (from the same household), but the membership lets you park just one car at any one time.
For sites where the disc is required, only one membership parking disc is provided, as the entitlement is still the same.
The membership can be used on either of your registered vehicles, however the scheme does not offer 'double car usage', so if you require two parking spaces at the same time, this would either require the purchase of an additional membership or to pay for the additional car parking space as and when you need to. If you are considering purchasing more than one membership, the additional membership must be registered under the name of someone else in your household. If you plan on taking your cars at separate times you can transfer the membership parking disc between them.
Can I display my membership card, a photocopy of my parking disc, or my confirmation email in my window instead?
If waiting for your membership pack to arrive and wanting to visit one of the locations that need a disc to be displayed for your membership parking (also see 'How do I become a member and can I visit the forest straight away?') - you can display part of your confirmation email. This should be the 'Your membership summary' section only - so we can see the information we need, but without displaying other personal details on the email.
The membership card is not for displaying in your car; the card is only used for obtaining discounts or showing our team when speaking to us in person about your membership.
Photocopies of the card or disc are not accepted. Please display the disc (where provided for your membership type) clearly in your vehicle windscreen when visiting the forest. Failure to display a valid parking disc, temporarily using the section of your confirmation email, or purchasing day parking will result in you receiving a parking fine. If you have received a temporary membership document when joining in-person at one of our forests, this can be used for the period stated and within the terms stated on the document.
The above policy does not apply where Automatic Number Plate Recognition is being used instead of displaying a membership disc. See other relevant FAQs about membership and ANPR for more information.
My membership parking disc or membership card is completely damaged, can it be replaced?
If your disc or card has been damaged, please return it to us by post, with a brief covering note to: Membership, Forestry England, Innovation Centre, Croxton Road, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 1JD. Once the returned disc or card is received, we will arrange for a replacement to be delivered directly to you.
How does Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) work for members?
You will not need to visit a pay station unless you have multiple cars visiting at the same time (also see 'The membership allows me to register two cars. Can I visit with both cars at the same time?').
Member’s vehicle registration plates will be automatically recognised provided we have your correct details.
You will not need to display a membership Parking Disc at the majority of our forests - but check out 'Which forests use automated number plate recognition (ANPR) instead of membership parking disc?' for the list of locations using ANPR. There are some exceptions to this, so please follow any guidance given in your member pack. If you experience any issues or need any advice, please contact our team on 0300 068 0400 or membership@forestryengland.uk
Which forests use automated number plate recognition (ANPR) instead of membership parking disc?
Abbots Wood (near Polegate)*, Alice Holt Forest, Bedgebury Pinetum & Forest, Birchden Wood, Bourne Wood, Cannock Chase Forest, Cardinham Woods, Dalby Forest, Delamere Forest**, Dodd Wood, Forest of Bere (Creech Wood, Havant Thicket, Upperford Copse, West Walk, Woodend), Forest of Dean (Beechenhurst, Forest of Dean Cycle Centre, Mallard's Pike, Symond's Yat Rock), Friston Forest (Butcher's Hole and Litlington Road car parks)*, Gisburn Forest & Stocks**, Great Wood, Grizedale Forest, Haldon Forest, Hamsterley Forest, Haughmond Hill, Hicks Lodge, High Lodge (in Thetford Forest), Jeskyns Community Woodland, Kilburn Woods, Leigh Woods, Salcey Forest, Sence Valley, Sherwood Pines, Wendover Woods, Whinlatter Forest, and Wyre Forest.
*Abbot's Wood and Friston Forest uses ANPR technology. When visiting Seven Sisters Country Park, please continue to display a membership parking disc.
**ANPR is used in the main car park at Gisburn Forest and Stocks, but please still display your membership parking disc when parking in the other Pay and Display style car parks included within this membership.
All other memberships sites will require a membership Parking Disc to be displayed in the vehicle. Members with a national membership are advised to keep their membership Parking Disc in the vehicle and ensure registered vehicles are kept up to date to avoid having to know which method of car park management is being used at different locations.
We are gradually introducing ANPR to more locations across the country, so please keep your registration details up to date on your membership account. This is essential to us being able to recognise you as a member and for you to avoid receiving a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) or experiencing difficulty leaving the forest where we have car park barrier systems in use.
I have a new vehicle, what should I do?
Please keep us informed of any vehicle changes by updating your details on-line. Please update your details no later than the day before your next visit. This timing is essential to ensure the system recognises your new vehicle. See our 'changing details' section below for more guidance.
I have not been able to update my details before my visit. What should I do?
Please go to the Visitor Centre or Information Point when you arrive so our staff can assist you and avoid any difficulties when you come to leave. If necessary, please make sure you update your details on-line before your next visit. For locations where there is no staffed Information Point available, please contact us at membership@forestryengland.uk or call 0300 0680400.
How do I change details of my registered cars?
You can update your details on-line.
If you are having problems logging in, please email details of any changes to membership@forestryengland.uk and these will be updated for you. If you don't have access to email or you would like us to set up an account for you, please call 0300 068 0400.
Your car registrations do need to be up to date, but there is no need for your car registration number/s to be displayed on your membership parking disc or membership card, just continue to use your existing disc (if applicable for your membership type) and ensure this is clearly displayed in your windscreen when visiting the forest.
Can I change the details of car registrations on my confirmation email or temporary membership document?
As this is only necessary while you await your membership pack to arrive, replacements should not be necessary. These can't be reissued and so we are unable to change the vehicle details shown. If you need to update your details, you can update your details on-line. If you need any further support with this, please contact us at membership@forestryengland.uk
How do I change my address / phone number / email address?
If you have given an email address when becoming a member, you are likely to have been set up with an online account. You can update your details on-line. You may need to confirm your email address and set a password, if not already done so on our new membership area, My Membership.
Log-in using your email address as your user name and password (reset if necessary).
If changing your email address, please contact us for support (as this is also your username and could otherwise accidently block your account).
If you don't have an online account, please email details of any changes to membership@forestryengland.uk and these will be updated for you. If you don't have access to email or you would like us to set up an account for you, please call 0300 068 0400.
Why am I not receiving membership newsletters or how do I stop these?
Firstly, please check your spam folder in your email account to ensure they are not being blocked. You will only receive the newsletters if you have provided a valid email address and given us your consent to receive marketing. Please send your email address and member account details to us at membership@forestryengland.uk and we will ensure this is activated on your account. Our member newsletters are sent four times a year. We also send additional emails as part of your membership where necessary or as part of the service being provided.
If you do receive our newsletters and want them to stop, then please unsubscribe via the link provided in your latest newsletter email.
I'm a member, but I've received a parking charge notice (PCN) during or after parking at the forest?
To avoid this occurring, it is important that you keep your car registrations accurate and up to date on our records throughout your membership on your account. Depending on which forest you've chosen for your membership, you may also be required to display a membership parking disc (this shows your current membership type, its expiry date and a membership reference number).
If you have received a PCN then this may be due to either:
- an error in the information you’ve provided or being held on your membership account
- or an error within our processes
You can follow an appeal process (by following the guidance on the notice received) and the cause of the issue can be investigated. Please only use the website address listed on the PCN. There is no charge for making an appeal directly with the issuer. If you need help providing appeal evidence to our car park enforcement partner, or you have a concern about the details of your membership, then you can also contact us directly: membership@forestryengland.uk or 0300 068 0400. We will be able to help by checking your membership and any changes made on your account.
Where the PCN has been issued due to a simple error in the information provided or an issue with our process, then an appeal would be honoured and no fee would be due.
Where the PCN has been issued due to car registrations not being properly kept up to date by the member, or a parking disc has not been displayed when necessary, our PCN (enforcement) provider will still charge an administration fee to cover the administration costs still incurred.
You will not be charged any fee for seeking help from Forestry England to resolve the issue.
Why are you issuing parking charge notices (PCNs) or administration fees?
We would not intentionally issue a PCN to a member and it would only happen if some issue has occurred (see above). If the issue is as a result of our error, then of course we would help cancel the PCN and no fee would be due. We will always try to avoid errors occurring and will promptly correct any mistakes we’ve made.
If you have made a mistake with your membership details, then we can still help correct the issue and with any valid appeal process. In some circumstances, our PCN (enforcement) provider may still charge a small fee just to cover the administrations costs we’ve still incurred with them. The admin fee is not the full PCN charge. You will not be charged any fee for seeking help from Forestry England to resolve the issue.
We use car park monitoring and enforcement to help ensure everyone visiting specific forests or woodlands are contributing to our work caring for them, through one form or another. Your support as a Member and your experience with us is extremely important. Our approach to car park enforcement is intended to support the value of membership by ensuring non-member visitors are still contributing too (via other methods). The monitoring and enforcement process is not intended to penalise our valued members and in the rare circumstance that an issue has occurred, we will do what we can to assist you.
I have lost my membership parking disc / membership card. Can it be replaced?
We advise that you take care of your disc and card. As our terms and conditions state, we may be unable to replace them if lost or stolen. Please contact us at membership@forestryengland.uk (or call 0300 068 0400) to report any losses and for help.
How will payment for my membership show on my statement?
If you set-up a Direct Debit for your membership, payments will show on your bank statements as Forestry England or FEMembership.
Credit or Debit card payments for membership made online or by phone are processed via WorldPay, but are taken by Forestry England. On your card / bank statement this will show as 'Forestry England'.
If you buy at your local forest your card will either be charged by Forestry England, Forestry Commission or FE Membership and the site name.
What is the Forestry England national membership?
Forestry England national membership expands on the existing membership offer that Forestry England already runs with individual forests. Alongside other benefits, national members have the opportunity and freedom to use all of our paid for car parks for free.
National membership also helps members understand and feel closer to our wider work managing and supporting England’s breath-taking forests through frequent and personalised communications across email, a welcome pack and through special and exclusive member events.
How does national membership differ from the local membership scheme?
Local membership is perfect for those who love and wish to visit only a specific forest, usually local to them, and therefore build a closer connection with that specific forest. As a local member, your free parking benefit applies to this one specific location. National membership is for people who not only visit their local forest but would like to explore forests further afield in their region and across the country.
As a member of your local forest, you’ll receive emails and communications designed to help you connect with and enjoy that specific forest. As a national member, while we will occasionally send you communications about the forest you’ve let us know is your home forest, our aim is to help you feel closer to our wider work managing and protecting forests all over England, as well as letting you know what’s on and how you can explore other forests.
What forests can I visit as a national member?
Forestry England manages well over a thousand forests and woodlands across the country. Most of these are free to visit and have varying levels of access, depending on factors such as their function as more recreational spaces or spaces for harvesting timber.
Over 40 sites across the country, including some of the most well-known forests, require visitors to pay for parking in order to visit. As a national member, you can avoid the charges for parking your car at all of the forest car parks we manage across the country. If you’d like to see a map of the forests for which you would otherwise need to pay a car parking charge, please visit our local membership page.
Visiting Westonbirt the National Arboretum as a national member?
Westonbirt, the National Arboretum, Gloucestershire
The only Forestry England site that has special access restrictions for national members is Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire. We have an arrangement with this site that enables members to enjoy a one time visit family visit (up to 2 adults and 4 children) to visit the Arboretum during your membership year. This visit must be pre-booked online ahead of your visit (up to 7-14 days in advance with tickets released each Tuesday at midday).
If you are someone who visits Westonbirt Arboretum regularly or you wish to support Westonbirt's conservation, education & participation work and access benefits including unlimited access, we would recommend joining the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum membership scheme instead of the Forestry England national membership. While we are aware that Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum members might also like to visit forests further afield, unfortunately we currently don’t have an arrangement that would enable unlimited access to both Westonbirt Arboretum and other Forestry England sites under a single scheme.
Booking your place to visit Westonbirt, the National Arboretum
You must book your free visit in advance online at forestryengland.uk/westonbirt/prebook, please note that bookings can only be made up to 7-14 days in advance (tickets released each Tuesday at midday).
To book, you will need to select the number of Forestry England National Member Adult or Child tickets required (up to 2 adults and 4 children), and you will need to enter your valid membership number when prompted before confirming your booking. Please note that if you select alternative ticket types, this offer will not apply. Once reserved, you’ll receive an email to download your tickets ahead of your visit. E-tickets must be presented alongside your valid membership card on your visit.
Which forest car parks are not free for national members?
There are a select few car parks near Forestry England sites at which national members will still need to pay to visit. This may be because of some car parks being under ownership of a third-party operator, such as a local council.
The following forest car parks are not free to park at for any of our members:
Aston Hill Bike Park, Chilterns
Guisborough Forest, Teeside/North York Moors
Rosliston Forestry Centre, Swadlincote
Thames Chase, Essex
Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Hampshire
Will I be able to move from local membership to national membership at any point in the year?
No, unfortunately our membership system isn't capable of letting you make this change mid-membership. It is advisable to wait until your current membership expires and then move to national of membership. If this really isn't feasible for you, then you can contact us directly to seek further advice and we'll do our best to assist you.
