IntroductionForests can shape our landscape; they can bring immeasurable appeal to rural and peri-urban areas, defining the inherent landscape character. Furthermore, the importance of design interpretation can facilitate management objectives and outcomes; especially near population centers. In which the community has an affinity, a vested interest, a general interest or generally a fear of change. Historical landscaping: The main influence on the forest landscape was the Forestry Act of 1919 and the creation of the Forestry Commission (FC); their mission was to create a strategic timber reserve required by the war effort. This is about catalyzing distinct change and implementing a massive shift in land use (from agriculture to forestry), restructuring native forests and species choice (conifer monoculture ). It can be argued that the creation of “new forests” corresponded to the recovery of previously lost natural forest cover. However, the methodology adopted was somewhat imperfect compared to current sustainable forest management (SFM) standards. A typical planting program would include non-native conifers, usually Sicta spruce (SS) or Lodgepoll pine (LP); from North American sources, arranged in geometric shapes, as shown in image 1. Unnatural geometric shapes in the landscape. During the 1960s, more emphasis was placed on landscape issues, with the rise of the global environmental movement. The methods of mitigation and inclusion we recognize today; for example, the development of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) during this period. Two guiding principles were adopted: forests should reflect the natural form and patterns of the land; and visual designs adopted in other areas should be ...... middle of document ...... independent panel response on forestry committee final report. The national archives. Forestry Commission of Scotland. (nd). Urban Woodland Design, Engaging with the community. [Online] Available at: , [March 1, 2014]. Arnstien, S. (1969). A scale of participation in the USA. Journal of the Royal Planning Institute. April, 176-182. Bell, S and Apostol, D. (2008). Design sustainable forest landscapes. London: Taylor and Francis: 105. Aarhus Convention, (1998). Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters. Denmark. Weldon, S. (2004) Social science in forestry. Public participation and partnership: an examination of Forestry Commission practices and governance in a changing political and economic context. Forestry Commission. Edinburgh: 12.