Feudalism is characterized by land-users leasing rather than owning land. It does not encourage tree-planting, because the leaser is not sure to benefit from the trees, and the owner fears that the trees may establish a claim on the land. In the 1990s the Scottish Law Commission recommended that “the existing feudal system [be] replaced by a system of absolute ownership”, and the Abolition of Feudal Tenure (Scotland) Act 2000 was passed. Since then about 100 hectares a year have been “decrofted” in Scotland, and crofters have become land owners. See the entry Feudalism and treeplanting in the book. Scotland seems to have been more active in this field than England or Wales.

The Magna Carta (see that entry) contained many forest clauses, but it mainly affected the relationship between the king and the barons. The Charter of the Forests (vide) in 1217 was much more people-oriented, and rolled back feudalism a little. It remained valid until 1971.

Mikael Grut, 7.10.2014