254.Section 53 of the Act adds a new section A159 to the 1997 Act, requiring planning authorities to prepare and publish a ‘forestry and woodland strategy’. Subsection (2) of new section A159 sets out what the strategy must cover, subsection (3) provides for consultation requirements, and subsections (4) and (7) requires the strategy to be published (including by electronic means). Subsection (5) and (6) provide that two or more planning authorities may act jointly to prepare a forestry and woodland strategy across their combined area.