While an outline of the Forestry Commission's soil classification system is frequently provided in the appendices of guidance literature, information on the definitive horizons of each soil type is usually either absent or 'hidden' in text. The aim of Identification of Soils for Forest Management is to assist forestry practitioners in making responsible management decisions by providing them with a means of rapid soil identification. This is done via a series of decision boxes aimed at those with little or no experience of soil classification. To avoid the unnecessary reading of text that may prove to be irrelevant, guidance on specialised terminology is given as and when it is required. Only a brief introduction to soil science is needed before using the keys.