Manifesto
What is Canopy?
Canopy is the national coalition of grassroots tree campaigners and campaign groups.
By coming together, we can share what we know and have a louder voice in the fight to save our trees and green spaces, both of which are vital for the health of humans, nature and the planet.
What are our aims?
Improved legal protection for trees
We aim to influence future decision and policy making for the improved legal protection of trees in the UK and to increase transparency and the adherence of policy in the planning process.
Stop the unnecessary felling of trees
We want developers to do more to prioritise accommodating existing trees wherever possible, for planning decisions to be stricter on upholding green policies and to stop the unnecessary felling of trees by councils, insurers, individuals and landowners.
Support and inform tree campaign groups around the UK
By providing resources, sharing knowledge, and challenging greenwashing we support new and current tree campaign groups, to help them save trees in their area.
Increase awareness of the benefits trees
We work to help people reconnect with and recognise the value of the wonderful natural assets that we have and the many benefits they bring.
Why?
We know that trees are vital for our health and wellbeing, an essential green infrastructure, they are crucial for the health of the planet, provide habitats and make our towns and cities more pleasant and unique. We must challenge greenwashing and the unnecessary loss of our beautiful trees, often for profit or as a result of commercial pressures.
There must be increased focus on retention rather than mitigation which is rarely enforced and never adequate. Trees take decades to grow and moments to fell. We must retain trees wherever possible; we can’t afford not to.