Canopy supports the Woodland Trust's Living Legends Campaign
Add your voice for better protection for our oldest and most special trees by signing the Woodland Trust's petition.
Here's what they say...
The UK’s oldest trees are internationally important. The UK has more ancient oak trees than the rest of Europe combined – and a duty of care for these national treasures.
As a society we protect castles, ancient monuments, art, endangered wildlife. But somehow, we’ve missed our oldest and most important trees – even though some are more than a thousand years old.
Right now, ancient trees have no automatic right of protection in the UK. Change is needed in each UK country - either to improve our current policies and laws or to introduce new ones.
In each UK country policies and legislation for planning, farming and nature recovery are being developed.
We want to see, for each country in the UK:
- Legally protected heritage status for some of our most ancient and important trees
- Strong, consistent policy protection for old trees
- More support for land managers and farmers to care for ancient and veteran trees
Our living legends are all around us. They’re the 200-year-old trees greening our housing estates. The 1,000-year-old yew tree standing proud in your local churchyard. Their survival and ongoing conservation must be prioritised and improved. In a climate and nature emergency the avoidable loss of any old and important trees must be prevented.
How we’re using your support for trees
Power to make changes is in the hands of governments across the UK. We’re already using the petition to push governments to improve tree protection at all levels.
In England better protection has been debated by the House of Lords and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Woods and Trees.
In Scotland the Scottish Government has improved planning policy, boosting protection for ancient and veteran trees and ancient woods.
In Wales the Welsh Government is reviewing ancient tree and woodland protection and preparing a new Sustainable Farming Scheme. The Well-being of Future Generations Act requires that sustainable development and well-being goals are met, including a resilient and biodiverse natural environment.
In Northern Ireland a supportive Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly has submitted a Private Member’s Bill on tree protection. This could be the first step to legal protection for the country's important trees.