Save our Ancient Woodlands
The UK Government
Britain’s oldest living residents are under threat. They have been with us for hundreds of years but their rights are not recognised. Thousands of ancient trees are being destroyed as part of development projects. It’s time to stand up for them. Enough is enough. Sign our petition to tell the government to give ancient woodlands absolute protection.
Ancient woodlands store one and a half times as much carbon as younger woodlands and are an irreplaceable habitat for many species in the UK which cannot thrive in other conditions and have established ecosystems over centuries.
Despite this, over 1000 ancient woodlands in the UK are currently threatened according to the Woodland Trust. Current laws allow them to be destroyed if the loss can be ‘mitigated’. It is impossible to mitigate the loss of something which cannot be replaced. We have inherited these forests over generations and they provide the very air we breathe. We do not have the right to take that from future generations.
Enough is enough. Sign our petition to tell the government to give ancient woodlands absolute protection.
[picture caption: Lucy and Katie at the Woodland Trust’s igniting innovation competition. Lucy is the campaign manager and Katie is a budding videographer who is documenting our movement. This campaign is backed by the Woodland Trust’s igniting innovation fund. Follow us on Instagram @ancientwoodlandsuk]
Petition by
To:
The UK Government
From:
[Your Name]
Our ancient woodlands have been with us for hundreds of years. They have provided us with clean air for centuries, and are an irreplaceable habitat in a time of climate and biodiversity crisis, when net zero is at the forefront of the government’s agenda. Despite this, they are being destroyed overnight, as part of development and infrastructure projects, without a second thought. You do not have the right to take these inherited forests from our and future generations. We are asking you to change paragraph 118 of the NPPF to absolutely exclude ancient woodland sites from any successful planning applications, and that you outlaw their destruction. We are asking that you respect the ancient woodlands that have come before you and give them the right to stand. We are asking you to take action now. We will not stand by silently while our ancient forests are destroyed. Will you?