The Tree Council has joined forces with Woodland Trust to hand over its
100,000 strong petition calling for stronger laws to protect iconic trees at No
10 Downing Street, at the start of NationalTree Week 2024.
The Tree Council CEO, Sara Lom was on the steps of the Prime Minister’s
residence with Woodland Trust Chief Executive, Dr Darren Moorcroft; MP for
South Cotswolds, Roz Savage MBE, Woodland Trust Campaigns Manager, Adele Benson
and Charlie Knowles from the Trust’s youth council, as Valhalla actor, David
Oakes handed in the 100,000 signatures in support of Woodland Trust’s Living Legends campaign.
Jon Stokes, The Tree Council Director of Trees, Science & Research,
said: “Some older than Stonehenge, living witnesses to the signing of the Magna
Carta and the source of every Bramley apple pie you’ve ever eaten, Britain’s
heritage trees never cease to astonish me.
“They have coped with everything nature has thrown at them, but our research
confirms that the future of these precious trees is at risk. The greatest
threats they face is us.
“However, it’s within our gift to protect them and ensure that these
magnificent organisms live on for centuries to come. This petition shows I’m
not alone in this thought.”
The Living Legends campaign is calling for a legally protected heritage
status for the oldest and most important trees, backed by strong and consistent
policy protection for a wider group of veteran trees and increased support for
people to care for them.
The UK has more ancient oak trees than the rest of the countries of Europe
combined. Yet there is no automatic right of protection for these living parts
of history. Similar legislation already exists in a number of other European
countries – including Poland, Italy, and Romania – and in Germany, a similar
scheme protects heritage trees.
Describing passing the 100,000 signature mark as a “significant milestone”,
Woodland Trust Campaigns Manager, Adele Benson said: “We’re sending a powerful
message to the Government which shows the strength of feeling for protecting
the UK’s oldest and most special trees.
“The UK has an incredible heritage of old trees, but most are outside
protected areas like nature reserves and some are critically at risk.
“Some of these ‘Living Legends’ are more than a thousand years old. We need
to enable them to thrive for many more years, locking up carbon, providing
irreplaceable homes for wildlife and holding people’s stories and memories.”
National Tree Week 2024 takes place
between November 23 – December 1. To find tree planting opportunities, tree
themed events, or to host your own Tree Party, please visit www.nationaltreeweek.org.uk.
