Tree Charter

Protect irreplaceable trees and woods

Ancient woods have been continuously wooded since before records started: they are living descendants from Britain’s prehistory. A tree may be a village’s oldest inhabitant, a founding figure in a region’s identity, a natural monument in the nation’s story. Thorn-bushes and hedgerows harbour our history. Old orchards are habitats for some of our rarest species and living museums of disappearing ways of life. A country that cares for its future cares for its past: we need laws and commitment to protect these irreplaceable natural treasures.

TREE CHARTER IN ACTION

Articles
Evidence

Prevent any further loss of the UK’s precious ancient woodland
Ancient woodland is irreplaceable, and provides vital habitat for native species, and an important link with our natural and social history. Ancient woodland should have protection at least equivalent to that provided to our man-made heritage.

Identify and protect important tree heritage
Our oldest trees are living links with history, and support a wealth of wildlife. Ancient and heritage trees should be listed natural monuments and they and their immediate environment should have the same level of legal protection and financial management support as listed buildings and monuments.

Empower custodians of our tree heritage to restore important landscapes
Ancient woodland habitats are nationally important, but many are located on privately owned land. Landowners and managers should be supported with funding and expert guidance to effectively and sustainably manage and restore ancient woodland, ancient and veteran trees, hedgerows, wood-pasture and parkland for future generations.

Identify and map important trees and woods
We can only protect and maintain what we know is there. Important trees, woods, hedges and landscapes with trees should be recorded on a national public database that is maintained and updated to allow proper monitoring and protection.

Clarify responsibilities for the care of important trees and woods
Our precious tree heritage can suffer when neglected. Conservation covenants should be introduced to ensure that management responsibilities for ancient and veteran trees and ancient woodland protection are written into deeds, as with man-made heritage.

Give legal protection to historic orchards
Historic orchards tell the story of a long and important relationship between people and trees. Historic orchards should have statutory protection as community heritage assets and important habitat.

Protect and manage established hedgerows for the future
Ancient and established hedgerows help to deliver multiple benefits to the landscape and environment. They should be protected and managed for their role as valuable natural and historical assets, not just for their function as enclosures or screens.

Conserve the unique qualities of ancient woodland
Ancient woods have irreplaceable value as heritage and habitat, from mineral and fungi rich soil that has developed over centuries of tree cover, to boundary ditches and coppiced trees that show the historic management that led to such rich habitat. Their unique features, whether natural or as a result of management, should be maintained, restored or enhanced wherever they are found.

Safeguard our future tree heritage
The trees we plant today will be the ancient woods and trees in the future, but only if we ensure they survive. We need to plant, protect and care for young trees and woods today to ensure the tree heritage of the future. Replacements for mature trees in heritage landscapes should be planted early enough to be mature before their predecessors decline.

Ancient Yew Group
The Ancient Yew Group offers extensive information on yew trees and their conservation.
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Ancient and veteran trees, parkland and wood-pasture
The Woodland Trust’s position on trees of special interest outlines what can be done to encourage future generations of important trees.
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National Planning Practice Guidance
Defra’s planning guidance outlines key issues in implementing policy to protect biodiversity, including local requirements.
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Ancient trees for the future
This guide from the Woodland Trust is primarily for landowners and professionals who want to establish trees that can develop full, open crowns and live long enough to become ancient.
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Maximising the benefits of woods and trees
This Woodland Trust publication is designed to help local authorities harness the potential of trees and woods.
Read more

DON'T STOP THERE

Ancient trees, native woodland and wildlife in need of better protection

Support the Woodland Trust’s call for better ancient woodland protection

Find out more

Three people hand in hand hugging an enormous ancient tree

Access Woodland Trust guidance on campaigning locally for threatened woods and trees

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Tree climber with a loud speaker in the boughs of a veteran tree

Become a Woodland Trust Woods Under Threat Reporter

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Winter sunlight filtering down to brown bracken on the forest floor

Discover your local wild place and play a role in conserving it with the John Muir Award

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People measuring the girth of a large tree with a tape measure

Become a Tree Council Tree Warden

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The gnarled bark of an ancient tree trunk

Get involved with the Tree Council's Green Monuments Campaign

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Learn how we can plan for greener local landscapes

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YOUR STORIES

The unusually shaped trunk of a veteran tree

"Ancient trees, some of which have been growing for hundreds of years, are timeless and have an almost magical attraction. There is a sense of permanence about them that is missing from so many other aspects of modern life. In our previous garden, there was a huge horse chestnut tree that was more than 200 years old. On a windy winter's night I loved to stand outside and listen to the branches swaying in the gale. Sometimes, with the moon peeping from scudding clouds it was almost otherworldly but it always left me with a feeling of peace. Woodlands are like that too. Trees are so vital to our own existence and that of so many other creatures that we should be doing all we can to preserve them. It distresses me that developers and planners have so little regard for such a beautiful, valuable and vital resource."

Suzanne

Image: Dawn-Marie Wyllie

"Trees are important because the sight of them lifts my spirit. Just take a minute to really look at a tree. What an amazing plant it is! I have been fortunate enough to always have trees in my life in some way. Today it is my local park trees - some of them extremely beautiful, old specimens, some of them self-seeded common ones like sycamore and beech, but all worth caring for. Now that local authorities are so short of resources to take care of the trees properly, concerned citizens need to step in to protect and nurture trees wherever they can."

Cecily

Image: Cecily Jarvis

Trees in an urban brownfield site awaiting development

"Our future depends on us being custodians of trees and all wildlife. How dare we have the arrogance to cut down trees that have nurtured and protected us through centuries, the woods and forests that provide shelter and life? What do we want to be connected to – motorways or our fast disappearing countryside? It’s up to us. Trees can’t speak for themselves, so we have to speak up for these silent calm giants."

Paula

Image: @WHEELZWHEELER

A veteran tree trunk enveloping rusty iron railings

"On one of the walks in our village is the “huggy tree”. It's tall, and wide – too big to put your arms around and old. The branches are sinking lower and lower, and you need to give it a careful look from a safe distance the day after a storm, in case one of them ends up on your head. Right from when the children were tiny, everyone has to go and hug the tree as we walk past, sometimes in turn, sometimes in a human chain. Now the children are all grown up and there are just the two of us left at home, but I still hug the tree every time I go past. Last time with an audience of bemused cows. Oh yes, the branches on that side come down to cow munching height, and no further…"

Teresa

Image: @MattLarsenDaw

"Trees are a living reminder of a wilder wilderness past in our landscape. And like most other things of true value we have to try to better protect them, since we shall indeed otherwise miss them greatly when they are sadly all but gone."

Trevor

Image: Melinda Lewis