The number of threatened ancient woodlands tops the thousand mark
The UK is staring down the barrel of twin existential crises; climate change and biodiversity collapse.
Urgent action is needed to prevent irreversible damage. Woodland expansion on a massive scale will
The number of threatened ancient woodlands tops the thousand mark
The UK is staring down the barrel of twin existential crises; climate change and biodiversity collapse.
Urgent action is needed to prevent irreversible damage. Woodland expansion on a massive scale will play a huge role in addressing these challenges.
However, the number of ancient woods under threat in the UK from built development has topped the thousand mark for the first time since records began.
The Woodland Trust recently released figures revealing that they have recorded 1,064 ancient woodlands at risk of damage or destruction – the highest number since it’s records began in 1999.
Sadly, this may just be the tip of the iceberg.
Threats to the forests
801 of these 1,064 cases are live planning applications while the remaining 263 are included in various council site allocation plans – areas outlined for future development such as housing, business use or leisure facilities*
The biggest single development project threatening ancient woods is HS2 (High Speed 2; a planned high-speed railway). At least 108 ancient woodlands will be lost or damaged by the project in its current form.
Trees capture carbon and woodlands provide habitats where biodiversity can flourish. The science is unequivocal, but the UK’s speed of response needs to accelerate dramatically to prevent irredeemable loss from today’s climate emergency.
“These new figures make for depressing reading,” said Abi Bunker, The Woodland Trust’s Director of conservation and external affairs. What’s even more depressing is these are only the cases we know about. There could be many more woods under threat.”
Ancient woodlands also face threats from poultry farms depositing nitrogen near ancient woods, and there’s an alarming growth in threats of tree disease from imported plants and wood.
*Site allocations are the main nature of threat, followed by housing (175), utilities (148), railways (112), roads (91), agriculture (78) and leisure or sport (49).
Why an increase in the number of threatened ancient woodlands?
The Woodland Trust puts the reason for the increase in numbers of woods under threat down to a number of factors.
- A growing number of road and rail infrastructure projects such as HS2, the Lower Thames Crossing, the A27 Arundel Bypass and the East West Rail link;
- A continued lack of awareness among local authorities and developers of changes to the National Planning Policy Framework for England, which now states all applications that would result in loss or d