🌳(5/6) We're also calling for better protection for the UK's ancient trees and woodlands to ensure they continue to support #biodiversity and lock up carbon.
New research predicts that there could be 2,000,000 ancient, veteran and notable trees across the whole of England!🌳🏴 #LivingLegendsbbc.co.uk/news/science-e…
With our support, Dr Victoria Nolan predicted the distribution of ancient and other noteworthy trees across the UK, in a 4-year PhD study at @UniofNottingham. Her research produced three key findings⬇️
New #woodland statistics published by the @ForestryComm cast further doubt on the Government’s ability to halt nature’s decline by 2030🌳
Our first thoughts: 1/4
The Government committed to plant 30,000 hectares of #woodland from 2019 to 2024, but it's lagging behind, by a lot. So far it's taken them *three years* to plant 7,150ha, with just 1,980ha planted last year.
And they plan to be planting 30,000ha A YEAR from 2024.
2/4
And that's BEFORE we look at the woeful protection and restoration of #AncientWoodland, decline in woodland wildlife, the steady influx of tree diseases, and the poor state of #SSSI woodland.
#AirPollution not only impacts human health but also the health of our woods and trees. Addressing air pollution is vital to protect and restore our ecosystems🌳
#Nitrogen air pollution is a significant issue for UK woods. According to the #StateOfWoodsAndTrees report 100% of woodlands in England exceed the nitrogen critical load – all will have deteriorated as a result.
Bushy grey beard #lichens were once far more abundant, but are sensitive to #AirQuality. They act as miniature forests on trunks and branches, where invertebrates live and birds forage. They’ve also been found to have anti-growth effects on human cancer cells!
We are deeply shocked and upset to learn that @HS2ltd felled the #CubbingtonPearTree today. There is no replacing the centuries of history and beauty that this tree has given to the Cubbington area. Our sympathies go out to local people and all tree-lovers.
Read on 👇
Voted as our Tree of the Year in 2015, this 200 year old tree is a much loved local landmark. Ourselves and our supporters, as well as many other local campaigners, had lobbied for the tree to be saved.
The Government's response to a public petition to save it said “the stump and rooting structure would be relocated providing an opportunity for the parent tree to regrow or ‘coppice’”. Yet this hasn't happened.
Today’s #HS2 announcement shows that our expert opinion, that of other NGOs, and the concerns of the public worried about the destruction of the irreplaceable habitat, has been utterly disregarded.
“The Government is riding roughshod over its own environmental ambitions and ignoring lessons learned from the past, by allowing destruction of #AncientWoodland and other important habitats on this scale." - @AdamCormack_#HS2