Review protections for important trees: amend Forestry Act & list heritage trees

Summary

Review and strengthen protections. Amend the Forestry Act 1967 to explicitly define and set a higher evidence bar for exempting any ancient tree felling from licences. Publish and maintain a list of heritage trees with protected status as proposed in the Heritage Trees Private Members Bill 2023-24. We'd also like the Government to formally commit to implementing the recommendations of a DEFRA-commissioned report from the Tree Council (April 2025), which amongst other recommendations called for engaging key stakeholders within 12 months of publication, and the development of an ‘action plan’ for important trees. Ancient trees are irreplaceable habitats, and we believe they need better protection. The Forestry Act currently allows some to be felled without felling licences; we think there must be a more rigorous licensing requirement.

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