The Tree Path

Manifesto for Trees 2

2. Stand up for old trees and ancient woodland

All old trees and ancient woodland are priceless and should be jealously guarded. Old trees are more important than young trees, culturally, ecologically and aesthetically. They are a distinguishing characteristic of the British countryside.

Despite years of protest we are still losing irreplaceable tracts of ancient woodland at an alarming rate, more than half has been lost in the past 40 years. We call old trees overmature and geriatric, forgetting that they can happily look and live that way for hundreds of years.

Tree protection law should be biased in favour of old trees, penalties for cutting down or damaging trees should increase with the age of the tree. Remember, for some trees life begins at 400.

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