Keep living legends alive
Most of our oldest trees are not legally protected. We're urging governments across the UK to change that. Add your voice to our call for improved protection laws.
Sign our petitionCampaign with us
Our woods and trees can't speak for themselves. Together we can stand up for the environment and safeguard the UK's woodland heritage for our future.
1,225
ancient woods threatened by development right now
2.4%
that's how little of the UK is covered by ancient woodland
1,186
woods saved with your help since 1999
Read our latest news
Campaigns that need your support
Join the campaign for nature's recovery
Urge your local authority to declare a nature emergency and embed a Local Nature Recovery Strategy that helps protect, restore and expand woods and trees.
External link
Protecting trees and woods
Urge the Senedd to restore nature with trees on farms
Our Ten Asks for Trees would boost the Sustainable Farming Scheme’s impact for Wales’ people and landscape. Urge the Senedd to make them happen.
Protecting trees and woods
Help us save Coed Wern from destruction
Ancient woodland is under threat from a holiday park proposal in Glasinfryn, near Bangor.
HS2 rail link
HS2 is a grave threat to the UK’s ancient woods and veteran trees, with many at risk of loss or damage. We can’t let this happen.
Read the latestMore on the HS2 rail link
Latest campaign successes
Protecting trees and woods
Saved: Lake Wood, Sussex
Take a detailed look at our team’s efforts to protect an ancient wood alongside local people and discover how our voices made a difference to save the site.
Protecting trees and woods
Campaign win: new planning rules protect Scotland’s ancient woods and trees
Scotland's planning policy has been updated to protect irreplaceable ancient woods and trees from inappropriate development.
Protecting trees and woods
Thank you for demanding a bold England Tree Strategy
The England Trees Action Plan determines how Government will protect, plant and restore woods and trees for years to come.
Protecting trees and woods
The Environment Act 2021
The story of how thousands of people shaped a new law that will determine how the natural world is governed for years to come.
Protecting trees and woods
Saved: ancient woods in South Wales
Irreplaceable ancient woods near Cardiff are safe from a new link road between the A48 and the M4 motorway.
Protecting trees and woods
Saved: Smithy Wood
After years of campaigning, the application for a motorway service station within Smithy Wood's ancient setting has finally been withdrawn.
Protecting trees and woods
Saved: Nidd Gorge
Thanks to thousands of you speaking up, North Yorkshire County Council has ditched plans to build a road through the ancient woodland of Bilton Beck & Rudding Bottoms at Nidd Gorge.
Protecting trees and woods
Saved: ancient woods at Tirpentwys
Almost two hectares of ancient woodland have been saved from a quarry access road near Pontypool in Torfaen.
Take action where you live
Campaign in your community
Local communities taking action is the most effective way to protect woods and trees. Need help? Check out our useful resources.
Get started todayWhy we campaign
Trees and woods bring vast benefits to people, wildlife and the environment. Without them, life would be very different.
Ancient woodland is home to more wildlife than any other UK habitat.
But 85% of it is unprotected by government legislation.
Campaigning works
We base all of our campaigns on evidence. And we’ve proved campaigning works: we’ve saved 1,186 woods since 1999.
From signing a petition or emailing your MP to joining a demonstration walk, your voice makes us stronger.
Be the voice for woods and trees. Together, we can stand up for our precious woods and protect their future.
Our strategy
Our vision is optimistic: a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature. Find out how we plan to achieve this over the next decade.
Explore our goalsCatch up on ongoing campaigns
Protecting trees and woods
Newly elected MPs must champion woods and trees
Successful candidates in the 2024 General Election should recognise the value of trees and woods where you live.
Protecting trees and woods
We need action on nature commitments ahead of the next general election
To stand a chance of restoring nature by 2030, we need action from political leaders. Nature recovery must be at the heart of the next general election campaign.
Protecting trees and woods
Scotland's nature needs help to recover and thrive
We need a robust delivery strategy for biodiversity in Scotland.
Protecting trees and woods
Kent quarry extension is one of the biggest threats of the 21st century
Having destroyed 32ha of ancient wood in 2013, new quarry plans threaten at least another 50ha.
Protecting trees and woods
Ancient woods and trees threatened by Lower Thames Crossing
Important woods, trees and wildlife remain at risk from National Highways proposals to build a new tunnel linking Essex and Kent under the River Thames.
Protecting trees and woods
We need a vision for new transport projects that protects woods and trees
13,500 of you helped us tell Government to address climate impacts and stop damaging transport schemes to protect all irreplaceable habitats. Thank you.
Protecting trees and woods
Nature’s recovery depends on better funding for native woodland
We need a Forestry Grant Scheme that reverses native woodland decline to help nature, climate and communities.
Protecting trees and woods
Don't let Government ditch its environment protection promise
After months of uncertainty about Government’s commitment to protect and restore nature, we still need answers. Abandoning nature is not an option.
Protecting trees and woods
Tree cover target leaves room for improvement
We need well-connected woodlands, rich in native trees that fight climate change and help nature to recover.
Protecting trees and woods
Government’s nature recovery plans in England fall short
Government plans to halt nature’s decline in England by 2030 don't go far enough. We need more meaningful action to save our wildlife and environment.
Protecting trees and woods
Creating a robust plan to keep our trees healthy
Government’s upcoming Plant Biosecurity Strategy must put in place a bold plan to tackle the pests and diseases that threaten our native tree populations.
Protecting trees and woods
Our work with The Climate Coalition
We're part of The Climate Coalition, a group of organisations dedicated to limiting the impact of climate change on the people, places and life we love.
Protecting trees and woods
All-Party Parliamentary Group for Woods and Trees
The APPG meets several times a year to discuss steps to protect, restore and expand woods and trees in a time of climate and nature crises.