Rescue our Forgotten Forests
Ancient woods are at a critical turning point and this could be our last chance to save them. Urge governments to launch a rescue plan before it’s too late.
Take actionCampaign 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
2.5%
that's how little of the UK is covered by ancient woodland
1,200+
woods saved with your help since 1999
Why campaign with us?
Trees and woods are essential to life. They clean our air, store carbon, protect us from flooding, and provide vital homes for wildlife. Yet they face numerous threats, including from development. Ancient woodland, our richest habitat, has been shaped over centuries but can be damaged or lost in moments, and 85% of it has no legal protection.
We use robust evidence to challenge threats and push for positive change, from local communities to national government. Our campaigns call for stronger protection for ancient trees and woods, faster and more ambitious restoration, and fairer access to the benefits of trees for everyone, wherever they live.
Safeguarding nature isn’t just about protecting the past. It’s about securing a healthier, greener future for all.
Campaigning works
With your help, we’ve saved more than 1,200 woods since 1999. From signing a petition or emailing your MP to joining a demonstration walk, your voice makes us stronger.
Read our latest news
Campaigns that need your support
Protecting trees and woods
Keep living legends alive
Most of our oldest trees are not legally protected. We're urging governments across the UK to change that.
Protecting trees and woods
Norwich Western Link road threatens ancient woods and trees
Road plans in Norfolk threaten ancient woods and trees and the wildlife that live there. Find out what’s at stake and how you can help.
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Call on Scottish Government to support farmers and crofters
Farmers and crofters could benefit from vital payments to help them integrate trees and improve Scotland's agricultural land for people, climate and nature. Show your support by sending our template email.
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Ask your council to protect nature where you live
If you live in England, call on local leaders to declare a nature emergency and commit to bold policies for nature's recovery. Use our simple tool to email them today.
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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.
Latest campaign successes
Protecting trees and woods
Saved: Coed Wern, Glasinfryn
A proposal for several holiday lodges that threatened a significant proportion of Coed Wern-ty-gwyn has been rejected.
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.
Get involved where you live
Take action in your community
You can get involved in lots of ways, indoors and out. Check out our ideas and advice for plenty of ways to make a difference for woods and trees, now and for the future.
Get started today
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
Don’t let new planning laws cost the earth
Government plans could leave woods, trees and other important habitats vulnerable to destruction for development if we don’t speak up. Tell your MP that nature should be protected and restored.
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
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 will be lost for 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.
Protecting trees and woods
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.