Campaigning works: five times your support saved ancient woods and trees

Does campaigning really work? Does signing a petition or writing a letter truly make a difference? The answer is a resounding yes! It might sometimes feel like threats to the UK's woods and trees are overwhelming and our individual actions have little impact, but irreplaceable woods and veteran trees still stand today because of your support. Let’s look back at some of the vital victories we’ve secured together over the years.

1. Rewriting the rulebook: National Planning Policy Framework

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is effectively the Government’s guidebook for development. For decades, we campaigned for stronger protection for England's ancient woods and veteran trees within this key policy. In July 2018, our campaigning paid off. Over 8,000 of you responded to the Government’s consultation, securing a vital change: the revised NPPF now explicitly considers these habitats ‘irreplaceable’ — the highest level of protection. This policy change is a major success, ensuring protection from poor planning decisions and that ancient woods can be only be removed in ‘wholly exceptional circumstances’. It has since saved many woods and trees from development, including ancient Coldthorn Wood in Sussex in 2022 and the 500-year-old Clatterbury Oak in Essex in 2024. Your continued support, alongside our woods under threat team and threat detector volunteers, remains essential to enforce this crucial protection.

2. When the community spoke: Nidd Gorge saved

Local campaigns are incredibly important for protecting our most cherished places and Nidd Gorge in Yorkshire is a great example. A road scheme threatened to cut this beautiful landscape in two, including ancient woodland and one of our own sites. When 15,000 of you joined the campaign to save Nidd Gorge in 2019, the local council listened and scrapped the destructive road plans entirely. This shows the direct power of local community action when it comes to defending nature.

3. Destruction derailed: HS2 Phase 2

The HS2 rail project posed a massive threat to ancient woodland across the country. Phase 2b of the proposed route from Birmingham northwards would have destroyed dozens of irreplaceable habitats. But with your support, we campaigned tirelessly against the devastating plans and more than 40,000 of you called on Government to consider the scheme’s environmental impact, helping to delay works and save woods and trees. In 2023, Government cancelled the entire route north of Birmingham. This decision immediately saved many woods, including ancient Whitmore Wood in Staffordshire, which at 5.5 hectares was set to be the biggest single loss of ancient woodland on the route. We continue to hold HS2 accountable for Phase 1 impacts.

4. Woodland imprisoned: freeing Chaddesden Wood

As one of only two ancient woods in the city of Derby, a proposal for 150 new houses was a significant threat to Chaddesden Wood. Already surrounded on three sides, the development on the fourth side would completely enclose it. As well as a precious community space, this site is a keystone of local biodiversity and we know enclosing and fragmenting habitats is damaging for our wildlife. We submitted an expert objection alongside letters against the application from 1,488 residents. The council unanimously rejected the application specifically because of the severe consequences it would have for Chaddesden Wood and its veteran trees. 

5. Beating the bypass: the Darwin Oak 

The Darwin Oak, a 550-year-old tree near Charles Darwin’s childhood home, was threatened by the Shrewsbury North West Relief Road. We were a key opponent, arguing the road ignored planning rules protecting ancient trees, but despite highlighting the damage it would cause, the local council pursued the scheme. Campaigning helped delay the development while a national petition gathered over 100,000 signatures, applying massive political pressure at 10 Downing Street. In 2025, Government announced it wouldn’t fund the road scheme. The bypass was consequently paused and is now likely to be cancelled, securing the future of the magnificent Darwin Oak.

Make a difference where you live

These victories clearly prove that your involvement is not just appreciated, but absolutely essential. Every letter you send and petition you sign defends our most precious woods and trees from harm. Thank you.

We must keep this vital momentum going to secure a brighter, healthier future for nature. Ready to act? Check out all the ways you can help woods and trees where you live and across the country.