HS2 rail link - Woodland Trust

Right now, the biggest single threat from development to ancient woodland is the HS2 rail project. Up and down the country ancient woods and trees face the axe to make way for the high speed train line. Currently 108 ancient woods are threatened with loss or damage from both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the project.

Ancient woodland threatened by HS2 (Photo: Phil Formby/WTML)

Sunlight glancing through dense woodland in summer — Big Lyntus Wood and the others in this gallery are due to be felled in autumn (Image: Phil Formby/WTML)

Established, mutli-trunked tree in dense woodland — Birches Wood (Image: Phil Formby/WTML)

Blubell carpet surrounding established woodland trees — Gloriously popular Crackley Wood in spring (Image: Phil Formby/WTML)

Woodland path in summer — Unnamed wood near Decoypond Wood (Image: Phil Formby/WTML)

Shady, dense woodland — Jones' Hill Wood (Image: Phil Formby/WTML)

Overgrown woodland carpet in summer — Little Lyntus (Image: Phil Formby/WTML)

Dense, fern covered woodland carpet in summer — Ravenshaw Wood (Image: Phil Formby/WTML)

Established woodland in summer — Sheephouse Wood is an established oak woodland (Image: Phil Formby/WTML)

Established tree lined woodland path — Unnamed wood near Stoneleigh (Image: Phil Formby/WTML)

Mature, moody branch canopy in established woodland — Spectacularly charismatic Vicar's Coppice (Image: Phil Formby/WTML)

Woods under threat from HS2

HS2 map key

We need your help as first fellings loom near

Preparation work is underway for the first phase of HS2 which threatens to smash through 34 ancient woods.

Between London and Birmingham, these homes to rare and endangered species will be devastated. These habitats cannot be relocated or replaced.

At the same time, the future of HS2 looks shakier than ever. The Prime Minister has called a review into the project as its predicted costs spiral.

We face a terrible possibility.

Preparatory works continue ahead of the impending felling of these woods. But with a review due, we could lose these priceless national assets for no reason. They could be trashed for a project that may never happen.

Or worse, the government could decide to cut costs by changing the route and destroying even more ancient woodland.

This destruction cannot be allowed to go ahead.

Time is of the essence. We need you to act fast and apply pressure on the government. The people in charge of reviewing HS2 and our transport policies and laws need to realise there’s more to consider than money. Demolishing our precious woodlands is a devastating mistake that future generations will look back on in shock.

We need your help to tell Government:

that the review must consider the true environmental cost of HS2
to halt the felling of ancient woodlands while HS2’s future is still uncertain.

Send your objection now

Our view

While we are in favour of green transport and not against high speed rail projects in principle, we are strongly opposed to the HS2 route.

With at least 108 ancient woods being subject to damage and loss, we consider that the impact of the HS2 route on ancient woods and trees across the UK landscape is wholly unacceptable.

Any transport system that destroys irreplaceable habitats such as ancient woodland can never be called 'green'.