Keep living legends alive

Thank you to everyone that has signed our petition, standing with us to secure protection for the UK’s ancient and special trees. On 18 November we handed in your signatures to Number 10 Downing Street. Your voices have been pivotal in the call for lasting protection.

With the petition now in the hands of the UK government, we’re preparing to present your signatures to the Welsh, Scottish, and Northern Irish governments, highlighting the need for comprehensive protection across the UK.

They're living legends. Pieces of history. Your heritage. They've witnessed centuries of change and been part of our landscape for generations. They're also vital havens for wildlife and important carbon stores, bringing health and wellbeing benefits for people and nature alike. But our oldest and most valuable trees are also vulnerable. Many face a range of threats. 

• In the last 150 years, 50% of large trees have been lost from parts of Eastern England.
• Three quarters of ancient trees are found outside of legally protected wildlife sites.
• Local communities are having to take drastic measures to save important trees where they live. Not all of them succeed.

These national treasures deserve the same sort of protection enjoyed by old buildings, beloved national recipes and other endangered wildlife – some of which can't survive without ancient trees. And the people who care for them should be supported to do so.

Together, we're already making a difference

Thousands of you have asked your government to protect ancient trees, stop the loss of old trees to development and increase support for tree care. Your support is adding weight to the call for legal protection and progress is already happening.

• Planning policy in Scotland has boosted protection for ancient and veteran trees and ancient woods.
• In Westminster, better protection has been debated by the House of Lords and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Woods and Trees.
• In Northern Ireland, Peter McReynolds MLA has submitted a Private Members’ Bill, the Tree Protection Bill, to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The bill aims to strengthen the protection provided by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), create a new ‘Heritage Tree’ designation, and safeguard these heritage trees, along with ancient woodland, from development threats. This is a huge step forward for tree protection in Northern Ireland, which is one of the least wooded regions in Europe.

Let's keep making progress

Although we've handed the petition into number 10, you can still sign it. Every new signature adds more weight to the call greater protection for the nation’s oldest and most iconic trees.​