MEDIA RELEASE

27 March 2017

New ‘Tree Charter’ to protect people’s rights to the benefits of trees and woods:

More than 70 organisations, with a combined membership of 20 million people, launchprinciples to bring trees and woods to the centre of society

Today sees the launch of 10 guiding principles for the future of trees, woods and people; inspired by more than 60,000 personal stories from members of the UK public.

The storiesreflect the importance of trees in our lives. Andthe recurring themeswill form the bedrock of the new ‘Charter for Trees, Woods and People’ to be launched this November.

The Tree Charter, led by the Woodland Trust with back-up from over 70 organisations, aims to secure a brighter future for woods and trees. It will celebrate their enormous importance, and provide guidance and inspiration to help shape government policy.

From street trees to countryside hedgerows; and from ambitious saplings to trees steeped in history and folklore: all play an important part in our lives.

Patrick Cregg, director of the Woodland Trust in Northern Ireland, said: “We’re lucky enough to have some remarkable trees, like the iconic Dark Hedges, and we’ve a famously green countryside. Yet, this landscape is extremely lacking when it comes to woodland: we’re one of the least-wooded countries in the whole of Europe.

“From the stories shared, it seems that members of the public share our love of, and concern for, Northern Ireland’s trees and woods. Their benefits to wildlife; health;and the need for better protection and more planting are just some of the common sentiments expressed.

“We’re creating a Charter that puts trees back at the heart of our lives, communities and decision-making – right where they belong. We’ll use it to provide guidance for policy and as a reminder of the everyday benefits that we all gain from having woods and trees in our lives.”

The 10 themes, or chapters, that will make up the Charter are1:

Principles:We believe in:

  1. NatureThriving habitats for diverse species
  2. PlantingPlanting for the future
  3. Arts and HeritageCelebrating the cultural impacts of trees
  4. Utility and LivelihoodsA thriving forestry sector that delivers for the UK
  5. ProtectionBetter protection for important trees and woods
  6. PlanningEnhancing new developments with trees
  7. Health and Well-being Understand and using the natural health benefits of trees
  8. People and Access to treesAccess to trees for everyone
  9. Coping with ThreatsAddressing threats to woods and trees through good management
  10. EnvironmentStrengthening landscapes with woods and trees

The original Charter of the Forest came 800 years ago, hot on the heels of the Magna Carta, and reinstated the rights of everyday people to access the woods – to forage, graze livestock, collect firewood and more.

The new Charter, with trees and woods still firmly at the core, will reach out to every corner of the UK, and will draw its strength from people power.

It’sbacked by a raft of famous names2, who have lent their voice to support the project principles. TheyincludeEamonn Holmes, Chris Packham, Clive Anderson, Benjamin Zephaniah, John Humphrys, Kevin McCloud, Gemma Cairney and Carenza Lewis.

The Trust is now asking members of the public to come on-board and show support by way of a simple signature. Find out more and add your name at

-Ends-

Notes to editors

For media enquiries contact:

Kaye Coates at the Woodland Trust’s Bangor Office on 028 9127 5787; email or

The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121; e-mail

1Find out more about the 10 principles here:

2 What the celebrities have to say:

Chris Packham:
John Humphrys:

*Facts and figures

We are planting fewer trees and remain one of the least wooded countries in Europe

Northern Ireland is one of the least wooded countries in Europe. Woodland represents only 8% of the total land area, compared with 13% for the UK as a whole, and 46% for Europe.

In 2006 the Northern Ireland Executive set a target to double the area of forest in Northern Ireland by the middle of the century. However, current planting rates are far below the level needed to achieve this aim. Only 100 hectares of new woodland were planted in Northern Ireland in the 2015/2016 planting season; and 200 hectares of new woodland in the previous 2014/2015 planting season – this was the lowest figure for 5 years and a decrease of 100 hectares compared with 2013/14.

Limited access to woodland

Studies show we are happier and healthier if we have easy access to woods, trees, and green spaces nearby. But according to Woodland Trust data, only 7 per cent of people in Northern Ireland have access to a wood larger than 2 hectares within 500m of their home, and only 40 per cent have access to a wood larger than 20 hectares within 4km of their home.

Physical activity

Trees and woods are hugely valuable for our health, happiness and our children’s development. Only 51% of UK children achieve the recommended hour of physical activity each day, and in Northern Ireland the figure falls to 43.4 per cent.

Griffiths, L. J., Cortina-Borja, M., Sera, F., Pouliou, T., Geraci, M., Rich, C., Cole, T. J., Law, C., Joshi, H., Ness, A.R., Jebb, S.A. &Dezateux, C. (2013) How active are our children? Findings from the Millennium Cohort Study.British Medical Journal Open, 3

*The organisations involved in the call for a Charter include:

Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association UK
Ancient Tree Forum
Bat Conservation Trust
Black Environment Network
Borders Forest Trust
Butterfly Conservation
Campaign for National Parks (CNP)
Campaign Strategy
Caring For God's Acre
Centre for Sustainable Healthcare
Church of England
CIEEM (Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management)
City of Trees Manchester
Coigach Assynt Trust
Confor
Continuous Cover Forestry Group
Country Land and Business Association CLA
CPRE
Forest School Association (FSA)
Froglife
FSC-UK
Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust
Going Wild
GreenBlue Urban
GroundWork Gallery
Grown in Britain
Institute of Chartered Foresters
John Muir Trust
Legal Sustainability Alliance (LSA)
Llais y Goedwig
MADE (Muslim Action for Development and Environment
Mersey Forest
National Association of Local Councils
National Trust
National Union of Students
Natural Resources Wales
New Forest National Park Authority
NICVA
Northern Ireland Environment Link
Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids
Order of British Druids
Plantlife
Royal Forestry Society
Royal Horticultural Society
RSPB
Small Woods Association
Soil Association
SWOG Small Woodland Owners' Group
The Sylva Foundation
Tree Design Action Group
The British Beekeepers Association
The Climate Coalition
The Conservation Foundation
The Land Trust
The Landscape Institute
The Sherwood Forest Trust
The Tree Council
The Wildlife Trusts
The Windsor Estate
Tir Coed
Trees for Cities
Wild Network
Wildlife & Countryside Link
Woodland Heritage Limited
Woodland Trust
Woodlands.co.uk
WWF-UK