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Both the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and Biodiversity Net Gain have been in the headlines again this month.

The Guardian has published an article claiming that up to 5,000 nature sites across the country are at risk from Labour’s growth plans. The Government have been quick to respond, stating that the reports are inaccurate and that the Bill will maintain the existing legal and policy protections. There is emphasis on the current rules of the NPPF in protecting irreplaceable habitats (including ancient woodland and ancient/veteran trees), and that this is not being changed.

A review of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is underway, to determine if the regulations can be eased for development proposals on smaller sites (up to 9 homes). There is also a proposal to determine whether planning officers will be given power to approve smaller development schemes, rather than councillors.

We expect there will continue to be ongoing discussion and updates on both of these and will continue to provide news in this Newsletter.

On a lighter note, Steve and Flis took the opportunity to visit a local Tiny Forest in Witney. The project is supported by Earthwatch Europe, which the Tree Frontiers team helped raise funds for in last year’s Oxford Half Marathon. It was a great opportunity to see the scheme in practice and let the kids help with ongoing research by completing a bug hunt.

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Tree Frontiers News

  • This month we are heading to the Alborz Mountain region of northern Iran to a tree which is remarkable in all seasons. Would you be able to recognise it from its spring buds or patterned, peeling bark

  • With an increase in demand across a wide range of sites, we are looking to appoint a qualified and experienced arboricultural consultant on a full-time, permanent basis. While experience is a desirabl

  • We’re all going on a bug hunt In celebration of Biodiversity Day on the 22nd of May, Steve and Flis took the kids to the Tiny Forest in Witney as part of the Earthwatch Europe‘s Tiny Fores

  • Hopefully you will have already spotted our featured tree this month as it is covered in blossom during the spring. Once believed to ward off evil spirits, these days it is mostly planted in parks and

  • Flis recently took her family on holiday to Zimbabwe, but as well as looking out for the usual suspects such as lions, zebra and giraffes she also found herself drawn to the trees – they face a

  • Earlier this month Nick attended the Arboricultural Association’s annual symposium, this year focussing on Tree Architecture and Morphophysiology. The aim was to introduce UK audiences to these

  • Arboricultural Consultant Located in Oxfordshire with a focus on central and southern England, we are a small but dedicated arboricultural consultancy with a goal of being one of the premier consultan

  • Tree Frontiers were asked to provide arboricultural input and reporting to accompany a live planning application for a residential development in Gloucester. Read about how our input addressed objecti

  • This month we are heading north, featuring a tree which provides essential habitat for red squirrels, capercaillies and crossbills. Once considered sacred by the Celts, today it is key in commercial f

  • This month we have delivered lunchtime CPD sessions to Morgan Elliot Planning and SFK Consulting. Not only is it a great opportunity for us to meet teams (that we ordinarily only interact with virtual

Industry Articles

The Sycamore Gap conviction on 9th May

Two men have been found guilty of the “mindless destruction” of the world famous Sycamore Gap tree, the felling of which sparked international outrage.

The value of the tree had been estimated at more than £620,000 but that figure is now in dispute, and it’s thought that the men’s sentence could be up to 10 years in prison.

Plymouth tree felling cost more than £3.3m

A Devon council’s decision to cut down more than 100 trees at night has cost more than £3.3m, a damning report has found.

The “shock to the organisation” of the tree-felling carried out by Plymouth City Council in March 2023 still reverberates today, according to an independent review into the council’s actions.

Millions of trees planted through Woodland Trust and Lloyds Initiative

All trees planted are native to the UK and will help create havens for wildlife, boost biodiversity and absorb harmful carbon dioxide from the air.
Over their lifetimes, the 10 million trees could absorb a quarter of the emissions that come from UK homes every year.

Beloved 300-year-old oak tree threatened by massive pylons plan across Essex

National Grid have been asked to spare a 300-year-old oak tree on a planned 114 mile route between Norwich and Tilbury. National Grid has received more than 13,000 pieces of feedback about the controversial plan, and has yet to decide about how it would route pylons through Rivenhall.

Landscape Institute calls for landscape-led approach to development

A new Landscape Institute report calls for major shift in how the built environment sector approaches development.

The report calls for a fundamental shift in how the built environment sector approaches development. It urges landowners, developers, planners, local authorities and infrastructure funders to embed the expertise of chartered landscape architects from the earliest stages of planning.

A landscape-led approach, the report argues, results in healthier communities, stronger ecosystems and more economically resilient places.

Forestry Sector Skills Plan

There are currently not enough people with the right skills to support current and anticipated needs in the forestry sector. To change this, Institute of Chartered Foresters are creating a sector skills plan – a ten-year vision with agreed key issues and actions.

#FreetheTree campaign launched

Fund4Trees and The Arboricultural Association have launched #FreetheTree to encourage the public to check for strangling tree ties.

When a tree is planted, it’s often supported using stakes and tree ties – this holds the root system firm in the ground and stops the tree from blowing over.

Typically these should be removed when the tree is established (3-5 years), but tens of thousands aren’t removed, causing damage to the tree. This campaign encourages the public to check for strangling tree ties and contact the owner of the tree – whether a homeowner, a local council or a management company.

FREE Arboriculture resource packs

If you’re going to an event and need some educational or promotional materials to promote a career in arboriculture, The Arboricultural Association offers a range of technical guides and promotional materials. Download from their website, or request a free pack via their website.

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