We would love you to join us in supporting the new Tree Charter, developed by our friends at The Woodland Trust. Find out why it's important, what it is and how you can help in this guest blog by Nick Phillips, Senior Policy Officer at the RSPB, helping to lead on our forestry policy work. Nick writes...
Next year is the 800th anniversary of the original Charter of the Forest. This ancient document was a companion to the Magna Carter and aimed to protect the rights of people to access and use the Royal Forests, which Norman rulers were increasingly restricting. This included house hold names such as the New Forest, famed for its diverse mix of heathland and woodland which are now so important for wildlife.
As we reach the anniversary, it is time for us to reflect on how we want our trees, woods and forests to look in the next 800 years. There are growing pressures in the form of climate change, disease, development and neglect. The UK’s woodland wildlife is in crisis. The State of Nature report is one of the most comprehensive stock takes of wildlife in the UK. It highlighted that 60% of the woodland species we have data for are in decline. These declines are likely to be due to a range of factors, but changes to the way existing woodlands are managed are thought to be key.
(Hawfinch is just one of the many woodland birds in severe decline in the UK)
Trees, woods and forests make our lives better in so many ways. For example they provide places for relaxation, connection to nature, help to fight climate change, combat flooding and cool urban areas. They need us to stand up for them more than ever. This is why we are supporting a campaign to develop a brand new charter for trees, woods and forests that celebrates all the reasons people value them.
This new charter will be based around people’s individual stories about their own personal relationship with trees, woods and forests. It might be a story about your favourite woodland wildlife moment or an old memory of a woodland walk with your family. We need your stories to help us understand what people want and need from the UK’s trees. Tell us what woods and trees mean to you.
Your woodland stories will help us create the building blocks of a charter which will ensure woods and trees get the support and care they need.
Share your story and stick up for woodland. Find out more here: https://treecharter.uk/