Right now, the Woodland Trust says the biggest single threat from development to ancient woodland is the HS2 rail project.  Ancient woods and trees face the chop – all to make way for a high speed train line. 

Britain must show the way and lead the world in putting nature first.  There’s no point in planning lots of lovely new forest and tree planting on the one hand and chopping down 108 ancient woods with another.

The first fellings are coming close.  HS2’s first phase will bulldoze their way through 34 ancient woods.   These are homes already – they are home to rare and endangered species. 

ONCE THESE ANCIENT WOODS ARE GONE, THEY CANNOT BE REPLACED.

Find out more about Ancient Woodland here – it’s been around for centuries which is why it is ANCIENT.

HS2 did that they would plant new trees – and guess what’s happened to those which have already been planted?   Many have died from lack of water.  That means that the tax payer is going to have to foot the bill to replant them.

The ridiculous thing is that the Prime Minister has called a review of this project.  Its costs are blowing up and up and getting bigger and bigger.   The trees could be destroyed for a project that doesn’t even happen!

PLEASE ACT TODAY.

Please tell the Government that:

• The Review must consider the true environment cost of HS2
• The felling of ancient woodlands must be stopped while the project’s future is uncertain.

The Woodland Trust isn’t against green transport and high speed rail projects in future.  But it is opposed to this HS2 route.

As it points out, any transport system that destroys irreplaceable habitats such as ancient woodland can never be called “green”.

And it strikes a true blow in the face of the UK’s  claim that it cares about the planet…  We need to truly be the change we want to see in the world and put a stop to this destruction now.

Please send your objection now

Visit the Woodland Trust’s website

Find out what the Woodland Trust is doing for ancient woodland 

Find out about the Ancient Tree hunt and inventory

Donate to the Woodland Trust

PS At the moment, the cost has been hugely underestimated - we are looking a possible rise of £30 BILLION cost to the project.