Woodland Trust calls for rethink of new busway route to save veteran trees

The Woodland Trust is calling for a rethink of a new busway route to save veteran trees. The new route, proposed by the Greater Cambridgeshire Partnership (GCP) and Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC), would run from Cambourne to Cambridge, through a line of old trees which have stood as precious natural habitats for decades.

These veteran trees, part of Coton Orchard, west of Cambridge, are protected through the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and are a vital and treasured part of the UK’s natural and cultural landscape.

Jack Taylor, lead campaigner at the Woodland Trust, said the veteran trees are a valuable natural resource.

He said: “We are calling on GCP and CCC to rethink their plans for the busway which would have grave consequences for a number of veteran trees.

“These trees are particularly valuable for local wildlife populations, such as saproxylic (deadwood-dependent) invertebrates, as well as many important bird, mammal and fungi species.

“Traditional orchards, particularly those containing older trees with significant deadwood features, are of great importance and should also be protected from harm where possible. Identifying alternatives to the removal of a significant number of trees within Coton Orchard must be explored in full."

The Woodland Trust acknowledges the wider landscape constraints associated with this scheme, which will avoid the SSSI-designated ancient woodland, Madingley Wood, by opting not to widen the existing A1303 road. However, it says avoidance of one irreplaceable habitat should not come at the cost of another. Instead, it says the plans need to consider that a solution must be found that avoids loss of both ancient woodland and veteran trees.

It is calling for the GCP, and CCC, to:

• commission an independent ecological and arboricultural assessment of the route to identify and protect any trees that might be considered ancient, veteran or notable.
• undertake a full option appraisal to identify alternatives to significant tree loss at Coton Orchard, reducing such loss, ideally to none.

Natural England’s standing advice on veteran trees states that they can be individual trees or groups of trees within wood pastures, historic parkland, hedgerows, orchards, parks or other areas and are classed as 'irreplaceable habitats'.

It says a veteran tree may not be old, but it has significant decay features, such as branch death and hollowing. These features contribute to its exceptional biodiversity, cultural and heritage value.

Mr. Taylor added:

“We welcome the opportunity to hold further discussions with the GCP, and CCC, so that we may continue to explore solutions that totally avoid loss of irreplaceable veteran trees, while also protecting local ancient woodland.

“The Trust recognises the need to reduce carbon emissions as a means of achieving net zero targets, however, the loss of veteran trees, and numerous other trees of a range of ages, will also make these targets harder to achieve.”

Notes to editors

For more details on this release, contact Andy Bond in the PR team at the Woodland Trust on 07725 480434.

About the Woodland Trust

The Woodland Trust is the largest woodland conservation charity in the UK. It has over 500,000 supporters. It wants to see a UK rich in native woods and trees for people and wildlife.

The Trust has three key aims:

• protect ancient woodland, which is rare, unique and irreplaceable
• restoration of damaged ancient woodland, bringing precious pieces of our natural history back to life
• plant native trees and woods with the aim of creating resilient landscapes for people and wildlife.

Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 29,000 hectares. Access to its woods is free so everyone can benefit from woods and trees.

Veteran trees - planning policy

Veteran trees are protected through the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Paragraph 180 of the NPPF states: 'When determining planning applications, local planning authorities should apply the following principles:

c) development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats (such as ancient woodland and ancient or veteran trees) should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons and a suitable compensation strategy exists;'

Footnote 63, defines exceptional reasons as follows: 'For example, infrastructure projects (including nationally significant infrastructure projects, orders under the Transport and Works Act and hybrid bills), where the public benefit would clearly outweigh the loss or deterioration of habitat.'

Further to this, paragraph 174 of the NPPF states: 'Planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by: minimising impacts on and providing net gains for biodiversity, including by establishing coherent ecological networks that are more resilient to current and future pressures'. Where an application involves the loss of irreplaceable habitats, such as ancient woodland or ancient and veteran trees, net gain for biodiversity cannot be achieved. Considering the potential for loss of irreplaceable habitat, the current proposals would contradict national planning policy.