The Live Wire

General Election 2010

Woodland Trust manifesto

In the next Parliament, the Woodland Trust believes that all political parties should commit to creating new native woods and planting trees. This is not a luxury but essential if we are to tackle challenges such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, wildlife loss, improving public health – both physical and mental – and shaping places where people want to live, work and spend their leisure time.

Our manifesto calls upon all the political parties to commit to the following actions:

•Adopt a target of doubling native woodland cover in the UK over the next fifty years, bringing together the public, private and voluntary sectors to make this a reality.

•Enable every child to plant trees and engage with the natural world as part of their formal education to develop rounded citizens equipped for 21st century challenges.

•Provide planning guidance which makes provision for the creation of new native woods within walking distance of residential areas.

•Offer incentives to encourage private landowners to plant trees.

•Retain a public forest estate but ensure it reflects society's changing needs with an enhanced emphasis on woodland creation.

•Provide global leadership on deforestation by ensuring the UK's equivalent to the rainforest – our ancient woods and trees – are protected for their biodiversity and cultural importance.

Prospective Parliamentary candidates can demonstrate their support for the manifesto by visiting the Trust's website. Meanwhile members of the public can also help push the case for native woods and trees by contacting their candidates using our simple online tool.

Please view a copy of 'Growing the Future' : the Woodland Trust manifesto.

Woodland Trust

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