thought that some of you would like to help on this:thumbup1:, it may have been posted else where1
Ancient and vulnerable trees need your help today
> -------------------------------------------------
>
> The Ancient Tree Forum and the Woodland Trust need your support to stop avoidable loss of Ancient Trees
> and to help protect one of the most important habitats a tree can provide - dead wood.
>
> The Tree Preservation Order (TPO) in England is currently being reviewed and we are concerned about
> some proposed changes which would reduce, rather than improve, protection and could directly affect
> beautiful and valuable ancient and veteran trees*.
>
> The Department of Communities and Local Government proposes to continue to allow all dead trees,
> however valuable, to be felled without consent. There is also a proposal to introduce a similar exception
> for the removal of dead branches - vital habitats that naturally develop as trees age - on living trees.
>
> Essentially this means that very old, historic and wildlife-rich dead trees and dead branches of living
> veteran trees could be completely removed, rather than managed for stability.
>
> Please help us prevent such a backward step in tree and habitat protection!
>
> The Trust has set up an emergency campaign with the Ancient Tree Forum to feed directly into the public
> consultation process.
>
> Go straight to the live petition where you can add your own voice to ours**.
> Take action to protect dead and dying trees from exceptions to new TPO rules - Woodland Trust
>
> PLEASE, find 2 minutes today to feed directly into this consultation and pass it on to your friends
> and contacts. This consultation ends 20th December.
>
> In haste,
> Neville and Nikki
>
> Neville Fay - chair, Ancient Tree Forum
> Nikki Williams - head of campaigning, Woodland Trust
>
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> This beautifully animated film illustrates some of the very special habitats created by deadwood:
> [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piCWcjm4W9k]YouTube - Reliable and Tidy Hoverfly Looking for A Place to Live (High Res)[/ame]
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> * Over the last 4 years the Trust's Ancient Tree Hunt (http://www.ancienttreehunt.org.uk) has
> recorded approximately 80,000 trees that are of importance to people across the UK, including
> 192 ancient dead trees. A significant proportion of veteran trees have dead branches in their
> crowns; this is not only a threatened habitat but is a fundamental part of their character and
> visual appeal which can remain for decades and longer if carefully managed. If these changes are
> passed there will be no protection for the values that make these trees special.
>
> ** Further information and the proposed joint response from the Ancient Tree Forum and Woodland Trust
> can be found here:
> Help us reject proposed TPO exceptions and protect important and vulnerable trees - the Woodland Trust