Legal Protections for Ancient Trees

Lord Trees Excerpts

Tuesday 23rd June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (LD)]

My Lords—

[Lord Trees (CB)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (GP)]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

We are looking at those exact protections as part of what we are doing to better protect trees going forward. As part of that, it is also important that we look at how, within the planning system, we support the trees that need to be supported, and at how we ensure that, where trees are felled, the right species are replanted in the right place to make the difference that we need to see if we are to plant trees as part of our climate change strategy.

[Lord Trees (CB)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (GP)]

My Lords—

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)]

It is the turn of the Cross Benches, then the noble Baroness.

[Lord Trees (CB)]

My Lords, having just turned 80, I declare an interest in the preservation of ancient trees.

[Noble Lords]

Oh!

[Lord Trees (CB)]

That aside, seriously, we have more ancient oaks in England than the rest of Europe put together. Last year, a government-sponsored review found that the current legal protections are insufficient to protect our important trees and recommended a review of current legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms to ensure their protection. Can the Minister reassure the House that the England tree action plan currently in development will include commitments to adopt the recommendations made by this review, including the need to reform TPOs?