‘Cash to Trash Nature’ – Petition Launched to Scrap Planning and Infrastructure Bill That Could See Hundreds Of Ancient Trees Destroyed For Housing.

A petition has been launched calling for the scrapping of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, a piece of legislation that puts developers before nature. Dubbed “cash to trash nature”, the Bill could see developers allowed to wipe out ancient trees and precious woodland by paying into schemes that replace them with saplings. But a sapling is not an ancient oak. It cannot replace centuries of life, biodiversity and history that would be lost in an instant.

So how much woodland have we already lost? The Woodland Trust reports that since 1999, over 1,225 ancient woodlands have been under threat from development across the UK, with more than 800 still facing destruction today. These are irreplaceable habitats – once they are gone, they are gone forever.

And it isn’t just trees. With woodland loss comes wildlife loss. Studies show the UK has lost over half of its biodiversity since the 1970s, one of the worst records in Europe. Iconic species such as hedgehogs, bats, songbirds, butterflies, and owls are all struggling, as the places they once thrived are bulldozed in the name of “progress”.

This is not progress. It is a step backwards into a concrete jungle where nature becomes an afterthought, where developers cash in, and where our children inherit a land stripped of its green lungs and living heritage.

Protect the Wild, a fantastic organisation that fights tirelessly to keep nature and its wildlife safe, has launched a petition to stop this Bill before more damage is done. You can add your name and help send a clear message: our natural heritage is not for sale.

Please see the petition link below:

https://protectthewild.org.uk/planningbillpetition/

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