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Alongside the continuing run of appeal decisions relating to veteran trees, recent changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) have introduced several noteworthy developments for arboriculture and planning.

Of particular interest is the fact that the proposed amendment to the definition of ancient and veteran trees has not been adopted. The NPPF therefore continues to define these trees as being of exceptional value because of their age, size and condition. This remains at odds with Planning Practice Guidance, which refers to age, size or condition, leaving an inconsistency that has already been highlighted in a number of recent appeal decisions. Whether this is addressed through future updates to Planning Practice Guidance remains to be seen.

More significantly, the definition of ancient woodland has been expanded to explicitly include Ancient Wood Pasture and Parkland (AWPP) and Infilled Ancient Wood Pasture and Parkland (IAWPP). This broadens the scope of habitats considered ancient woodland and may have important implications for future site assessments and development proposals.

There are also several new policies relating to trees. New Policy N2 places greater emphasis on conserving and enhancing established trees and hedgerows where they provide visual, historic, or nature conservation value, moving away from the previous blanket expectation that all trees should be retained wherever possible. Meanwhile, Policy N3 strengthens requirements for tree planting within new developments, emphasising climate resilience, long-term management, and the principle of planting the right trees in the right places. This introduces an interesting discussion around balancing climate resilience with biodiversity objectives, particularly where species selection for Biodiversity Net Gain may not always align with long-term climatic suitability.

Taken together, these changes suggest a more strategic role for trees within the planning system, with increased recognition of their contribution to climate adaptation, environmental resilience, and wider green infrastructure. This along with the pragmatic approach to defining veteran trees is a welcome change to national planning policy.

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Tree Frontiers News

  • We celebrated a trio of planning consents for recent projects this month: 🌳Renovation project at Oxford Botanic Gardens 🏠Outbuilding conversion in the White Horse district 🌲New dwelling in Stratford-u

    Author Imageadmin
    02 September, 2026

  • Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) One of Britain’s most familiar and well-loved trees, for many the horse chestnut is the tree of childhood. It’s the tree that drops glossy brown conkers i

    Author Imageadmin
    24 August, 2026

  • Tree of the month Our tree this month may still be showing its true colours. A hybrid of two different species, you’ll often find this handsome tree in parks, avenues and large estates. Its leav

    Author Imageadmin
    30 June, 2026

  • We were invited to participate in a project to replace some of the aging greenhouses at the University of Oxford Botanic Gardens. Home to over 5,000 different plant species, the gardens also house som

    Author Imageadmin
    30 June, 2026

  • Tree Conservation and Sustainability Lecture (Kevin Martin) We took the opportunity to attend a public lecture at St John’s College earlier this month. The talk was delivered by Kevin Martin (He

    Author Imageadmin
    30 June, 2026

  • We announced last month that we have chosen The Theatre in Chipping Norton as our charity of the year. Why not have a read about the impact their community based programmes are having? The Theatre sha

    Author Imageadmin
    30 June, 2026

  • Red Horse Chestnut (Aesculus x carnea) A hybrid born from two very different parents, the red horse chestnut is one of the most striking ornamental trees to grace the British landscape. For a few glor

    Author Imageadmin
    25 June, 2026

  • We were asked to support the design team for a new-build project outside Stratford, where previous plans had been rejected. A detailed tree survey allowed us to identify a number of trees within the s

    Author Imageadmin
    29 May, 2026

  •   We’re excited to share that Tree Frontiers has chosen Chipping Norton Theatre as our Charity of the Year! Partners enable the Theatre to deliver real impact in the local community through arts‑

    Author Imageadmin
    29 May, 2026

  • Service Tree (Sorbus domestica) We are taking a closer look at the service tree this month. Distinct from the wild service tree, this species is native to western, central and southern Europe, northwe

    Author Imageadmin
    28 May, 2026

Industry Articles

Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald Ash Borer found in Europe

The discovery of the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) in both Slovakia and Hungary has raised concerns about the continued spread of one of the most destructive pests of ash trees. During July, Slovak authorities confirmed the presence of 18 beetles in eastern Slovakia, while Hungarian officials reported the first detection of two adult beetles near the Ukrainian border. The emerald ash borer has already caused extensive mortality of ash trees across North America and parts of Eastern Europe, making these findings particularly significant.

In response, Hungary has increased monitoring efforts, deployed additional traps, and called for the issue to be discussed at the next meeting of EU agriculture ministers. , recognising the potential threat the insect poses to forests, landscapes, and tree populations across the European Union. The detections serve as a timely reminder of the importance of early detection and biosecurity measures in managing emerging tree pests and diseases.

(Image Source: Forest Research)

Westonbirt celebrates planting 9,000 trees with the local community

After ash trees in Silk Wood were felled due to Chalara ash dieback, Westonbirt used the opportunity to create its first community-led woodland. In 2023, the Silk Wood Community Planting Project began, inviting people from all backgrounds to help regenerate the five-hectre site.

Over three years, more than 4,000 participants from 50 diverse community groups, helped plant over 9,000 young trees. As the project concluded in June 2026, Westonbirt celebrated not just the trees planted, but the sense of ownership and pride shared by everyone involved. The woodland will continue to be cared for collaboratively, ensuring it grows into a healthy ecosystem for future generations.

Provisional Woodland Statistics Correction 16/07/2026

The Woodland Statistics pages have been revised to reflect updated provisional figures on UK woodland area, certified woodland, new planting and publicly funded restocking.

Forest Research has also issued corrections to earlier datasets where methodological errors affected conifer and broadleaf totals, ensuring the time series and country‑level figures are now accurate.

Mental Health in Forestry

The Royal Forestry Society highlights growing mental health challenges in the forestry sector, where isolation, public hostility and industry pressures can take a toll. Their campaigns encourage open conversation, better support and greater awareness of the issues workers face. Read the latest report, and access the new podcast ‘Gone Foresting’.

Biodiversity net gain: <0.2 hectare developments included from August

A gentle reminder that Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) guidance sets out which developments are exempt from mandatory BNG requirements. This includes small or householder applications, temporary works, self‑build and custom‑build projects, de minimis impacts, and, starting August 2026, developments on sites of 0.2 hectares or below, provided they do not affect priority habitats. It’s worth checking the latest GOV.UK update to ensure any planned works fall within the correct exemption category.

Silvester – A Hub for foresters and arboriculturists

In it’s pilot phase, Silvestor is a hub for foresters and arboriculturists to connect, collaborate, and stay informed about what’s happening across the sector.

More than a learning platform, it’s a space where professionals can discover the latest industry news, explore upcoming events, take part in practical training and workshops, and access links to key forestry initiatives and organisations for deeper insight.

Collaboration sits at the heart of Silvestor. The platform is shaped by a steering group of leading organisations dedicated to advancing the sector, including the Institute of Chartered Foresters, Royal Forestry Society, Woodland Trust, BSW Group and Cumbria Woodlands.

New docuseries covers missing history lesson for next gen arborists

The Arborist Innovators & Influencers docuseries, created by Simeon Balsam and Phil Sutton, aims to preserve the untold history of arboriculture by documenting the pioneers whose innovations shaped the industry.

Featuring influential figures from both Europe and the US, the seven‑part series captures stories that would otherwise be lost within the next decade, highlighting early inventors, industry‑changing collaborations and the evolution of arborist equipment and techniques.

Designed to inspire new and existing arborists, the project emphasises the importance of understanding industry heritage, cross‑cultural influences and “tribal knowledge” passed down through generations. Entirely self‑funded and created for future arborists, the docuseries will be previewed across the UK and Europe ahead of its full release later this year.

Defra doubles investment for community tree establishment projects

Defra has more than doubled its investment in the Trees Outside Woodland (TOW) programme for its second year, offering grants of up to £40,000 for local authority and charity‑led projects that establish trees, hedgerows and orchards in everyday community spaces.

Delivered with The Tree Council, the fund supports planting in parks, playgrounds and streets to boost biodiversity, improve air quality, reduce flood risk and enhance local environments.

Last year, the programme enabled communities to plant 175,000 trees across 2,645 sites, creating habitats for wildlife and improving wellbeing. Nature minister Mary Creagh highlighted the government’s wider commitment to expanding access to green spaces and creating three new national forests. Applications for this year’s funding are open until 31 October 2026, with additional Tree Council grants available across the UK.

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