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ICF Supports UK Charter for Trees, Woods and People

South bank street art web

ICF Support UK Charter for Trees, Woods and People

The Institute of Chartered Foresters is joining 48 organisations in a campaign, led by the Woodland Trust, which celebrates the value of our trees and woods and aims to secure their future. The Charter for Trees, Woods and People will be launched in November 2017, which marks 800 years since Henry lll signed the original Charter of the Forest. This influential charter protected and restored the rights of people to access and use the Royal Forests.

South bank street art web

A new piece of street art on Southbank, London, celebrates the new charter (c) Trees for Cities

The coalition’s ambition is that the principles set out in the 2017 charter will articulate the relationship between people and trees in the UK in the 21st century. It recognises that the UK’s woods and trees are facing unprecedented pressures from development, pests and diseases and climate change. They risk being neglected, undervalued and forgotten. The charter will provide guidance and inspiration for policy, practice, innovation and enjoyment. Redefining the everyday benefits that we all gain from woods and trees in our lives, for everyone, from Government to businesses, communities and individuals.

Community Action for Trees

Local groups, clubs, councils and committees will be encouraged to take part by bringing people together to celebrate the woods and trees at the heart of their communities and help feed ideas and stories into the building of the charter. The 48 Charter Steering Group organisations are also looking to recruit local ‘Charter Champions’ who will ensure their community is represented in this ambitious project, able to seize this unique opportunity to define the future for woods and trees in the UK and make their voices heard.

Guidance and information will be provided during the campaign to inspire and support local activities, and to help people create a lasting legacy in communities across the UK. Funding will be available for local events, activities and projects that reconnect people and trees. Anyone involved will be part of a UK-wide network of groups leading local events and will represent communities in this UK wide conversation about the future of woods and trees.

Share Your Woodland Stories

To kick off the campaign, the organisations involved are asking the public to share their woodland stories – their childhood memories of playing in the woods, a significant tree in your life, or a special forest walk that you took. The video below explains more.

 

To find out more about the Charter for Trees, Woods and People, visit treecharter.uk

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