More than 40 cross-party MPs and Peers, coordinated by Chris Hinchliff MP, are urging the Government to stop the destruction of England’s ancient woodland as Oaken Wood in Kent faces loss from a proposed extension to Hermitage Quarry.
In support of a national campaign led by the Woodland Trust, the letter calls on Ministers to intervene and prevent what would be the single largest loss of ancient woodland in England this century.
Such a development would mean the irreversible loss of an irreplaceable habitat. Ancient woodland covers just 2.8% of England’s land area and provides vital habitats for wildlife, as well as places for people to enjoy nature.
The letter describes ancient woods and veteran trees as “the natural equivalent of our great churches and castles”, adding that they are among Britain’s richest terrestrial wildlife habitats and are highly valued as places of tranquillity and inspiration.
The call comes as the country has experienced multiple summer heatwaves, with the impacts of the climate and nature crises increasingly felt in sweltering workplaces and wildfires across the countryside. Ancient woodlands help cool surrounding areas through canopy shade and deep-root water cycles, while their destruction would release centuries of soil-stored carbon.
The MPs and Peers urge the Government to update national policies protecting ancient woodland, introduce a complete moratorium on its destruction, and ensure Oaken Wood is saved.
“Ancient woodland is irreplaceable. Once it is gone, no amount of money can bring back the ecosystems and wildlife that have been lost,” Chris Hinchliff MP said.
“We are already feeling the consequences of decades of carelessness towards the world around us. Formerly fertile farmland is baked hard by drought and people are sweltering in cities built for a climate that no longer exists.
“When we need adaptation to dangerous climate shocks, some want to play Russian roulette with the ecosystems we have inherited that cool our communities, hold water in the landscape and make the country liveable. We cannot pump CO2 into the atmosphere and then destroy the natural systems we need for the country to be inhabitable.
“These forests are also woven into the fabric of our national story. They’ve inspired our folklore, culture and literature for generations. There have been trees at Oaken Wood since at least the 1600s. That inheritance is worth more than the pound signs attached to it.”
Jenny Schofield, regional director for South East England at the Woodland Trust, said: “We must not stand by and watch the biggest loss of ancient woodland in England this century. There can be no justification for the avoidable destruction of this vast, living, national treasure. These plans are horrifying, completely unnecessary and must be stopped.”
