The illegal felling of the Sycamore Gap tree has sparked public outcry and made headlines around the world, and rightly so.
Arguably it was not a thoughtless act of vandalism, quite the contrary, to plan and carry out the deed would have taken considerable time and effort, and one can only question the motive behind it. Were they in search of internet fame? Or were they tasked from a strange chat forum challenge? We may never know, but one thing is for sure, the sight of that stump at Hadrian’s Wall is an emotive one.
As millions learn about this thoughtless act and grieve for a tree, on a site that most of them would not have visited, and reporters scramble over each other to report from the scene of the crime, grabbing passers by to share their memories of the beloved sycamore, in Kent our precious ancient woodlands are under threat and, whilst campaigners are fighting to save them, the message seems to be met with the shrugging of shoulders by the media and public.
A proposed quarry extension at Oaken Wood threatens 50 hectares of ancient woodland, and having already lost 32 hectares of the site to the development in 2013, this scheme has been described as one of the biggest threats of the 21st Century. The losses from this development alone could be greater than HS2 and the Lower Thames Crossing combined, yet the media coverage of this plight is minimal, in fact most people are unaware it is even happening.
What’s more, Oaken Wood is not the only ancient woodland under threat in the county, and whilst the plans have been “put on ice” the Lower Thames Crossing plans to destroy parts of Shorne Woods in the name of convenience. This irreplaceable ancient woodland is home to precious wildlife and also helps to sustain us, giving us much needed natural space for our health and wellbeing.
Both of these plans appear to be an acceptable loss in the name of growth, but neither will ever return the level of public outcry as the illegally felled sycamore at Hadrian’s Wall. These ancient woodlands are an incredibly rare habitat, covering just 2% of the UK, their rich and complex eco-systems have developed over millennia and the veteran trees contained within and a crucial of forest ecology and like the famed sycamore, once they are gone, they are gone forever.
So, as we mourn the loss of that iconic sycamore, think about the other but less well-known veteran trees that need your protection. There is little we can do for the sycamore, other than hope some buds may spring from its stump so it may live on, as so many of our amazing resilient trees do, but you do have the power to make a difference elsewhere. Support these campaigns to protect these precious sites, sign up for our campaign emails, write to your MP and make a difference.