Threats to UK Woodland

In 2021, the Woodland Trust released a key report on the state of the UK’s woods and trees – and it made grim reading. Its findings included:

• Only 7% of our woodlands was considered in good condition, with nearly 1000 ancient woods damaged or lost since 1999.
• Only half of today’s woodland is native, with the rest mainly being non-native commercial conifer plantations.
• Essential specialist birds and butterflies are in sharp decline – down by 50% since 1970.
• Further damage is being wrought by development, invasive pests, disease, climate change and more.

Here at Tithe Green Natural Burial, it is part of our mission to help plant native trees and do what we can to contribute to a natural environment.

In this article, we’re going to outline just some of the key factors impacting our woodland and explore a few ways we can all help tackle this ongoing crisis.

What are the threats to woodland in the UK?

Pests

Some destructive pests have already been introduced to the UK, including the great spruce bark beetle, the horse chestnut leaf miner and the oak processionary moth.

Meanwhile, experts are closely monitoring many more yet to find their way to our shores – including the bronze birch borer, the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle and the elm zig-zag sawfly – although it feels like only a matter of time before they do reach us.

Disease

Dutch elm disease has been wreaking havoc for more than 50 years and is still probably the best known of the many diseases to affect our trees.

Just as damaging are ash dieback – expected to kill up to 80% of UK ash trees – horse chestnut bleeding canker and sweet chestnut blight.

Human impact

As usual, it’s us who are doing the most damage, whether through development, deforestation or driving climate change.

And where we are replanting, too little emphasis is being given to broadleaf woodland that supports the biodiversity we need.

How can we help to prevent threats to the UK’s woodland?

Make your voice heard

Lobby your MP, sign petitions and get involved in campaigns seeking to protect woodland in your area from development and destruction.

Donate to conservation charities

Support organisations that are seeking to highlight dangers to our woodland and challenge authority to protect it better.

Charities such as the Woodland Trust and the Tree Council don’t just run campaigns, however, they also carry out important research that draws attention to the dangers of deforestation.

Help to plant trees

Here at Tithe Green Natural Burial, we plant hundreds of native trees each year – we ordered 235 for the 2024/25 tree planting season.

Whether you want a memorial tree to commemorate a lost loved one or for your own future plot, you can be sure that we only plant native species that support local wildlife and boost biodiversity.

Read more about the trees at Tithe Green Natural Burial in our previous blog.