The Woodland Trust believes that, in the context of high levels of proposed housing and infrastructure growth, it is essential to protect our existing woods and trees, particularly irreplaceable ancient woodland, aged and veteran trees. It is also an opportunity to increase canopy cover by integrating trees into new developments and creating new woodlands as part of the green infrastructure offer.

These issues are particularly significant in North Somerset which has areas of ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees outside woods, home to key species such as greater and lesser horseshoe bats. Any loss or damage to these irreplacabe habitats would devastate the wildlife that depends on them. There would be significant benefits from woodland creation to extend, buffer and protect habitats and to promote biodiversity and connectivity.

We would welcome much greater emphasis in the North Somerset Local Plan on the importance of protecting and enhancing the natural environment.

 

More emphasis required on protecting the natural environment