Advisory body calls for urgent action to safeguard Wales’ woodlands

Wales could face flashpoints similar to the Sycamore Gap tree felling unless Welsh Government strengthens legal protections for trees and woodlands, an independent advisory body has warned.

The Interim Environmental Protection Assessor for Wales (IEPAW)’s latest report, The Protection of Trees and Woodlands in Wales, published today (12 November), warns that outdated legislation and weak enforcement are putting some of Wales’ most valuable natural assets at risk.

It finds that Wales’ tree protection framework — largely reliant on the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Forestry Act 1967 — no longer aligns with the country’s environmental goals, threatening biodiversity, climate resilience and community wellbeing.

Tree felling and Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) in Wales are currently governed by legislation that predates devolution and was made for UK-wide application. IEPAW’s report highlights the need for Wales-specific legal frameworks that reflect the country’s environmental priorities and growing climate commitments.

While tree felling is often legal and planned, enforcement is inconsistent. In 2021, 20% of felling sites audited by Natural Resources Wales failed to meet licence conditions – yet enforcement powers remain limited.

Despite its rural landscape, Wales is one of the least wooded countries in Europe, with trees covering just 15% of land. Urban canopy cover declined between 2009 and 2013, recovering only slightly by 2019, while ancient woodlands remain vulnerable due to limited statutory safeguards and inconsistent use of TPOs.

Professor Lynda Warren, interim environmental protection assessor for Wales, said: “Too many of our oldest and most treasured trees are being lost because the current protections either don’t apply or aren’t enforced. Our legal framework needs to reflect the value these trees and woodlands bring to our ecosystems, our communities and our future.”

IEPAW warns that Wales must act now to avoid the kinds of high-profile cases seen elsewhere in the UK.

Earlier this year, two men were jailed after illegally cutting down the famous Sycamore Gap tree near Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland – a loss that sparked national outrage. Without stronger legislation, oversight and enforcement, Wales could, the IEPAW claim, face similar flashpoints over tree felling and the loss of cherished local woodlands.

IEPAW is recommending urgent reforms to close critical gaps in legislation and enforcement. These include:

• Tougher enforcement for unauthorised felling, with proposed new powers for courts to order replanting and apply penalties where environmental conditions are breached.

• Improved national monitoring of tree loss, using better data and technology to track felling activity across Wales.

• Stronger protection for ancient woodlands, making it harder to approve felling of large, mature trees.  

• Specialist support within councils, with every local authority expected to have access to trained tree officers or professionals to advise on protection and management.

• Exploring automatic protection for ancient trees, including whether all trees listed in the Ancient Tree Inventory should be covered by TPOs.