Good home for Gatwick?

So, BAA’s monopoly is finally ending. We have met the news that Gatwick is to be bought by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) with mixed views. From a personal point of view the breaking up of such a monopoly can only be a good thing – how has it lasted so long?

From a Woodland Trust point of view, the ongoing threat of an additional runway which could threaten 75 hectares of ancient woodland (including the Trust’s Edolphs Copse and Ricketts Wood) is serious. There has been much debate on the likelihood of the additional runway. The Air Transport White Paper indicated the case for a second runway was not as strong here as at Stansted and Heathrow. The paper did however also recommended that the land around Gatwick was safeguarded from development to keep it free for airport expansion, and so the threat lingers like a bad smell or unpleasant taste.

There is unlikely to be further development until the legal agreement that was drawn up by West Sussex County Council in 1979 to prevent a second runway before 2019 expires but we don’t know what else GIP have in store as part of their plans to improve Gatwick. As part of the coalition AirportWatch we will automatically be keeping an eye on what happens at Gatwick - if these plans are at the expense of ancient woodland we will take the threat very seriously and fight for its protection.

All-new discussion space gets our Facebook fans talking!

Exploring what social networking sites have to offer has been an interesting way for us to reach new and different audiences with our campaign messages. At this stage, our new media of choice is Facebook. And as our pages speed towards almost 1,000 ‘friends’ between them, we are seeing more interaction from people who care about woods and trees, or are worried about the woods in their neighbourhoods.

Our WoodWatch Facebook page can be an especially useful tool for spreading the word quickly about your campaign or for asking other people what they know about an issue you have heard about. It can be great for targeting specific geographical areas of the UK with messages about local woods at risk and sharing photos and videos of your activities.

There are 3 different ways you can talk to the Campaigns team on Facebook:

1. Become a fan of our Campaigns page – for updates and actions you can take to support the Trust’s campaigning work to protect the UK’s woods and trees;
2. Join us as a fan on our WoodWatch page – to meet other WoodWatchers, share experiences and promote your local campaigns;
3. Make friends with Oak Tree – the world’s first ‘twittering’ tree, now newly on Facebook and looking for some pals!

Our new WoodWatch discussion boards have brought up topics such as trees alongside railways, funghi decline and local woods under threat issues… What do you want to talk about?

Join us!
Are you on facebook already? Search for these usernames below and choose ‘become a fan’ to add us to your friends and group pages.

If you, like Oak Tree, are new to Facebook simply visit this link below and create a short profile:

http://www.facebook.com/

Then go get some friends! Search for the usernames below (or click the text to go straight to each page)     

woodlandtrustcampaigns    

woodwatch

twitteringtree

 

BAA must sell Stansted – why do you need a new runway then?

The Competition Commission’s report into BAA’s ownership of multiple airports has concluded that BAA must sell Stansted, Gatwick and one of Edinburgh or Glasgow airports.  They have two years to sell off Stansted and interestingly the Commission has not insisted any new buyer proceed with BAA’s plans for a destructive second runway at the airport.

BAA plans to build a new runway to the east of the existing runway. This would cause destruction of six ancient woodland sites covering 20 hectares. The Woodland Trust objects to the plans for a second runway because of the damage that would be caused to the ancient woods and ancient trees that surround the airport and because of the climate change impacts of the plans.

Stop Stansted Expansion's BAA monopoly beer mat

The fact that the Competition Commission is demanding the airport be sold surely means that BAA should now wake up and smell the coffee.  The Commission’s decision means that BAA can’t use profits from Heathrow to fund the expansion plans at other airports and at least one of the prospective buyers for Stansted does not want the second runway proposed by BAA, added to this the airlines don’t want a second runway either.

Hazel Blears, Community Secretary recently announced the public inquiry into the second runway would be postponed until the Competition Commission announced its findings. Now it has, it surely makes sense to abandon the charade and cancel the public inquiry allowing BAA to abandon these absurd proposals gracefully.

A slap in the face for the world

Bad news for those of us who care about our future. Today Stop Stansted Expansion, supported by the Woodland Trust, Greenpeace, CPRE, FOE and others lost their High Court appeal against the Government’s decision to increase passenger numbers at Stansted.

So this is what we all want to see?

High Court judge Sir Thayne Forbes reportedly said SSE’s criticisms of the way Geoff Hoon made this decision were “unjustified and without substance“. One of the main criticisms made by those supporting the appeal was that the Government had not taken into account the climate change impacts of the proposed increase in passenger numbers. If this has no substance then what does?

SSE Campaign Director Carol Barbone said:  ”This High Court action was never simply about winning or losing.  Our primary concern was to ensure that our main battle against a second Stansted runway was not prejudiced by the wording of the original decision.  However, today’s ruling seems to make matters even less clear than they were before.  That is why we are seeking leave to appeal.”

It does make you shake your head in disbelief when you see decisions like this being made. This is in the same week when we were warned:

• The Amazon rainforest could shrink by 85% due to climate change
• Climate change could render half of the worlds inhabited areas unliveable; and
• Scientists and economists warned that politicians hadn’t grasped the issue of climate change.

Instead of waking up and actually showing some leadership on this Geoff Hoon and his colleagues are burying their heads in the sand and seem to believe that someone else, somewhere else will be able to solve the issue. Well I look forward to seeing this solution, but we need action from our “leaders” if we’re going to make any headway.

Meanwhile the public inquiry into the second runway at Stansted has been put back until after the Competition Commission reports on its recommendations which will probably include a requirement for BAA to sell the airport.

Escaped tree heads to High Court

A tree which has escaped from Philipland Wood descended on London yesterday to support Stop Stansted Expansion’s High Court appeal against a Government decision to allow an increase in passenger numbers at Stansted. One of the trees spent the day tweeting on Twitter – you can see his updates and find out what happened at http://twitter.com/edwoodlandtrust

An escaped tree outside the High Court yesterday

The High Court hearing is due to last 3 days and we look forward to hearing the outcome. You can read more about the case and watch an interview with one of the trees on BBC News . There’s more background on the case in my earlier post.

Remember you don’t have to sign up to Twitter to see what happened just follow this link: http://twitter.com/edwoodlandtrust or scroll down to read the thread!

Record of the world’s first tweeting tree

Read what happened when the trees went to London to visit the High Court and see the appeal against the Government’s plans for increased passenger numbers at Stansted. This is just a record of the tweets from the day from the world’s first tweeting tree, the oldest ones are at the end and the most recent first – the links are all short links which go through to pictures and videos from the day.

Glad to be Alder way back at Philipland Wood (apart from the infernal aircraft)about 18 hours ago from mobile web

hanging in a copse with my owls about 21 hours ago from mobile web        

Going 2b busy photosynthesising tomorrow so won’t be adding much on Thurs don’t 4get 2 check our video with your sound on http://is.gd/kz0T6:20 PM Feb 25th from web        

RT @PlanetPositive 150 trees are cut down every second – don’t I know it! I’ve already lost some of my family to this see http://is.gd/kz0T2:07 PM Feb 25th from web        

RT @BBC_Earth Telegraph: Britain’s tallest tree is 209ft Douglas fir http://tinyurl.com/bqvns5 that is tall for a British tree!1:02 PM Feb 25th from web        

Rootin’ around [groan] for some more news stories on yesterday’s events more this afternoon.1:01 PM Feb 25th from web        

Watch an interview with me – they weren’t happy having just “a tree” on the caption so I made a random name up http://is.gd/kN6G10:52 AM Feb 25th from web        

Some coverage of the event at the High Court yesterday, including we three trees caught on camera http://is.gd/kN5j10:43 AM Feb 25th from web     

Nice to be back in Philipland Wood near Stansted-the animals, birds and plants said they missed me High Court hearing will last 3 days9:04 AM Feb 25th from web        

@WillTucker I’ll have you know I AM a tree and not some sort of imposter as you imply??8:52 AM Feb 25th from web        

Thnks all you lovely tweeps who followed my trip 2day will reply 2 u 2morrow-more info on threat from Stansted- http://is.gd/kHky6:43 PM Feb 24th from mobile web        

http://ping.fm/p/UEIsG – ….what it’s all about.On train to my lovely ancient wood now.Home is where the heartwood is……………… …6:15 PM Feb 24th from Ping.fm        

oh dear got on a tube to see ‘Royal Oak’ but turns out to be a suburb not a king Ent5:48 PM Feb 24th from mobile web        

Just met a tree who said he was a ‘London plane’ tree.let’s make these the only new planes4:26 PM Feb 24th from Ping.fm        

Hey BAA leaf my friends alone! Stop Stansted Expansion http://ping.fm/bE4jc3:19 PM Feb 24th from Ping.fm        

me lud i just want to tweet stansted expansion=climate change & ancient woodland destruction!2:23 PM Feb 24th from mobile web        

I am only a tree but am puzzled why BAA want permission 2 expand passenger numbers@ Stansted when passengers fell 4.7% at Stansted last year1:44 PM Feb 24th from web        

@fairsay Ents rule! we will have to get the Ents into town one of these days – watch http://tinyurl.com/bz7k4w1:33 PM Feb 24th from web

http://ping.fm/p/Xc2nf – Here I am outside the Royal Courts of Justice interesting place, lots of people lots of banners please ret …1:03 PM Feb 24th from Ping.fm        

judge doesn’t know about the EU emissions trading scheme, I’m a tree & I know!?!12:53 PM Feb 24th from mobile web        

I’m going to be barking mad if the judge doesn’t overturn the Government’s decision to increase passenger numbers at Stansted12:30 PM Feb 24th from web        

Tree lost in London why am I here? This explains it? http://is.gd/kExU12:00 PM Feb 24th from Ping.fm        

anyone in central london with a bucket of water get hold of me my leaves are wilting in this smoggy town!11:43 AM Feb 24th from Ping.fm        

Climate change is the greatest long term threat to ancient woodland this is incompatible with Stansted expansion The Woodland Trust is …11:39 AM Feb 24th from Ping.fm        

High Court hearing’s been moved as too many people want to watch it (only 3 trees though)11:11 AM Feb 24th from Ping.fm        

http://ping.fm/p/RSohs – Please RT escaped tree from threatened ancient woodland goes to High court in London to protest Stansted expans …10:49 AM Feb 24th from Ping.fm        

http://ping.fm/p/vrY7b – Please RT Trees from ancient wood under threat protest outside High Court London against Stansted expansion …10:38 AM Feb 24th from Ping.fm          

http://ping.fm/p/STWsY – And here we are there aren’t many trees near the high court but we boosted the numbers……………………. …10:15 AM Feb 24th from Ping.fm        

http://ping.fm/p/txyEE – Is this what they call a Media scrum?……………………………………………………………….. …10:01 AM Feb 24th from Ping.fm        

http://ping.fm/p/bTGim – Met my friends at Holborn here’s one ………………………………………………….. …9:18 AM Feb 24th from Ping.fm        

http://ping.fm/p/3BdUr – What do they mean “low trees”? My friend in this pic here seems normal to me? …8:50 AM Feb 24th from Ping.fm        

Lucky people like trees – bus seats are quite small8:37 AM Feb 24th from Ping.fm        

…oh…turns out Twiglets are some sort of salty potato snacks,not brutally hacked fingers.8:29 AM Feb 24th from Ping.fm        

THE HORROR!!!A “shop” at the “station” was selling Twiglets??Or “fingers” in a bag??Barbarism!!8:20 AM Feb 24th from Ping.fm        

Got to London without much hassle just some kids trying to climb me at the station.8:13 AM Feb 24th from Ping.fm        

oops brought a bird’s nest with me & caused a kerfuffle on train – pipe down magpie7:40 AM Feb 24th from mobile web        

@adamgretton it’s hard to type with twigs instead of fingers but I’m getting there!7:34 AM Feb 24th from mobile web        

http://ping.fm/p/jyVvY – Here’s a pic of my home this morning, this wood’s been here for at least 400 years, and the old trees reckon it …7:13 AM Feb 24th from Ping.fm

 

 

 

http://ping.fm/p/5ywcz – ……. The Woodland Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales (No. 294344) and in Scotland (No …7:04 AM Feb 24th from Ping.fm        

RT the dawn chorus tweet tweet tweet, the birds are loud this morning!6:21 AM Feb 24th from Ping.fm        

Off to soak my roots and watch the sunset, tweet you tomorrow on my trip to London-meanwhile watch this (with sound!) http://is.gd/kz0T5:51 PM Feb 23rd from web        

Please RT Tomorrow morning(UK) follow this escaped tree from a threatened wood on his travels in London http://twitter.com/edwoodla…5:05 PM Feb 23rd from web        

I’M A TREE Imani Coppolla is a lady with green hair, but I am a tree http://tinyurl.com/bebhu94:18 PM Feb 23rd from web        

As well as being home, ancient woodland is irreplaceable it’s been there for centuries, but it’s still destroyed: http://tinyurl.com/bphhvn3:06 PM Feb 23rd from web        

Some friends of mine went to London one time and this happened http://tinyurl.com/c3c93l2:17 PM Feb 23rd from web        

Find out how we escaped from our home which is threatened by a new runway at Stansted – caught on camera here http://tinyurl.com/bz7k4w12:57 PM Feb 23rd from web        

Checking out train times from my wood to London, will I need to go on a branch line to get there (groan)12:28 PM Feb 23rd from web        

I am a tree escaped from threatened Philipland Wood and I am used to what you call “tweeting” as I have birds in my branches- follow me10:57 AM Feb 23rd from web

 

 

Tweeting trees on the loose in London

An escaped tree from Philipland Wood has taken over my Twitter feed for the next 48 hours. At  http://twitter.com/edwoodlandtrust the tree whose ancient woodland home is threatened by development of Stansted’s second runway and the climate change impacts of expansion will be heading to London in solidarity with Stop Stansted Expansion.

The escaped tree from Philipland Wood last time he went to town

The tree, some of his friends and representatives from SSE will be outside the High Court on the Strand from 09:30 tomorrow morning and you can follow the events live here and also at:

http://twitter.com/edwoodlandtrust

Are we in the Age of Stupid?

Check out this trailer http://vimeo.com/2991411 for a new film the Age of Stupid starring Pete Postlethwaite as an archivist living alone in the devastated world of 2055, looking at “old” footage from 2008 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?

This looks like it is going to be an exciting event when it launches as it’s not just about watching a film good as it looks – it’s about helping people take action having seen it through the Not Stupid campaign.

Watch the Age of Stupid Trailer

The launch is set for 20 March, but there is also a “People’s Premiere” launch on the Sunday before across the country. The film premiere in Leicester Square is being held in an eco-friendly marquee and stars will be arriving by a variety of low carbon vehicles.  At the same time you will be able to take part in the people’s premiere at cinemas around the country.

Come along and see me speak at the screening on Sunday 15 March at Bristol Vue Longwell cinema  - check out this link  for details of screenings so far and make sure you go along and take your friends.

Download the leaflet for the People’s Premiere

Government vs Climate

According to the BBC the Government are set to approve a third runway at Heathrow. They apparently accept the climate change concerns so they are planning a nice high speed rail link so that the new runway can have nice new trains pulling into it.

This is another example of the complete disconnect between the Government’s legal commitments on climate change – they are bound to cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 as a result of the excellent Climate Change Act – but seem intent on building climate damaging infrastructure like new runways.

The Woodland Trust is concerned about airport expansion for two reasons – firstly it will destroy irreplaceable ancient woods for example 19 hectares of ancient woodland are under threat at Stansted but we also recognise that climate change is the biggest long term threat to our ancient woods.

A couple of years back the Government’s own consultation on The Future of Aviation stated, “the contribution of aviation to climate change was 3.5 per cent of the global total from all human activities. By comparison, the UK’s total contribution is 2.5 per cent.” The Government itself it seems recognises that climate change emissions from aviation need be controlled if we are to be able to tackle carbon emissions. But the same Government has decided that airport expansion should be pursued at all costs – a new runway at Heathrow, another at Stansted and no real control of the emissions from the sector.

I do wonder what planet the Department for Transport officials and ministers think we’re all going to move to.  Last year they decided untramelled growth at Stansted was a good idea and now we have this decision.

We've used this picture before but this seems to be what happens at coffee breaks in the Department for Transport....

So what can we do? One of the most interesting suggestions so far has been Greenpeace’s purchase of an area of land in the middle of the site of the planned new runway – they are giving pieces of the land away to people. Check out their Airplot website and sign up for your own piece of the land.

You can also support Stop Stansted Expansion in their fight to stop the plans for a new runway in Essex.

Global day of action – act NOW from your computer

Take party in the Global Day of Action '08

Saturday 6th is the Global Day of Action for the climate. Millions of people worldwide will be taking action to show how much they care about this planet. You can be part of this by taking action online. We have something really simple for you to do that could make a difference today.

Getting people to listen and talk can make a difference – that is, if you can get the right conversation going. Today, we’re asking you to be part of this conversation by commenting on all of our short videos about climate.

We want the “most commented” page on YouTube to be all about the climate – take action now!

Go to YouTube, start an account if you don’t have one, and leave a comment under these videos:

Woodland Trust: Ancient Woodland is under threat!
Take action! Global Day Of Action ‘08 – watch it, leave a comment, favourite it, rate it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr-zV5-YHms

Greenpeace: Take action on climate – watch it, leave a comment, favourite it, rate it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDOQS4f2nQI

Friends of the Earth: Act Now – Global Day of Climate Action December 6 – watch it, leave a comment, favourite it, rate it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7mETr1SqXk

Stop Stansted Expansion: Aqqaluk Lynge, Inuit Leader – watch it, leave a comment, favourite it, rate it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhcqPAiHUEY