National Tree Week: the Charter of the Forest launch

Friday's start to the National Tree Week in Sidmouth went off with a bang:
Futures Forum: Celebrating Trees with the Sidmouth Arboretum >>> talks, songs, stalls, gifts, food >>> Cellar Bar, Kennaway House: this Friday 24th November > more info

The Sidmouth Civic Arboretum hosted the event - and its president started proceedings by reading out from an 800-year old document:

On 6 November 2017, on the 800th anniversary of the 1217 Charter of the Forest, the new Charter for Trees, Woods and People was launched at Lincoln Castle – home to one of the two remaining 1217 Charters of the Forest. It now rests in the Lincolnshire Archives.

During 2017 we reached out to all sections of UK society to define this new charter, and to build a people-powered movement for trees. More than 70 organisations and 300 local community groups answered the call and helped to collect over 60,000 tree stories from people across the UK, demonstrating the important role that trees play in their lives. These stories were read and shared, and helped to define the 10 Principles of the Tree Charter, ensuring that it stands for every tree and every person in the UK.

Read it, live by it and show your support by signing it

Tree Charter - Woodland Trust

Here it is in its basic form:

Connecting trees and people | Heritage Open Days

This posting was a little premature - by a year! - but shows the importance of the Woodland Trust's initiative:
Futures Forum: A Charter for Trees >>> 'bringing people together to celebrate the woods and trees at the heart of their communities and help feed ideas and stories into the building of the charter'
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