Ancient Woodland Inventory England Bill

This bill creates a legal requirement to maintain an official list of ancient woodlands in England. Ancient woodlands are areas that have been continuously wooded for at least 400 years. The bill requires Natural England, the government's environmental agency, to keep this inventory up to date and make it publicly available. The inventory would record the location, size and condition of these old forests. Local planning authorities would have to check this list when making decisions about new developments. The government says this will better protect England's oldest woodlands from being destroyed by housing or infrastructure projects. Environmental groups support stronger protection for ancient woodlands, which they say are irreplaceable habitats. Some developers argue that formal inventories could make it harder to build necessary housing and transport links, even when environmental impact is minimal.

• 1Creates legal duty for Natural England to maintain list of ancient woodlands
• 2Ancient woodlands are areas continuously wooded for at least 400 years
• 3Inventory must record location, size and condition of old forests
• 4Planning authorities must consult inventory when considering developments
• 5Government says this will better protect irreplaceable old woodlands