Record-breaking slugs tell government slime is up on ancient woodlands

The largest ever gathering of people dressed as slugs slid into Westminster on 19 May, in support of forests and ancient woodlands. They were calling on the government to deliver on its promise to restore the nation’s ‘ghost woods’ (ancient woodlands buried beneath timber plantations) before they disappear for good.

From Parliament Square, the procession slowly inched its way to Defra’s offices to deliver a petition of over 145,000 signatures.

National treasure Judi Dench is among those backing the petition. It urges Defra and Forestry England to move faster on their commitment to restore these smothered ancient woodlands by 2030. Forestry England is the body responsible for managing and promoting publicly owned forests in England. People from every single constituency in the UK have signed the petition.

MP Andrew George attended the event, alongside more than 50 costumed nature lovers, A lemon slug led the way. This is a rare, bright yellow species native to England’s ancient woodlands.

Waving placards reading “The slime is up” and “No more sluggish progress”, the unhurried march took place at a critical moment for the nation’s forests. The government is preparing a new Trees Action Plan aimed at improving the resilience and condition of the country’s woodland.

Ancient woodlands are vital for biodiversity

Speaking at the event, Wild Card campaigner Rosie Smart-Knight said:

Today’s slugrising puts the spotlight on our vanishing ghost woods. Only 1.6% of England remains ancient woodland*, after vast areas were replaced with single-species plantations.

The government has promised to restore these sites to rich, thriving forests, but progress has been painfully slow.

Planting new trees is important, but we can’t afford to sidestep what’s already here. Ancient woodlands are irreplaceable and support more biodiversity than any other land habitat in the UK.

If we don’t act now, we risk letting these ecosystems slip away and no amount of new planting will bring them back.

Wild Card teamed up with Oscar-winning actress and nature-lover Dench and people-powered campaign group 38 Degrees to launch the petition. This came after analysis revealed that Forestry England is woefully behind on fulfilling its targets. Matthew McGregor, CEO at 38 Degrees, said:

We fight every day for a fairer, greener Britain. Almost 150,000 of us from every single constituency across the country urgently want our nation’s ancient woodlands restored.

Forestry England and Defra would be wise to listen to the public and save these ‘ghost woods’ before it’s too late.

The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. And the nation’s forests are in a particularly dire state. A Woodland Trust report found woodland biodiversity is continuing to decline, with only 9% of England’s forests in favourable condition.

Ancient woodlands are capable of supporting more biodiversity than any other land-based habitat in the UK. So their restoration has never been so crucial.

Featured image via Nigel Howard Media