Canopy
 Canopy(Pressure group)   | |
|---|---|
 Inaugural meeting on 13 November 2023 | |
Canopy (National Coalition of Tree Groups) is a pressure group whose first meeting took place on 13 November 2023.[1] A total of 19 participants attended a lively Zoom meeting to discuss ways the new umbrella organisation of tree-protecting groups can come together from all corners of the land in order to be a greater force for tree protection.
Canopy's next meeting is scheduled for December 2023/January 2024.
Participants
Canopy's inaugural meeting included representatives from various areas of London, Plymouth, Bristol, Sheffield, Norfolk and Wellingborough. Since the launch meeting other groups have already joined in too.
Discussions
The representatives discussed how Canopy can take first steps in lobbying for a change in the law. They discussed different legal actions happening in groups, legal personhood for trees, lobbying sympathetic MPs and political parties ahead of the next election for their plans for trees/developers, centralising some core resources and talking to contacts to try to start feeding in ideas for policy change and what that would look like.
The representatives shared their experience and knowledge gained from the various campaigns for protecting trees. Break-out groups then discussed ways forward in more detail. One well-supported idea was campaigning for a ‘reverse TPO’ (Tree Protection Order). One participant suggested attending local council planning meetings to make sure that local policies are enacted. Another recommended specialist solicitor / barristers and legal firms and there were suggestions too about good fundraising ideas. Information was shared about the 'People’s Plan for Nature' and also the 'Duty to Consult' which is part of the 2021 Environment Act but not yet implemented.
Suggestions
- A tree protection handbook
- A national conference
- Further development of the ‘Reverse TPO’ idea
Useful links
