Dear supporters New policy is being drafted as I type, with promise of new legislation that can put an end to any prospect of what has happened in Sheffield, happening again in the future. This is a press release from DEFRA, 1 month ago: http://bit.ly/2hoi71P “Plans to consult on a new, independent body that would hold Government to account for upholding environmental standards in England after we leave the European Union have been set out by Environment Secretary Michael Gove today. Leaving the EU gives us the opportunity to put the environment at the heart of policy making, while ensuring vital protections for our landscapes, wildlife and natural assets are not only maintained but enhanced. To help deliver a Green Brexit, ministers will consult on a new independent, statutory body to advise and challenge government and potentially other public bodies on environmental legislation – stepping in when needed to hold these bodies to account and enforce standards. Environment Secretary Michael Gove said: “We will deliver a Green Brexit, where environmental standards are not only maintained but enhanced” “Today we are setting out our plans to ensure the powerful are held to account. We will consult on creating an independent body – encouraging transparency and preventing careless or irresponsible behaviour damaging our natural environment” This current system is underpinned by a number of ‘environmental principles’, such as SUSTAINABLE development… The proposed consultation on the statutory body will therefore also explore the scope and content of a new policy statement to ensure environmental principles underpin policy making” *********************************** This is VERY exciting news for the future of street trees, on a national level!! :) The SORT campaign has advocated several key principles mentioned above, in two letters to the Sheffield Cabinet Member for the Environment. The first SORT letter was written to Cllr Fox before the first Full Council debate of the campaign in July 2015. It introduced the idea of the Precautionary Principle & Sustainable Stewardship. Also the idea of an adequate Tree Strategy as the foundation to any modern tree management programme. A copy of 'SORT letter, July 2015' was emailed to every Cllr in Sheffield. The second SORT letter was written to Cllr Fox, just after the announcement of the sham Resident Survey in Jan 2016. The letter denounced the survey as unfit for purpose and made a demand for its withdrawal. It also stated the case again for the Precautionary Principle, Sustainable Stewardship and an adequate Tree Strategy, based on current urban forestry good practice. A tree strategy is NOT a list of words for visual assessment (6Ds). It is a planned, systematic, integrated approach to tree care, which guides & informs policy, management and practice. It would ensure street trees are managed in a responsible and sustainable manner & in accordance with current best practice & the UK Forestry Standard. This is the Government’s approach to sustainable forestry. Links to the SORT letters are given below and it would be worth dipping in and out and reading here & there, rather than attempting to tackle them in their entirety. Picking up the language and being able to state the case for tree retention in a clear way, is very useful for discussions with friends and family and any media opportunities that happen by. July 2015 - http://bit.ly/2vvoS79 Jan 2016 - http://bit.ly/2dGxO01 Campaigners have three reasonable requests; 1. An adequate TREE STRATEGY based on current urban forestry good practice. 2. SUSTAINABLE Stewardship of the urban forest, of which street trees are a key part. This means retaining street trees and maintaining canopy cover. 3. Compliance with current arboricultural good practice. Make sure they get a mention when writing to your councillors, MPs, local press, national press & Twittering!!! As always, thank you protectors & defenders & campaigners for all of your hard work, wherever you are, to help trees. It is all seen and appreciated. Nature is, by definition, voiceless and we shall all continue to make sure we speak for her, at every opportunity. Have a very Merry Christmas everybody and enjoy the winter festivities. In solidarity SORT (Representing > 17,000 signatories) Gove Tweet: https://twitter.com/DefraGovUK/status/929635529813102592 THE SAVE OUR ROADSIDE TREES (SORT) NEWS UPDATE (8th November 2016): https://www.change.org/p/sheffield-city-council-streetsahead-sheffield-gov-uk-save-the-12-trees-on-rustlings-road-sheffield/u/18390599 How to Retain Trees at No Extra Cost: https://www.stocksbridgecommunity.org/comment/837#comment-837 Good Practice: https://www.stocksbridgecommunity.org/comment/794#comment-794 A SORT letter dated 11th July, 2016, addressed to Simon Green (then SCC’s Executive Director for “Place”) and David Caulfield (then SCC's Place Director of Development Services): https://www.stocksbridgecommunity.org/comment/529#comment-529 The best way to keep up to date, is on the STAG Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/392913244219104/