Outlaw planning applications that include removal of mature trees or hedgerows.

People have been horrified by the outbreak of nets on healthy trees and hedges to stop birds nesting. It's not the nets that are the problem, but the planned removal of the important trees and hedges. Mature trees are vital for air quality and to absorb carbon. They need to stay there.

The nets on trees are a signal that someone is planning to remove the trees. This should no longer be even an option. Planning should work round our existing stock of mature trees, and hedgerows should be protected without exception. Trees are vital to air quality in cities and to remove CO2. Ancient hedgerows are vital for biodiversity. Nothing replaces a mature tree or hedge. Felling should be restricted immediately to managed woodland only. We have a climate emergency. Felling needs to stop.

Our ambitious 25-Year Environment Plan includes our commitment to ensure that we leave the environment in a better state than when we inherited it. We will require developers to deliver biodiversity net gain in the forthcoming Environment Bill. Whenever a local authority decides to grant planning permission, it has power to impose enforceable conditions on the developer; for instance, to prevent disturbance on parts of a site, to require replacement planting, or to ensure that particular trees or hedgerows are safe.

To minimise harm to our countryside from inappropriate development we need to use land within existing settlements as fully as possible, and also to create new garden towns and villages. It is not practicable to try to retain every tree and hedge, but the National Planning Policy Framework makes clear the importance of protecting and enhancing the natural environment. The Framework encourages the creation of green infrastructure, including trees, and provides special protection for ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees as irreplaceable habitat. The Framework also asks planning authorities to minimise the impacts of development on biodiversity, and sets out strong protections for protected areas such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Local Wildlife Sites.

Many trees important for local amenity are protected by Tree Preservation Orders. In many situations outside development sites, the Forestry Commission has to grant consent to fell trees. We also made a manifesto commitment to place new duties on local authorities to consult if they wish to cut down street trees, to ensure that communities have the opportunity to influence such decisions.