We are a voluntary organisation dedicated to promoting the planting and preservation of trees in and around Bristol's wonderful urban forest.https://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mwqadcxvas2sNow the airport’s own figures make our case: an update on Cook’s Farm and the planned expansion of Bristol Airport. Cook’s Farm – rich in ancient habitat and biodiversity but now threatened by the planned expansion of the airport. https://bristoltreeforum.org/2026/09/30/now-the-airports-own-figures-make-our-case-an-update-on-cooks-farm/30 Sep 2026 11:26 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwqadcxvas2shttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mwl4ktkrnc2xBristol has a plan for St Philip’s Marsh. It’s confirmed it can depart from it ... https://mcbngtree.substack.com/p/bristol-has-a-plan-for-st-philips28 Sep 2026 10:35 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwl4ktkrnc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mwiqgfdsg22wBristol’s new Local Plan starts now — and it mentions trees just once https://mcbngtree.substack.com/p/bristols-new-local-plan-starts-now27 Sep 2026 11:53 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwiqgfdsg22whttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3muzdycz22s22Bristol is drafting its Local Plan ...Again! The consultation starts tomorrow, so get ready to comment. https://mcbngtree.substack.com/p/bristol-is-drafting-its-local-plan08 Sep 2026 15:35 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3muzdycz22s22https://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mutusy7evc2kApples and pears: compensating habitat loss at Temple Island https://mcbngtree.substack.com/p/apples-and-pears-compensating-habitat?r=1i1d25&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web06 Sep 2026 11:20 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mutusy7evc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3muow62phnk2hBristol’s ‘lowland meadows’ promise doesn't add up https://mcbngtree.substack.com/p/bristols-lowland-meadows-promise?r=1i1d25&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web04 Sep 2026 12:01 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3muow62phnk2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3muka2w7nyc2sNow, the smallest development sites - 0.2 hectares or smaller – no longer have to deliver a BNG of at least 10%. We wanted to know what difference this change will make to the protection of nature, and specifically trees, within Bristol... https://bristoltreeforum.org/2026/09/02/looking-at-bristols-development-sites/02 Sep 2026 15:15 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3muka2w7nyc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3muka2ftcos2nNow, the smallest development sites - 0.2 hectares or smaller – no longer have to deliver a BNG of at least 10%. We wanted to know what difference this change will make to the protection of nature, and specifically trees, within Bristol... https://bristoltreeforum.org/2026/09/02/looking-at-bristols-development-sites/02 Sep 2026 15:15 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3muka2ftcos2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mtyssdco2c2eSince August this year, the smallest developments in England (those 0.2 hectares or smaller) no longer have to deliver biodiversity net gain (BNG). We analysed 505 biodiversity gain plans and 320 readable statutory metric calculations. We found this: https://bristoltreeforum.org/2026/08/26/small-sites-big-losses-the-bng-exemption-is-the-strongest-argument-yet-for-a-national-tree-replacement-standard/26 Aug 2026 17:02 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtyssdco2c2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mtjtql77nk22Where does our lost habitat go? Nine in ten urban developments now buy their biodiversity net gain somewhere else — 98% in London. On our analysis, at least 833 habitat units, net, have left England's towns for the countryside. https://bristoltreeforum.org/2026/08/20/where-does-our-lost-habitat-go/20 Aug 2026 18:09 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtjtql77nk22https://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mt56y4dq3k2pSince the end of March, every council in England has had to publish a biodiversity report. Bristol must include details of the biodiversity net gain achieved when it approves a planning application where BNG is required. But has it? ... https://bristoltreeforum.org/2026/08/15/what-bristols-biodiversity-duty-report-doesnt-tell-you/15 Aug 2026 17:26 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt56y4dq3k2phttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3msxnhoeidc25Can anyone actually see how the biodiversity a developer has promised is being delivered? We have blogged about the administrative failings we have identified: https://bristoltreeforum.org/2026/08/13/biodiversity-net-gain-what-the-biodiversity-gain-plans-approved-actually-show/13 Aug 2026 12:29 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3msxnhoeidc25https://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mstjjyeihs2fYoung Trees really need our help at the moment. If one is growing near you, please give it a good water.11 Aug 2026 21:08 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mstjjyeihs2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mrsepb22fs27When a development in one of England's most deprived neighbourhoods damages nature, the law requires compensation. We checked where that compensation actually goes — In 99% of cases: somewhere better off. Here is our detailed analysis: https://bristoltreeforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/where-does-the-biodiversity-go-a-bng-spatial-displacement-analysis.pdf29 Jul 2026 16:44 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrsepb22fs27https://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mrptf36mgc2iDevelopers in England have a duty to improve the biodiversity of their development site by at least 10%. If a scheme cannot achieve this gain onsite, it can buy the shortfall from a habitat bank anywhere else in England ... https://bristoltreeforum.org/2026/07/28/when-a-city-builds-where-does-nature-go/28 Jul 2026 16:29 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrptf36mgc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mra4d2tvy22eThe fierce fight over the Felton Common has largely overshadowed another important threat next door — the loss of irreplaceable habitat at Cook’s Farm, which has drawn far less attention. That is what our objection is chiefly concerned with. https://bristoltreeforum.org/2026/07/22/ancient-trees-missing-data-and-the-fight-over-bristol-airports-planned-expansion/.22 Jul 2026 10:26 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mra4d2tvy22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mr7re6xgm222Grassland you can recreate in a few years. A mature tree you can't — it takes decades and nine saplings to 'replace' just one and the largest trees would need at least 19 new trees and still take many years to 'replace'. https://bristoltreeforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/bng-wider-reforms-trees-updated.pdf22 Jul 2026 07:10 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr7re6xgm222https://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mr5t4bs6hc2lThe small-sites BNG rule change that could quietly cost your neighbourhood its trees. One tree used to be enough to trigger the BNG obligations. From 6 August 2026, up to 48 trees won't. https://bristoltreeforum.org/2026/07/21/the-small-sites-rule-change-that-could-quietly-cost-your-neighbourhood-its-trees/21 Jul 2026 12:36 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr5t4bs6hc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mqvviubejs2oSt Philip's Marsh consultation. Are the open space proposals for the redevelopment of the old industrial land behind Temple Meads really going to benefit the people of Bristol, especially the people who will eventually live, work and study there? https://bristoltreeforum.org/2026/07/18/st-philips-marsh-do-the-green-space-sums-add-up/18 Jul 2026 08:57 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqvviubejs2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mqcndhscqs2cThe Local Nature Recovery Strategy and Bristol: a reassessment: https://bristoltreeforum.org/2026/07/10/the-local-nature-recovery-strategy-and-bristol-a-reassessment/10 Jul 2026 17:10 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqcndhscqs2chttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mqbmhgbvfk22Since BNG became mandatory in February 2024, qualifying developments in England must show how they will deliver at least a 10% gain, to be set out in a Biodiversity Gain Plan (BGP) submitted to the local planning authority. https://bristoltreeforum.org/2026/07/10/understanding-biodiversity-gain-plans/10 Jul 2026 07:22 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqbmhgbvfk22https://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mq7fmwkdzs2hBrislington Meadows was always too steep (that's why it has never been developed) and should never have been allocated for development in the first place. https://www.bristol247.com/opinion/your-say/too-steep-to-be-fair-the-brislington-meadows-plans-still-wont-work/09 Jul 2026 10:15 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq7fmwkdzs2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mp4bzwycuk2ePlease sign the petition if you agree - c.org/ZSwTBtmzJ6 https://c.org/ZSwTBtmzJ625 Jun 2026 11:07 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp4bzwycuk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3moxttimasc27The latest S106 Data for tree replacement has just dropped, but only up until 31 March 2026 - https://bristoltreeforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/trees_obligations_summary-as-at-31-march-2026.pdf. Most of it became available in 20/25 - with haft just from one development - Baltic Wharf in AC3: £664,864.07 - but there is a significant tail dating back to 2010/11.23 Jun 2026 16:42 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3moxttimasc27https://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mnmpdpyv3s2mWe asked 98 Local Authorities: Since the introduction of the mandatory #BNG regime on 12 February 2024, have you adopted, or are you planning to adopt, any policies requiring developers to deliver BNG greater than the minimum 10% BNG required? https://bristoltreeforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/should-we-aim-to-exceed-the-10-biodiversity-net-gain-requirement.pdf.06 Jun 2026 12:57 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnmpdpyv3s2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mmqkpsiafc2oWe have now submitted our response to the most recent Bristol City Council Local Plan Main Modifications proposals: https://bristoltreeforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/btf-representations-on-the-proposed-main-modifications-of-chapter-9-may-2026.pdf26 May 2026 08:20 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmqkpsiafc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mmqkoo5fhc2oWe have now submitted our response to the most recent Bristol City Council Local Plan Main Modifications proposals: https://bristoltreeforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/btf-representations-on-the-proposed-main-modifications-of-chapter-9-may-2026.pdf26 May 2026 08:20 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmqkoo5fhc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mm2icq6hg223The Trymside Tiny Forest in Southmead - https://tinyforest.earthwatch.org.uk/tiny-forest-sites/88-trym-valley-bristol - has had the interior and back of the wood chopped down for a rough sleeper encampment.😥17 May 2026 13:38 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm2icq6hg223https://bsky.app/profile/bristoltreeforum.bsky.social/post/3mlv57nd2sk2cThe saga of Brislington Meadows rumbles on while we are all quietly being sold down the river: https://democracy.bristol.gov.uk/documents/s126523/1.%2025.14849.M%20-%20Land%20at%20Broom%20Hill-Brislington%20Meadows.pdf. We have submitted this statement in a final attempt to head off this disaster: https://bristoltreeforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bristol-tree-forum-e28093-statement-to-planning-committee-b-20-may-2026.pdf15 May 2026 10:37 +0000at://did:plc:jaftayhz6ehelpz6rgzfpr45/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlv57nd2sk2c