Discover the fight against Bristol Airport's expansion and its impact on Cook’s Farm's ancient habitat and veteran trees. Read more now!

A postscript to my last piece: what happened to the Masterplan, why it matters for trees and green space, and what I’ve asked the Council to put right.

Here’s a summary of what I said in my response to the city’s scoping consultation, and why the next four days matter.

The Bristol Local Plan 2045

The unfolding saga of Temple Island

The unfolding saga of Temple Island

Since the Government changed the biodiversity net gain (BNG) rules last month, the smallest development sites – 0.2 hectares or smaller – no longer have to deliver a BNG of at least 10% as pa…

Since the Government changed the biodiversity net gain (BNG) rules last month, the smallest development sites – 0.2 hectares or smaller – no longer have to deliver a BNG of at least 10% as pa…

Since 6 August this year, the smallest developments in England (those 0.2 hectares or smaller) no longer have to deliver biodiversity net gain (BNG). To understand what this means for trees, we’ve …

Biodiversity net gain is moving habitat out of towns — but small sites are not the reason why Two years into mandatory biodiversity net gain, a question worth asking is no longer whether developmen…

Since the end of March this year, every council in England has had to publish a biodiversity report. This legal requirement, under the Environment Act 2021, is part of the new Biodiversity Net Gain…

Since February 2024 biodiversity net gain has been mandatory for major development in England – and for small sites since April of that year. Two and a half years on, there’s still no p…

Since February 2024, developers in England have had a legal duty to improve the biodiversity of their development site by at least 10%. This Biodiversity Net Gain — BNG — is calculated in ‘habitat …

So far, most of the public alarm about this expansion has centred on Felton Common, the well-loved local nature reserve on the other side of the runway, where the airport wants to plant 8.5-metre a…

From 6 August 2026, a change to the planning rules takes effect that most people will never hear about — but it could reshape the trees on our streets, in our gardens and on the small plots being b…

Bristol’s biggest regeneration plan promises parks within a five-minute walk of every front door. We measured the plan’s own drawings to see whether the promise holds. Here’s what…

In January 2025 we argued that the West of England Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) would do little to improve biodiversity net gain (BNG) in proposed development sites in Bristol. Since then,…

Since 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…

Plans do not take Disabled people, prams or cyclists into account says campaigner Lucy Bell-Reeves

Urgent nature reset for our next Prime Minister: four asks for nature

Mark Ashdown has investigated council action on breaches of tree preservation law

There have been hundreds of objections in just the last week alone

The individual was fined over £4,000

Once again, Bristol Tree Forum are giving away tree saplings. Since 2020, we have given away over 12,000 for tree lovers to plant around Bristol…. and beyond!

In its Information Statement of October 2025 concerning its recent fencing works at Stoke Lodge Playing Fields, Cotham School has chosen to misunderstand our concerns about the welfare of the trees…

Whitehall analysis provides no data or research to support the government argument that environmental legislation holds up building

It comes as work to transform the Centre has been delayed

YouTube video by Ian Phillips

YouTube video by Ian Phillips

Landmark court ruling declares farming manure as ‘waste’ in major victory for River Action in...

Has your council declared a nature emergency?

Catherine Withers has reluctantly agreed to a settlement deal with her family