ANCIENT trees across Surrey and the South East are at risk from destruction if a change in Government policy goes unchallenged, says The Woodland Trust.

In March, Prime Minister Theresa May announced plans to overhaul England’s planning policy to give ancient woodland stronger protection.

However, ancient and veteran trees were not included in the new policy and have been separated from ancient woodland as ‘irreplaceable habitat’ for the first time.

Kaye Brennan, the lead campaigner at the Woodland Trust, said: “It makes no sense for the government to improve protection for one irreplaceable natural habitat, but not another.”

According to the trust’s Ancient Tree Inventory, there are 170 ancient trees in Surrey, 33 of which are outside a designated area such as an SSSI, meaning they have much less protection.