Dr. Fred Logue:

It is probably a statutory requirement to have objectives relating to trees, hedgerows and biodiversity. Most plans have what, to the common observer, seem fairly strong guidelines stating that they are to be preserved where possible. The definition of "where possible" has kind of melted into where possible insofar as it does not conflict with building out a site or whatever. Much of planning is actually in how it is used and governed. Somebody should be governing local authorities and asking why a particular local authority has only one tree preservation order in its entire county. What is really needed, however, is a proper tree preservation system.