We have some incredibly exciting news to share… 🎉WE WON THE GHOST WOODS CAMPAIGN! 🎉

Defra have been keeping it on the down low, but we’re so happy to confirm that they have now committed to yearly funding for restoring our precious ancient woodlands. In an email to Rebecca Smith MP, nature minister Mary Creagh confirmed that:

“Restoration of plantations on ancient woodland sites on the Public Forest Estate … is being accelerated by targeted funding from Defra. The impact of this £5.9 million targeted Defra funding for 2026-2029 is being closely monitored through the pace and outcomes of restoration, with a headline target to work towards doubling the recent rate of restoration.”

When we first began campaigning, Forestry England had received zero funding for this vital habitat. This year, they received a one off sum of £600,000 – a drop in the ocean when compared to the task needed to bring our ancient woodlands back to life. We revealed last year that Forestry England was decades behind on delivering restoration in line with government targets.

Now, with £5.9 million of committed yearly funding, we are pleased to say that Forestry England has committed to doubling ancient woodland restoration in their latest strategy document.

This is such incredible news for ancient woodland species from the lemon slugs to the wood anemones, to the myriad of invertebrates and you made it happen: you petition signers, you letter writers, you sluggish conga dancers, you ghost hunters, you artists, you videographers, you animators, you marchers, you lovely lovely heroes for nature. Thank you!

Highlights of the campaign to Rewild the Ghost Woods include…

• 🎉 147,000 people signing a petition calling for urgent action backed by the incredible Dame Judi Dench,
• 🎉 Members of the public, from Cornwall to Yorkshire, organising their own ‘ghost hunts’ in their local Ghost Woods,
• 🎉 Artists from across the country came together to create a visually stunning video zine that explored the importance of our ancient woodlands,
• 🎉 2,759 emails sent to Mary Creagh and local MPs urging them to commit ringfenced funding for restoration,
• 🎉 Support from over 40 MPs for an Early Day Motion calling on greater action on PAWS restoration,
• 🎉 … and lastly, the worlds largest ever gathering of people dressed as slugs gathering in London to deliver our petition to Nature Minister Mary Creagh during our ‘Slug Rising’ (possible Wild Card’s most bonkers undertaking to date)!

It’s easy to feel helpless in the face of nature and climate collapse, but we hope this campaign is a reminder of just how much ordinary people can achieve when we come together in hope and love for the natural world, and demand change.

But we aren’t going to sit back and say ‘job done’. That’s not our style. We’ll continue to hold the government to account, and will be keeping a close eye on the ‘England Tree Action Plan’ due for release later in the year, as well as monitoring how this money is being spent. We also have several exciting new campaigns up our sleeve that we’d love to have you along for… so watch this space!