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The Woodland Trust<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nDame Judi Dench has called for trees that would be felled to make way for Ripon Cathedral\u2019s new \u00a38m annexe to be saved. <\/p>\n The cathedral submitted plans in late 2022 for a two-storey structure on part of the public open space known as Minster Gardens.<\/p>\n The actor, who is an ambassador and patron for the Woodland Trust, said she “fully supported” a campaign to protect the 11 at-risk trees in the grounds.<\/p>\n The Dean of Ripon previously said the new development “will bring a wide range of benefits to the city”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Councillors on North Yorkshire Council are due to make a decision on whether the scheme can proceed, with the annexe providing a new song school for the cathedral choir, a cafe, toilet facilities and disabled access. <\/p>\n The plan sparked anger amongst some local residents, as it would require the felling of a veteran beech tree as well as 10 others.<\/p>\n In a statement, Dame Judi said: \u201cI fully support the campaign to protect the veteran tree in Ripon, along with the other healthy urban trees under threat.<\/p>\n \u201cAs an ambassador for The Woodland Trust, which rightly views veteran trees as a priority, as they are irreplaceable habitat, I hope a solution can be found to protect this conservation area.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Dame Judi, whose many films include Shakespeare in Love and Skyfall, has been an ambassador for the charity since 2011.<\/p>\n More than 2,700 people have signed a petition protesting against the felling of the trees, the Local Democracy Reporting Service<\/a> said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Very Rev John Dobson, Dean of Ripon, previously said: \u201cNo one takes a decision to cut down a tree lightly, but we believe this new development will bring a wide range of benefits to the city.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are planting 14 trees around the development and a further 300 on land which has been made available to us at Studley, as well as increasing the biodiversity of the green space created.\u201d<\/p>\n Listen to highlights from <\/i>North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds<\/i><\/a>, catch up with the latest <\/i>episode of Look North<\/i><\/a> or tell us a story you think <\/i>we should be covering here<\/i><\/a>. <\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\")
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Ripon Cathedral<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n