Save Our Ancient Forests
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 12:37 pm
Over 100,000 people have signed The Woodland Trust petition calling on the Government to Save England's Ancient Forests. I have signed the petition. If you want to help save our forests from government sell-off and privatisation you can do so here:
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/Pages/default.aspx
The following statement has just been issued by the Woodland Trust.
A government announcement today shows the first signs that our petition is working.
Existing rules allow the government to sell off up to 15% of the Forestry Commission's woodlands in England in each four year period.
Today the government announced that it is putting the 2011/12 sales on hold so that it can review them in the light of the response to its consultation about the future of the entire Forestry Commission estate.
We welcome this decision as a positive sign that the government is listening to our "Save England Ancient Forests" campaign. We have been particularly concerned that the sales have included ancient woodland planted with conifers with no guarantees that they will be restored to native broadleafed woodland. Last year we persuaded DEFRA minister Jim Paice to halt sales of these sites in 2010/11. Restoration of planted ancient woodland is the biggest opportunity for woodland conservation in a generation. We are pleased that the 2011/12 plans will now be considered as part of the consultation over the future of the Forestry Commission estate.
Thanks to your help 128,000 people have signed our petition in 2 weeks, calling for protection of ancient woodland and safeguarding of access. We are optimistic that today's announcement is a signal that government will address these issues in its overall plans.
So, if you haven't already done so, please encourage family and friends to sign the petition and add their voice to yours. Email your friends now
Thank you for your continued support,
Sue Holden
Chief Executive Woodland Trust
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/Pages/default.aspx
The following statement has just been issued by the Woodland Trust.
A government announcement today shows the first signs that our petition is working.
Existing rules allow the government to sell off up to 15% of the Forestry Commission's woodlands in England in each four year period.
Today the government announced that it is putting the 2011/12 sales on hold so that it can review them in the light of the response to its consultation about the future of the entire Forestry Commission estate.
We welcome this decision as a positive sign that the government is listening to our "Save England Ancient Forests" campaign. We have been particularly concerned that the sales have included ancient woodland planted with conifers with no guarantees that they will be restored to native broadleafed woodland. Last year we persuaded DEFRA minister Jim Paice to halt sales of these sites in 2010/11. Restoration of planted ancient woodland is the biggest opportunity for woodland conservation in a generation. We are pleased that the 2011/12 plans will now be considered as part of the consultation over the future of the Forestry Commission estate.
Thanks to your help 128,000 people have signed our petition in 2 weeks, calling for protection of ancient woodland and safeguarding of access. We are optimistic that today's announcement is a signal that government will address these issues in its overall plans.
So, if you haven't already done so, please encourage family and friends to sign the petition and add their voice to yours. Email your friends now
Thank you for your continued support,
Sue Holden
Chief Executive Woodland Trust