Member News
11th February 2011
The Woodland Trust respond to the written ministerial statement by environment secretary Caroline Spelman on the future of the public forest estate.
Today, February 11, an official ministerial statement was released by the secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, Caroline Spelman, regarding the plans to sell the public forest estate in England. The full text of the 'Forestry Commission England's 2011-12 asset sales programme' reads:
'As in previous years, the selection criteria for land in the Forestry Commission England's forthcoming assets sales programme were published on 27th January. In light of the government commitment to increase protection for access and public benefit in our woodlands, the criteria for these sales will be reviewed so that protections are significantly strengthened following the inadequate measures that were applied to sales under the previous administration. Pending this review, no individual woodland site will be put on the market.'
The Woodland Trust welcomes the decision to put the planned sale of 15 per cent of state-owned forests this year on hold. We have been particularly concerned that the government has been selling ancient woodland planted with conifers with no guarantees that they will be restored to native broadleaved woodland. 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.
We see this as a positive sign that the government is listening to the Woodland Trust's 'Save England Ancient Forests' campaign. 128,000 people have signed our petition in two weeks, calling for protection of ancient woodland and safeguards for public access. We are optimistic that this is a signal that the government will address these issues in their overall plans.
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