The campaign so far...
The Ramblers campaign to “Save our Woodland Walks” did not end in February when the Government put on hold their plans to sell the Forestry Commission. Caroline Spellman announced that she had set up an independant panel of experts to put forward their proposals about the future of forestry in England. The Ramblers are very keen that the panel’s report should have access to woodland at its core.
As well as formally responding to the panel’s consultation, the Ramblers came together with other forestry users including the BHS, the CTC and the British Siberian Husky Racing Association to pressure the panel to make sure that all forest users were included in decisions. They met with the Bishop of Liverpool in June and submitted a joint response to the panel in the summer.
The Ramblers were keen that the panel see how many people enjoy woodland walking and the facilities that the Forestry Commission provides so they put on almost two hundred events across the country celebrating the autumnal beauty of forests. As part of “Walk in the Woods Week” the Ramblers and local campaigning groups put on three rallies in Sherwood, Friston and Rendlesham Forests. Hundreds of people came out dressed as Robin Hood carrying home-made placards and waving banners.
To make sure that the message behind the rallies got to the panel members, the Ramblers wrote to the panel members with the gift of a Beech sapling with additional leaves and messages from people who came on the rallies. These messages included:
“My wife’s ashes were scattered in local woods and I would like myself and my children and grandchildren to still visit this spot”
“Freedom – How much does that cost? Where can you go with a family for a fun day out for a few pounds to take in the air, to hear the birds, the exercise? Please take care of our heritage.”
“I grew up in an area where we couldn’t play in woods. Do not do it to my son!”
The Ramblers presented the trees to all panel members, including our chief executive Tom Franklin, in October ahead of discussions about the report's contents.
The Panel produced their interim report in December, while we welcomed a commitment to the Public Forest Estate we were concerned that there wasn't much mention of being able to access and enjoy more woodland. Find out more here
What next? The Panel are due to present its final report on the Future of Forestry in England in the Spring. The Ramblers are hoping that the report will include our four key asks:
1. A commitment to keeping the Public Forest Estate and the current amount and quality of access it offers.
2. The Panel recommends that Government policy and grant structures share the aim of increasing recreational benefits and public access in woodland not in the public forest estate.
3. The Panel recommends that additions to the public forest estate are located close to centres of population and support community woodland and other forms of community control of local green space.
4. New woodland should have some form of public access planned in
Once the panel have made their recommendations we will be looking closely at ways that we can take the campaign forward. Stay updated with our campaigns
