The Ramblers have, today, formally responded to the Independent Forestry Panel’s “Call for Views” and is urging the Panel to “have a heart of access as well as oak”. The Ramblers response outlines why the Public Forest Estate needs to remain in public hands as it offers the best model for ensuring people can use and enjoy England’s forests.
The Panel was set up in response to the public outcry over the proposed sale of the Public Forestry Estate and has been seeking the public’s views on the future of forestry in England. The Ramblers has detailed the benefits to health, well-being, economic development and education that stem from people being able to visit and use their local woodland.
With public access bringing such great benefits, the Ramblers is calling for all woodland, not just those currently within the Public Forestry Estate, to be classified as open access under the Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act; ensuring that everyone has the right to a woodland walk, no matter where they live. The Scottish model¹ has shown us that open access can be introduced without difficulty and, importantly, that timber production and open access can live side by side.
Justin Cooke, Ramblers Senior Policy Officer, said: “The public has an affinity for our forests and woodlands and they make up part of our nation’s identity. Not only must access be at the heart of the future of the Public Forestry Estate but at the heart of England’s policy on the future of all woodland. We want to see all forests and woodland open for people to enjoy; for ultimately, without public access, a wood is just trees.”
You can view the Ramblers views on woodland and forests as sent to the Independent Forestry Panel at (www.ramblers.org.uk/Campaigns+Policy/forestry). For further information please contact the Walking Environment Team at Walking.environment@ramblers.org.uk.
