The Government set up an Independent Panel to look at the future of forestry in England. The Independent Panel put forward their final report to Government in July and said that they think access to woodland should be “the norm” for everyone. Government are now looking at the panel's report and are due to publish their plans for taking it forward in January. We are urging them to take forward all of the Panel's recommendations and to come up with clear plans to increase the amount of woodland open for walkers.
We have worked with other user groups (including horse-riders, cyclists and husky sledgers) to make sure that people enjoying woodland is a key part of all forestry policy.
Together, we’ve rallied and presented Forestry Panel members with saplings bearing messages. We’re now lobbying Government for clear plans to increase the amount of woodland that people can walk in.
Currently the public in England and Wales have the right to walk in nearly all (90%) of Forestry Commission owned woodland, which makes up 18% of all woodland in England. But, the public can only enjoy an estimated 30% of other woodland.
The public forest estates in Wales and Scotland are under the control of the devolved assemblies but still managed by the Forestry Commission.
Walkers in Scotland have a statutory right of access to almost all land, including forestry and woodlands, through the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, which made Scotland one of the most walker-friendly countries in Europe. Access rights also apply to cyclists and horseriders.
The Welsh Assembly has pledged to maintain Wales’s 126,000 hectares under public ownership. Walkers in Wales have the right to enjoy most Forestry Commission woodland, but have the same limitations in enjoying private woodland that walkers in England do.
Our vision is for people to be able to walk in all woodland in Great Britain.