Ramblers half time assessment of the Forestry Panel’s report
Today’s (8 Dec) Forestry Progress Report is good news for the millions of people who visit, use and cherish our public forests but now is the time for the Panel to go further in opening up the rest of our woodland heritage to all - argues the Ramblers.
The Independent Panel on Forestry today released its interim progress report, outlining the Panel’s views so far on the future of woodland and forests in England. The Panel was set up in response to the public outcry over the proposed sale of public woodland.
The Ramblers welcomes the Panel’s backing for public forests and for them to provide the same level, type and above all “gold standard” quality of access as today. However, the charity argues there is still a long way to go with regards to the future of the 80% of English woods which are not in public ownership.
Britain’s Walking Charity urges the Panel to look more closely at how woodland outside of public ownership can be opened up for the public to enjoy, such as in Scotland which has open access to all woods, both private and public. The Ramblers also stresses that the Panel must not treat all private woodland as the same; arguing there are vast differences between people walking in large scale commercial forests and small personal woodland.
The Ramblers have been campaigning vigorously to ensure that our ability to go for a simple walk in the woods is protected, with thousands of activists taking to their feet in protest during October, and is pleased that many of their views have been acknowledged by the Panel. The Ramblers now calls on the Panel, in the difficult months ahead, to be brave and bold in finding ways for the majority of our nation’s woodland to be enjoyed.
Justin Cooke, Ramblers Senior Policy Officer, said:
“It is clear that the public has an affinity for our forests and woodland and values a walk in the woods as one of life’s simple pleasures.
“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.
“The Panel now has a golden opportunity to be ambitious, to truly put public access at the heart of forestry policy in England and recommend that people are able to visit their local woodland wherever they may be.
“The next few months are going to be crucial in firming up the Panel’s final recommendations and we will be working hard to convince them that improving access to the other 80% of our country’s woodland is just as vital as maintaining our public forests.”
The final report will be made to government in spring 2012.
