If you enjoy the Forests of Cumbria and England. Please take a few moments to read this blog.
Please help stop the Government selling off the Forestry Commission forests. This could severely affect the open access to these fantastic resorces we currently enjoy.
Please write to;
Caroline Spellman - Minister for the Environment mailto:spellmanc@parliament.uk
Your M.P. (See Links below)
The campaign in Cumbria is ramping up see new website http://www.savelakelandsforests.org.uk/index.html and Border TV article http://www.itv.com/border/cumbrian-forests76125/ from Friday last week. More to come over coming days.
Caroline Spellman - Minister for the Environment mailto:spellmanc@parliament.uk
Your M.P. (See Links below)
Register your complaint with Campaign Group 38 Degrees Petition
The campaign in Cumbria is ramping up see new website http://www.savelakelandsforests.org.uk/index.html and Border TV article http://www.itv.com/border/cumbrian-forests76125/ from Friday last week. More to come over coming days.
The focus of the online campaign is the Campaign Group 38 Degrees Petition , please encourage anyone you know to sign this and write to your local MP. or promote 38 Degrees by printing off posters and flyers form their action centre.
A key issue over the next 3 weeks is to try and stop or delay the Public Bodies Bill ideally have clauses 17 and 18 removed. Without this bill the Government can only sell upto 15% of the public forest, although because of sensitivities in other parts of the country this could actually mean 40% of Cumbrian public forests unless there is significant protest in Cumbria like there has been in the Forest of Dean which might encourage Government to give Cumbria some reprieve.
What is the Governments Policy
Simply put the Government wants to sell all the public forests managed by the Forestry Commission. See Comment by John Vidal in the Guardian which quotes Jim Paice MP in a house of commons select committee confirming plans to sell off all the public forests. Jim Paice MP says "Part of our policy is clearly established: we wish to proceed with very substantial disposal of public forest estate, which could go to the extent of all of it…". This includes Ennerdale and Blengdale as well as Whinlatter, Dodd Wood, Grizedale and all other forests managed by the Forestry Commission in Cumbria. See Map of Cumbrian Forests for Sale
The Government says it will be running a public consultation soon but this will be about the various ways of disposing of the public forest not whether or not the public forest should be sold.
In addition to the above the Government has told the Forestry Commission to sell 15% of the public forests in England over the next 4 years to raise £100 million towards the deficit reduction program. To make up for difficulties selling forests in other parts of the country its likely that some areas including North West England could be asked to sell as much as 30 to 40%. The sale of this 15% does not involve any consultation.
Key Issues
Government says Dedication under Countryside Rights of Way Act (CROW) secures future access after sale. However not all public forests are dedicated, eg Dodd Wood where the Osprey nest and viewpoints are is not dedicated. See Open Access Map. or Ennerdale where Bowness Knott Car park and much of the lakeshore and forest where the Smithy Beck trail is not dedicated , seeOpen Access Map
Open Access under CROW only protects the right to roam on foot. Future land owners are not required to maintain existing or provide future facilities such as car parks or way marked trails. Also CROW does access for cycling and horse riding and sports such as orienteering are not protected under CROW.
A future landowner can change the way the forest is managed. Public Forests managed by the Forestry Commission are 100% sustainably certified under the international FSC standard compared to around 25% of the privately owned forests.
The Government says these plans a part of its Big Society project to give business, communities and civil society a greater role in protecting and enhancing the natural envrionment. However the private sector already owns and manages 82% of the forests in England. The vast majority of forests will be out of reach of the local community to purchase. Forests currently sell for around £2000 to £3000/ha. So Ennerdale would be worth around £9million and even Lowther Park would be worth around £684,000.
Simple Forest Facts
The Forestry Commission is 70% self funded
The management of all the public forests in England costs the taxpayer around £10million pound a year, around a third of the annual amount given to the National Opera House and similar regional theatres by Government.
The Forestry Commission manages ony 18% of the forests in England but because these are well managed they produce 50% of the timber produced in England.
Some Key Links
Comment by Caroline Lucas Green Party MP for Brighton,
Comment by John Vidal in the Guardian quotes Jim Paice MP in a house of commons select committee confirming plans to sell off all the public forests. Jim says "Part of our policy is clearly established: we wish to proceed with very substantial disposal of public forest estate, which could go to the extent of all of it…"
Independant newspaper report includes mention of Rigg wood in South Cumbria which was recently sold and the new owner has erected Keep Out and closed the car park and walks.
Guardian reports on protests in the Forest of Dean this has raised the profile but we need similar activity across the country.
Key Contact Details
Lord Inglewood
Westminster
House of Lords, London, SW1A 0PW
Tel: 020 7219 3190
inglewoodw@parliament.uk
Tel: 020 7219 3190
inglewoodw@parliament.uk
Tim Farron - Westmorland and Lonsdale tim@timfarron.co.uk
John Woodcock - Barrow john.woodcock.mp@parliament.uk
Rory Stewart - Penrith and the Borders - rory.stewart.mp@parliament.uk
Jamie Reed - Copeland - reedjr@parliament.uk
John Stevenson - Carlisle - john.stevenson.mp@parliament.uk
Tony Cunningham - Workington - cunninghamt@parliament.uk
