It's quite interesting, isn't it, that the Government is getting into a bit of a tight spot over forestry sell-offs and lease-offs. People aren't uniformly enthusiastic about small government when it comes to slimming down the Forestry Commission and handing things over to Big Society. And to be fair, it's difficult to find much of Big Society that seems terribly keen on it either.
I was at an excellent conference on Saturday, organised by the Sussex Ornithological Society, where, after my talk, I was asked a question about forest sell-offs. The line that I gave was, of course, the same as in this blog. And it seemed to be pretty much what the audience thought too - dispose of some commercial forests, with safeguards, by all means, but protect the biodiversity-rich heritage sites.
And the same issues will be coming along with NNRs soon too.
As publicised over the Christmas break, a group of NGOs including the RSPB have agreed some principles about whether we would be prepared to take on heritage sites from NE and FC.
A love of the natural world demonstrates that a person is a cultured inhabitant of planet Earth.
Johno, Well well what a suprise the Big Society people are flogging our Woodland off, i wonder who will benefit ? somewhere perhaps for the idle Rich to pursue there love of wildlife by shooting every Animal & Bird that comes into there shotgun sights. This is another example of this goverment and there savage cuts, another example is that many Councils will be cutting there Ranger & Park Warden services throughout the country. These people are on the frontline in protecting our wildlife and when there gone no amount of voluntary groups are going to be able fill there roles properly regardless of what the Chief Executive of the RSPB thinks in his Column in the RSPB magazine. I find it wrong for this one person to express his obvious pro goverment views, the RSPB should be neutral but it appears the Chief Executive is not, i and many other members do not share his views, i think these cuts are going to be a disaster for our wildlife & countryside.
Johno ,Well well what a suprise it looks like the big society is kicking in there flogging our woodlands off. I wonder who will benifit ?, somewhere for rich people to indulge in ther usual pastime shooting any animal & bird that comes in sight. What a disgrace it seems that the man at the top of the RSPB is all for this so called Big Society, i must point out that as a result of the on coming Goverment cuts many councils will be cutting there Park Ranger & Warden services. These people are on the front line in many urban Towns & Cities in looking after the interests of our wildlife, this is another example of the so called Big Society which it appears the top person at the RSPB applaudes. I hope there are many people who are members of the RSPB have the balls to speak out against these issues, & remember the RSPB should not show preference to any political party but judging by the remarks in the last two issues of the RSPB magazine it appears to be very pro Tory.
Sooty, Sorry I have got to question that one. At an early age I could walk anywhere. I could watch badgers (sorry trimbush) and even had a small collection of eggs (sorry Mark). I could collect conkers, eat chestnuts, understand the seasons. I did that by walking in the woods on my own, learning in school groups and on my bike.
Today youngsters don't get the opportunity to get outdoor education. Nature will suffer if you don't allow access and it will suffer because future generations won't understand. If a youngster doesn't use it he/she won't understand its importance when at a later age they may have to fight to protect it or otherwise.
The Cotswold Water park sightings website
My Flicker page
Would it be a bad thing for nature if private ownership meant dogs,motor bikes,people and bikes kept out of woodland.Ithink not.
Hi Mark, I thought the inital response to the consultation document from the Woodland Trust published on their web site was well considered and worth a read if you haven't already. Concern for proper protection of ancient woodlands is a prime concern of theirs as well as questioning the feasiblity of the whole process..
redkite