The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Caroline Spelman) As in previous years, the selection criteria for land in the Forestry Commission England’s forthcoming assets sales programme were published on 27th January. In light of the Government commitment to increase protection for access and public benefit in our woodlands, the criteria for these sales will be reviewed so that protections are significantly strengthened following the inadequate measures that were applied to sales under the previous administration. Pending this review, no individual woodland site will be put on the market.
This seems very sensible. On the forestry issue, a few deep breaths and some considered thought would be good.
A love of the natural world demonstrates that a person is a cultured inhabitant of planet Earth.
There's no coming back from this - Government has conceded it has got it wrong and if they really do try again the hole will simply get deeper and deeper.
There is only one way out: forget the petty politics for a moment and try a bit of statesmanship: accept that people simply don't want what is proposed and give them what they do want - protection for ever to the nations favourite forests as part of our hertiageand a renewed Foresty Commission with a positive up to date remit.
20 years ago the Forestry Commission was in the same position after the Flow Country: people just didn't want what it was offering. So it set to and changed itself - not grudgingly, but by applying all its considerable commitment, enthusiasm and skill. And it has changed, completely - much closer to people, providing what people want, ready to listen & flexible to changing times. Thats why people are supporting not just the forests but the people who run them.
I'd just plead with Mrs Spelam, Mr Cameron and Mr Paice to get on the winning side and start supporting our national forests along with 84% of tour fellow citizens - thats the one way you could come back from all this with some credit.