AIBU to think that the Government shouldn't be flogging off the country's forests?

[donkeyderby]

fctu.org.uk/saveourforests/index.asp

I received an email today from a Save Our Forests campaigner which read:

'The Government is currently passing legislation, which will enable them to sell of all of the state-owned forests in England - i.e. everything owned and managed by the Forestry Commission (up to 2m acres). This is expected to go through within 2-3 weeks, whereupon the whole lot will be sold to private buyers.

Legislation covering public access will not apply to all public forest estate, and whilst access on foot will be protected in some instances, there is no requirement to allow cycle or horse riding, or to maintain facilities such as car parks, walks and forest trails.

This seems to us to be gross public vandalism, which will seriously harm the environment in which we live - not only from a nature/preservation point of view, but also in terms of our recreation and well-being.'

If you are as horrified by this as I am, please sign the petition

[BaroqueAroundTheClock]

Just read an article \link{http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/oct/29/forest-sell-off-government\here} about it as well - which says argues that buying a Forest isn't a commercially viable idea really. What investor is going to spend money on smoething that's not going to make them money???

[wukter]

Don't be silly Pascoe.

Don't you see the difference between the right to access the landscape, the spaces of this world and a private business?

How dare you accuse Baroque of seeking others to subsidise her trips to the pub. You're offensive. And blinkered.

[wukter]

Baroque, I suspect the forstry lands will become a lot more valuable in teh future for environmental reasons.
Eg water tables under the trees and using green cover as carbon emission offsets.

[NigellaPleaseComeDineWithMe]

Signed it - as we used to live in the FOD and still have friends there too. DCs learnt to ride bikes there and we would go sticky collecting for the fire.

[mamatomany]

This is shocking. There's so few green spaces left in the country already

You are kidding ?
Where we live there are 4 country parks within a 10 mile radius.

[pascoe28]

wukter - I haven't accused anyone of seeking others to subsidise trips to the pub. I merely sought to point out that what is for some people a 'free day out' is actually being paid for by someone, somewhere, eventually.

I prefer that we each pay for ourselves as far as possible and, in this instance, am perfectly happy for this land to be returned to private ownership.

[BaroqueAroundTheClock]

I think you are deliberately misinterprating my post.

When I walk down the pavement - no-one is making money from it, when I go to my local (town centre) park - no-one is making money from it. Are the government making money from protecting my health (with the NHS) or educating my children? No they're not - yes in the long term they will get tax back.

As it happens the FC already makes at least £24.5 a year (that's just the logging - no doubt they make money in other places as well - I don't suppose that private enterprise such as "Go Ape" get to use FC land for free for example) and I don't believe that out countryside and forests should be in private hands.

You can cut funding to hte beneifts, to the schools, to the hospitals, to just about anywhere else.........and it can be replaced in the future (if anyone can be arsed).

Once you get rid of the green spaces and sell them off they're GONE (unless we have Zimbabwe style land invasions to "reclaim" them ).

You can't put back trees and green spaces that are removed, you can't turn round to a private company in 10-15yrs time and say "we want our countryside back". If it's sold now it's lost forever

[wukter]

Ok Pascoe. I was a bit hasty so I apologise.

But it looks like we will fundamentally disagree on this issue.
But civilly disagree

[BaroqueAroundTheClock]

and no - I use the "pocket" money I earn from my church stuff to finance my (non existant ) trips to the pub - and my fags.

[BaroqueAroundTheClock]

mama - and how many public forests??

[BaroqueAroundTheClock]

[2shoes]

yanbu

[wukter]

Yup Baroque, me too.
Tongue slightly in cheek.

More likely for us in Ireland - we've got the IMF in!

[wukter]

OTOH you've got the Tories in...

[threefeethighandrising]

I don't know what to say. This is just so sad.

I've signed the petition, donated some money to the campaign and posted it to my facebook.

It's one thing after another. Will anything be left when they're done?

[NorfolkNChance]

I have signed. We live in an area surrounded by FC maintained forests and I dread to think what will happen to the deer that depend on these forests for their survival.

[Callisto]

I really don't like this either. I voted this govt in and I realise the need to save money and make cuts. But this is going too far. I can't see how private enterprise can possibly sustain these forests as just forests. It's very sad and I too have signed.

[pascoe28]

wukter - civil disagreement it is then!

[FiveOrangePips]

I have signed the petition, I live in Scotland, but I think England needs to keep hold of the forests and woodlands, if they need to be financially sustainable then the Government should use their imagination rather than selling them off for private profit.

[donkeyderby]

www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-for-sale--camerons-gr

I hope this link works. Johann Hari writing in the Independent about this one

[donkeyderby]

No, it doesn't! Sorry

[weedle]

Well we could reach a compromise - get rid of the parts of the new forest that is covered in scrub. It's ugly and there aren't any trees there anyway! Keep the grassy, tree bits. Win, win ;)

[bagsofbats]

100% of FC woodlands are managed to the highest standards of sustainable forestry and they set an example to the rest of the forestry sector on how to manage woodlands for the best intrests of both the public and wildlife as well as forestry workers in what used to be an extremely dangerous industry.

In England (because it is only English woods being sold off)60% of timber comes from the 18% woodlands that the FC own demonstrating that few privately owned woodlands are effectively managed. The alternative in imports mostly from scandinavia and canada which will mean the loss of small timber mills in the uk and the loss of an already much reduced industry.

The recreation which we all enjoy takes place alongside production forestry but it is a hassle and private owners won't bother. Any mountainbikers out there? can you think of any bike trails not on FC land in England? there are very few if any (I work in this area and can think of one near Wrexham so it is probably in Wales).

Even if you never visit a woodland they improve the quality of our air and the aesthetics of our landscape. Private landowners often will admit that on paper they consider wildlife in their woodland management but they don't actually do it.

Forestry runs on 50 year cycles and politicians can't see past the next election.

The tories have tried to sell off the woodlands twice before so any arguement that this is because of the state of the economy is convienient but not true.

Rant over

[bagsofbats]

independant article