To want to scream at everybody GO SIGN THE FORESTRY PETITION!!!!!

[MilaMae]

The map of the forests up for sale is in the news section-it's horrifying and it's your children who are going to loose out-forever.

Our local forest in Devon is adored by all of us locals and every weekend is full of bike riding children. Many people have worked so hard and we've now got pump track,a gorgeous cafe,Go Ape, an art gallery,stacks of gorgeous trails to walk and bike along.

Because of the huge amount of fast cars on our roads kids don't get out on their bikes enough even down here in Devon. The forest is the most perfect place for kids to do exercise without realizing,get dirty and enjoy nature.

Last week my 7 year old was cycling yards ahead of us and a deer ran across the track in front of him,he'll never forget it.

If the gov get their way our lovely forest(and yours) will be sold off as some Centre Park theme park,golf course or worse. Who can afford Centre Park holidays????Yes not many, so this amazing facility will only be available for the rich or a select few. At the moment they're ours and the gov are trying to steal them from under our noses. When they do our children will have lost them -forever.

So GO SIGN NOW!!!!!

www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jan/28/england-forest-sell-off-q-and-a
bit more info here
it's a sell off not a lease agreement. I'd actually much rather the whole lot was gifted to charity than left in the hands of these spivs but that's not what will happen. Most will be sold to private businesses, the few most well known forests saved for 'posterity'. Although paths will, I think, remain open that will only be for walkers - not cyclists or horseriders - and of course you only have to remember the song and dance made by mostly Tory Mps and voters about the 'right to roam' legislation that Labour brought in to see that it wouldn't be long before somehow walkers were not allowed access either. the land will then be cleared and wood sold, then they'll reapply for grants to reforest.
I repeat - this costs us money not saves us money. Of course I use 'us' loosely cos it's certainly going to make a killing for someone