The public speaks out over accelerated sales of ancient woodland

As Woodland Trust campaign to save England’s ancient forests hits 80,000 signatures, leading political figures lock horns in Westminster

As the House of Commons debates an Opposition Day motion on 2 February on the Public Forest Estate (PFE) tabled by the Labour Party, the Woodland Trust campaign petition to save England’s ancient forests has reached 80,000 signatures – six days after it was launched in response to the Government’s public consultation on the planned sales.

The Trust petition is calling for the Forestry Commissions sell off plan to treat all its ancient woods as a special case; for loopholes in protection legislation to be closed, ensuring that public access and wildlife havens are guaranteed no matter who owns the woods in the future; and for Government fulfilment of its previous commitments to restore its damaged ancient woods, before any sales take place.

The Opposition Day motion, tabled by the Leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband, Mary Creagh the Shadow Environment Secretary and other prominent Labour frontbenchers, declares that the Governments intention in the Public Bodies Bill to sell off up to 100 per cent of Englands PFE is fundamentally unsound and urges it to rethink its decision on the sales in order to protect these woods for future generations.

In practice, if the motion were passed, this would mean revisiting those clauses in the Public Bodies Bill that give the government the legal power to sell more than 15 per cent of the PFE, but Wednesday’s vote will not decide whether the PFE sale goes ahead. It will also afford the Opposition parliamentary time to voice its concerns.

Sue Holden, chief executive at the Woodland Trust, said: “What this motion demonstrates is that there is serious parliamentary concern over the future of the PFE, and the Trust welcomes that. Indeed we have briefed the 77 MPs from across all parties who signed our pre-election Manifesto and who have therefore committed themselves to fighting for native woods and trees during the life of the next parliament, to ask them to support the Trust’s campaign aims.

“Regardless of the outcome on Wednesday, there will be other opportunities to press the case to save England’s ancient forests. The public consultation on the future of the PFE is critical, and we hope the public will encourage their MPs to continue lobbying for amendments to the Public Bodies Bill as it progresses through Parliament, particularly the forestry clauses, so they reflect the need to protect and restore ancient woods.

“Anyone can also sign our petition at woodlandtrust.org.uk/protect . This is your chance to input into the public consultation on the PFE that runs until the end of April, and the Trust will be using the public’s comments to shape its case to Government as part of its formal consultation response.”

The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading charity championing native woods and trees. It has 300,000 members and supporters. The Trust has three key aims: i) to enable the creation of more native woods and places rich in trees ii) to protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future iii) to inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees. Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free.