Rally called to save Lakeland’s forests

SOLD: Public carparks have been closed at Rigg Wood in the Lake District after it was sold off.

Protest against forest sell-off grows

January 2011. Organisers of a campaign to stop the Government selling off the Lake District's publicly owned forests have announced plans for a rally in Grizedale Forest at 1pm on Sunday 30^th January. 

The Government is about to launch a consultation on selling off England's public forests, including more than 30 forests and woodlands across the Lake District such as Grizedale, Whinlatter and Ennerdale.  Legislation is also going through Parliament that would give ministers the power to sell off all the forests currently managed by the Forestry Commission.

Speakers
The rally will hear speeches from Lord Clark of Windermere, a former Chairman of the Forestry Commission and the chair of the All Party Group on Forestry in Parliament; Eric Robson who is the Chairman of Cumbria Tourism and the Wainwright Society; Jack Ellerby from Friends of the Lake District; and the chair of Save Lakeland's Forests Paul Townsend.

Lord Clark says: "This is a great opportunity to send a signal to the Government, MPs and members of the House of Lords about the strength of opposition to selling off the public forests. This is not just about the Government's consultation.  The more urgent need is to do everything possible to change the Public Bodies Reform Bill to stop ministers being able to sell off these forests; and the first chance to do that will be in the House of Lords in the next few weeks.  

Grizedale rally
"I urge as many people as possible to come to Grizedale Forest on Sunday 30^th of January - walkers, mountain bikers, families, and people walking their dogs - just as millions of people do in our public forests every year.  If we don't stand up now and show how much these wonderful green spaces mean to us we risk losing them forever."

The rally will take place on the meadow next to the main car park at Grizedale near Hawkshead. 

Eric Robson says: "Selling off the public forests in the Lake District would be a disaster for tourism in this beautiful corner of the country and for biodiversity.  Whatever ministers try to tell us, they cannot guarantee the same level of public access to these forests if they are sold off or the same high standards of environmental protection.   Trying to suggest otherwise is simply misleading."

After the speeches people will be encouraged to write comments about what the public forests mean to them on cards in the shape of a tree, which will be taken to Parliament by Lord Clark.

The campaign to Save Lakeland's Forests was launched this month by Paul Townsend, a former parish councillor, who lives at Satterthwaite near Grizedale, and has already received national media attention.   The campaign has even been contacted by French TV.

Thousands of people have visited the campaign website - www.savelakelandsforests.org.uk - and hundreds of people are also following the group's updates on Facebook and Twitter.   Nationally, over 160,000 people have signed a petition organised by 38 degrees against the Government plans.

Paul Townsend "We've been delighted by the amount of support we've been getting.  There have been many messages of support and offers to help the campaign.  It shows just how much the Lake District's forests and woodlands mean to people - not just those who live here but many people across the whole country.

"It's important for people to come along and show their support on Sunday.  It'll be a great day out and a chance for us all to play our part in putting a stop to the Government's plans to sell off our forests. 

"We'd also encourage everyone to sign the national petition organised by 38 degrees.  There's a link to the petition on our website as well as details about how to contact your local MP and the Environment Secretary."