Protests over government sell-off of major UK forests - Grizedale, Whinlatter and Ennerdale

‘Once they've gone we will not get them back'
January 2011: A new campaign is being launched to rescue Lake District forests from the threat of being sold off by the Government.

BEFORE: Rigg Wood was a popular place for walkers

Ministers want to sell off all the public forests in England which includes some of the Lake District's green gems such as Grizedale, Whinlatter and Ennerdale.

Lord Clark of Windermere, a former Chairman of the Forestry Commission and who now chairs the All Party Group on Forestry in the Houses of Parliament, is backing the Save the Lake District's Forests campaign.

'These are magnificent green spaces'
Lord Clark says: ‘I do not believe any Government has the right to sell off our public forests. We hold these magnificent green spaces in trust for our children. Once they've gone we will not get them back. Government claims that the environmental and public benefits would be maintained if forests are sold off simply do not stand up to scrutiny. All over the country people are raising their voices against these dreadful plans, so I welcome the launch of this new campaign to defend the Lake District's forests.'

AFTER: Now Rigg Wood has been sold, the public  car park has been locked shut

The campaign is being launched by Paul Townsend, a former parish councillor, who lives at Satterthwaite, near Grizedale. He said: ‘If the Government goes ahead with these plans we won't have the same kind of access to these forests that we enjoy today. New owners would not have to allow entry to mountain bikers or horse riders and they would be able to put up fences and close car parks to make it more difficult for walkers to gain access.

Home to ospreys, red squirrels and red kites
‘The Forestry Commission also does a lot of work to maintain and improve habitats for a wide range of different species - including ospreys, red squirrels and red kites. A new owner would not have an obligation to continue this valuable work.'

The organisers of the campaign are highlighting what has happened at an area of woodland near Coniston, as evidence of the dangers of selling off public forests. Rigg Wood was sold by the Forestry Commission last year. Although the new owners are obliged to continue to allow walkers on the land they have been able to close the car park, remove picnic benches and put up fences, making it much more difficult for people to access the woodland in future.

Paul Townsend says: ‘What has happened at Rigg Wood should serve as a warning to people across the whole country as to what will happen if we allow our forests to be sold off. The new landowner was perfectly within his rights to do what he has done, but it means that access in future will be severely limited.

‘Rigg Wood car park was used by mountain bikers, walkers and even people who go canoeing on Coniston Water. This could be the future for our public forests. We hope people will write to the Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman and their local MPs to make it clear that these are our forests and woodlands and they are not for sale.'
More details, including email addresses for the Environment Secretary and local MPs, can be found on a new campaign website - www.savelakelandsforests.org.uk.