Rowan Williams and Annie Lennox fight forest privatisation
By Ian Dunt
An eclectic collection of celebrities and public figures has teamed up to fight government plans to privatise Britain’s forests.
A letter to the coalition from 100 dignitaries demanded that the government rethink plans to sell off 15% of Forestry Commission land.
Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, singer Annie Lennox, author Bill Bryson, actress Dame Judi Dench, artist Tracey Emin and London mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone all signed the letter as part of the Save Our Forests campaign.
“We, who love and use the forests, believe that such a sale would be misjudged and shortsighted,” the letter reads.
“It is our heritage. We are an island nation yet more people escape to the forest than the seaside.”
A poll over the weekend suggests that 75% of the public oppose the move, which could restrict right of access to the forests, according to campaigners.
Environment secretary Caroline Spelman insists no trees will go without a permit and access rights will not be lost.
But campaigners say that government promises to ensure right of access are less important to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) than the £100 million which could be won through the sell-off.
Activists argue that there are also plans to sell off the remaining 85% of Forestry Commission land in England – amounting to 620,000 acres.
While private groups may be forced to ensure public right of access, campaigners say that the technical legal right for access to the land does not prevent them from putting up gates, which often turn off visitors.
The Forestry Commission, by contrast, works to encourage visits to the land, using billboards, cycle paths and visitors’ areas.
Defra was wary of discussing the proposals in too much detail ahead of a consultation on Thursday but a spokesperson insisted that no decisions had been taken on particular sites.
“We will not compromise the protection of our most valuable and biodiverse forests,” a statement from the department read.
“The Forestry Commission has and will play an important role in protecting and expanding the trees, woods and forests in England.”
