Please sign the 38 degrees petition opposing plans to flog our forests.http://www.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/save-our-forests#petition
The government is planning a massive sell off of our national forests. They could be auctioned and fenced off, run down, logged or turned into golf courses and holiday villages. We can't let that happen. We need to stop these plans. National treasures like the The Forest of Dean [pictured], Sherwood Forest and The New Forest could be sold off. Once they are gone, they will be lost forever. A huge petition will force the government to rethink its plans. If we can prove how strongly the public are against this, they will have to back down. Please sign the petition now.Find out more: Visit the save our forests action centre to find out more about the forest sell off and download campaign leaflets and posters.
Copied below is Green Party MP Caroline Lucas' motion to the House of Commons opposing the sell-off of the country's forests...No Bristol MPs are signed up...
UK Parliament - Early Day Motions By Details
EDM 1199
FORESTRY COMMISSION REDUCTIONS IN EXPENDITURE
Lucas, Caroline
That this House is alarmed at the 25 per cent. cut to the Forestry Commission announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review; opposes plans to sell off parts of the Public Forest Estate in England which could result in 30 million trees being cut down and job losses in England and Scotland; notes that the Forestry Commission in England manages 258,000 hectares of public forest, employing 856 people; further notes that the Commission manages the highest number of sites of special scientific interest, with 99 per cent. of these in favourable or recovering condition; regards forests as a priceless carbon storage resource and essential to the Government's efforts to achieve climate change mitigation targets; is concerned that education courses and public health programmes would be inhibited by the sale of public forests; acknowledges that public rights of way are lost under private ownership of former Forestry Commission land; furthernotes that at 9 per cent. the level of forestation in England is one of the lowest in Europe and that 69 per cent. of forest is already privately-owned; further notes that hits on the Forestry Commission Trades Union's website increased by 560 per cent. to 80,000 per month after this cut was announced; and calls on the Government to bring forward proposals to amend the Public Bodies Bill [Lords] to remove this threat to forests.
HANDS OFF OUR FOREST CYCLE EVENT
ReplyDeleteThe Cycle Centre (Pedalabikeaway) Forest of Dean
Sunday 23 Jan 12.00 midday
Cyclists stand to loose more than most if the Public Bodies bill goes ahead as Government Ministers have admitted that even in the unlikely event that access to all present paths in the Forest are protected under a sell-off it will not apply to cyclists and horse riders
This is just a short meeting and cycle ride - about 1 hour in total - to show that there are a lot of cyclists in the Forest and elsewhere who want to keep the Forest as it is - a wondeful and safe place for all to cycle in.
Meet 12.00 midday at Pedalabikeaway. Please park at Beechenhurst or Cannop, rather than Pedalabikeaway.