public forest estate

All about the Money

08.05.2013

Behind the debate on ownership of our national forests, the money question has always been there. How much should the forests cost the public purse ?

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THE FOREST OF DEAN UNDER THREAT ONCE MORE

22.04.2013

Up to 200 acres of woodland and wildlife sites in the
Statutory Forest are to be transfered/sold to the
Forest of Dean District Council (FoDDC) by
the Forestry Commission for current and future
industrial and residential development by the FoDDC.

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Government response to the Forestry Panel report – FCN Press Release

05.02.2013

The Forests Campaigns Network welcomes the Governments response to the Forestry Panels’ report but has serious concerns on the detail

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Government response to Forest Campaign – it’s a Victory, no doubt about it!

05.02.2013

Public Forest Estate – SECURED in public ownership (unclear if in perpetuity), 15% sales – STOPPED, Forestry Commission – given more freedom from Government, Funding – Huge concern, Structure – yet to be decided. Is it just a vote winner or is it actually useful?

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Forestry Commission Forever

04.02.2013

Its official. On 31st January 2013 Government confirmed what we all knew and believed: the nationally owned forests of the Forestry Commission are one of the icons of English culture.

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The Future of the Forestry Commission

23.01.2013

by Rod Leslie.. “For me, the break up of the Forestry Commission is a line in the sand because it will mean the Government will fail to deliver the promise of the IFP report.”

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Government Warned on Public Forest Estate: Get the Economics Right!

22.01.2013

an economic analysis carried out for Our Forests confirms that both the Public Forest Estate and the Forestry Commission represent excellent value for public money.

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Terroir (sustainable land management systems) – a way forward for forestry & farming?

15.01.2013

More forests can repair the damage done, not least in that most degraded of landscapes of all, the urban landscape. ‘Terroir’, the sense of place we feel when we connect to our landscape, a better way forward?

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Politics and the Forestry Panel

12.01.2013

As the Government’s response to the Independent Panel approaches it’s clear there is only one way out of the political mess the Conservatives landed themselves in. That is to understand, accept and take action to turn the panel’s views into policy.

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Public Forest Estate – Open Letter to DEFRA & the Treasury from the Forests Campaigns Network

10.01.2013

We are expecting the government to respond officially to the forestry panels report at the end of this month. In anticipation of this the Forest Campaigns Network has written an open letter to ministers Owen Paterson, David Heath and George Osborne

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HOOF CONTINUES FIGHT FOR FUTURE OF FOREST, FOR FUNDING AND RESOURCES

07.01.2013

HOOF chair Rich Daniels said: “The bottom line is the money. Despite the Forestry Commission and the Public Forest Estate providing outstanding value, anything with a cost attached is in serious jeopardy of not being taken forward. If there is a failure of government to safeguard our Forest and its management, we may have to protest all over again!”

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Forestry Commission – you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone

13.11.2012

My message to our new environment ministers is this:

Please, DON’T put an NGO between us and those we trust at the Forestry Commission. Particularly over something as important as tree disease and forest resilience to climate change.

Please, DO give the Forestry Commission the resources and freedom it needs to work with us, the public, to advance our multi-purpose forests into a financially and ecologically sustainable future we can be proud to leave our children.

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A Stark Warning for us from our Friends in Ireland: Don’t let them sell your harvesting rights!

04.10.2012

A stark warning for us in England. While we were fighting to save our public forest estate from sell off, our friends in Ireland were doing the same. Like us, they won the fight to keep their public forests in public ownership. However, they are now faced with the harvesting rights of their public forests being sold off to the highest bidder. Our new Secretary of State, Rt. Hon. Owen Paterson has only weeks ago left his position as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. I wonder if he picked up any tips from his neighbours in the Republic of Ireland?

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National Forestry Stakeholder Forum – erm.. where is it?

30.09.2012

The fight to protect our English forests continues. Somethings not right. Where is the promised National Forestry Stakeholder Forum? Where is the campaign groups hello from the new ministers?

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Biomass for Biofuel – A Black Hole for British Biodiversity

26.07.2012

On the 25th July the UK government announced continued subsidies for electricity production from biomass, which according to the UK government will help meet its renewable energy targets. The same day, Drax confirmed it would be converting a North Yorkshire power plant for using ‘mainly biomass’.

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A Woodland Culture

20.07.2012

As I step off the ride into the coppice I imagine a cowled and tonsured figure beside me. Here in Leigh Woods near Bristol we know from written records that the Monks of Leigh Abbey were managing these woods in just the same way at least 800 years ago.

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England’s Woodland Culture: Forestry Panel Report Stakeholder Meeting – 10th July 2012

13.07.2012

An historic event that punctuates a pivotal moment in our forests history! The future of our forests and trees has changed forever…

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Expert analysis of the Independent Forestry Panel Report

08.07.2012

A friendly analyst within Government has helped SoW understand the shape and depth of the Forest Panels report and suggests how we can help encourage Government to develop the recommendations into forest policy for England’s woodlands and forests, both public and private. Summary   The report makes a real attempt to address the impossible task […]

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SoW Response to Independent Forestry Panel Report

04.07.2012

“I am convinced that without a living discussion, based on facts about our forests, we will be less able to meet all contrasting goals. I am also convinced that we will never come to a final answer. This is not necessarily a problem since it is the discussion itself that is important.”

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Independent Panel on Forestry – PRESS RELEASE

04.07.2012

The Independent Panel on Forestry, set up to advise the Government on the future of England’s forests and woodlands, has today (4 July) published its final report to Government.

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