Save Ours Forests

31/01/2012

Its currently UN International Year of the Forest
and the British government has decided to pluck the money tree and sell Britains forest and woodland.

Apparently if they sell all the currently open public access areas of forest then they could rase 250 million. Once in private ownership then current rights of access would be at the whim of the new owners. This potentially means no more family picnics in woods, walks with dog, horse rides or mountain bike access.

You can sign a petition here PETITION

or exercise your freedom to lobby by contacting your MP

This Wednesday there is a crunch vote in Parliament. MPs will vote on a motion demanding a rethink of plans to sell our national forests.

If enough of us contact our MPs now, we've got a real chance of winning this vote! So lets make sure MPs are getting thousands of messages with one very clear request: vote to save our forests this Wednesday.

Its quick and easy to email your MP CLICK HERE
to send them a message

This is complicated issue where the government could raise allot of money towards the deficit and some say that woodland in private hands would be manages more efficiently and facilities may improve, but at what cost. Do we want our natural resources turned in Centre Parc type themed holiday venues.

Financially it costs 32p person in the UK to maintain the forests as public land (twitter stat)What will it cost us in the future if we want access to private woodland.

From personal view point I grew up playing in Idlees woods and have brought my children here since before they could walk. We frequently walk the dogs with my parents and meet a community of people doing the same. My first off road cycling was in these woods and I continue 30 plus years later. This kind of experience could be lost to future generation of only those that can afford to access this relationship with nature.