For Anyone Interested in the Wildlife of the U.K.
In November last year, the coalition Government announced it would sell half of England’s Forestry Commission land. But provisions in the Public Bodies Bill currently passing through Parliament would allow the whole lot to be sold without further parliamentary scrutiny.
The Forestry Commission controls 18% of Britain's woodlands, and doesn't have the best track record for their guardianship. In the last century they replaced many of our ancient woodlands with regimented rows of sitka spruce. Back in 2005 it looked like things were improving when they announced they would be restoring the broad leafed trees we all know and love, like oak, ash and beech.
Now it seems, the UK is too deep in the red to consider such aesthetic enhancements (despite the obvious benefits to wildlife, people, and the income from tourism). Nope, the coalition Government wants cash now, and have proposed a sell-off of large tracts of English forests.
If, like us, you think this is a big mistake, sign the online petition.
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