By John Connell

Last updated at 14:15, Friday, 13 July 2012

Cumbrian campaigners have given a cautious welcome to news that the Government has abandoned its plans to sell off public forests.

More than 2,000 people joined rallies at Grizedale and Whinlatter Forests early in 2011 to protest against proposals to sell off the nation’s public forest estate.

But the Government this week said that it would not do so after an expert panel called for the 258,000 hectares of woodland to remain in public ownership.

Pressure group Save the Lake District’s Forests welcomed the announcement but also warned that “many of the 39 forests and woodlands across the Lake District are still under threat.”

The group said it wanted “all forests” kept under public sector ownership and managed for the “benefit of future generations”.

“We oppose any sell-off – whether that means selling the land outright or selling it on long leases,” a spokesman said.

“We are also concerned that cuts in the Forestry Commission’s budget will undermine its work to improve access and biodiversity.”

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman pledged that “our forests will stay in public hands”, more than a year after she was forced into a U-turn on a bid to privatise England’s forests, following public outrage.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) also confirmed that the planned sale of 15 per cent of the public forest estate, the most that can be sold under existing legislation, would not go ahead.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England has called on ministers to put its vision into action by promoting a second National Forest for England.

Ben Stafford, CPRE’s head of campaigns, said: “The real test now is how the Government will act to take forward these ambitious recommendations.”

First published at 14:05, Friday, 13 July 2012
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk