So there go our woods and forests

[snapdragon]

Two pieces of news I read today
1. the current (greener than the greens cameron?) administration is putting all forestry commission forests and public access woodlands up for sale
2. They found oil under the forested area of the south downs which will apparently produce lots of oil, lots of money, and lots of destroyed 'new' national park which will no doubt be cordonned off for so-called 'safety' reasons.



I feel a Greenham moment coming on, and am ready to pack my tent and tree climbing boots.

[oldjerry]

Hmmm.........I wonder who'd be keen to buy up land??(especially on the cheap).

[Green Aura]

The sell off of forestry land is quite old news snapdragon but there is at least one campaign going on

http://www.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/save ... s#petition

Didn't know about the oil though

[happyhippy]

My OH recently told me that only 8% of the UK is urbanised!I'd like to keep it that way thanks Cameron!Can't they leave anything alone??????People visit GB to enjoy the open countryside ect...........what next????

[Thomzo]

So how about clubbing together and buying the Selfsufficientish forest? At least we'd all have somewhere to keep our pigs and chickens.

Zoe

[jim]

Dear Snapdragon,

There are oil rigs at Northwood Farm, Forestside, just to the north of the Stanstead Estate between Rowlands Castle and West Marden (OS 120 757125 approx - because the headgear is moved around a bit.) Last weekend we were walking there and saw oil tankers in procession up and down the Stanstead Forest road every 5 minutes or so. I'm sorry to say that the South Downs have become the new Dallas!

Love and Peace
Jim

[becks77]

So how about clubbing together and buying the Selfsufficientish forest? At least we'd all have somewhere to keep our pigs and chickens.

Zoe

That's a lovely idea.

[fruitcake]

So how about clubbing together and buying the Selfsufficientish forest? At least we'd all have somewhere to keep our pigs and chickens.

Zoe

That's a lovely idea.

It is possible - lots of groups have done it in Scotland see map on this linky http://www.communitywoods.org/map/ - can't find the link to ones for the rest of the UK at the mo...

[cocobelle]

There was a really good article about this in both the Guardian and the Observer last weekend, it's still on the website, so check it out.

[dave45]

I thought the Forestry Commission were the bad guys for replacing broadleaf natural woods with monoculture conifers for pit-props?

[Eigon]

You're a bit behind the times, dave45 - in recent years the Forestry Commission have been very good at planting broadleaf trees and increasing biodiversity on their land, as well as liasing with Wildlife Trusts - certainly in this area. It's the private owners who kept to the monoculture, by and large.

[cocobelle]

What's the update on this, I've been out of the news loop, but my house mate mentioned that the Tory's have backtracked on selling OUR forests - is it true, have they found a smidgen of a soul?

[yvette]

Yes, they have backed down - but I doubt its anything to do with soul! I think they were a bit taken aback by the extent of people's anger. I heard Tim Smit (Eden Project) on the radio today talking about a different topic, but he was saying that the govt. ought to consider the 'emotional climate' before acting - they just do not seem to realise how grim some people are feeling,and how threatened. As someone said inan earlier post, its as though they can't leave alone anything that we value...

[grahamhobbs]

I'm cynical, the Tories backed down because their people in the shires started screaming, but they will be deaf to the ordinary people screaming about the NHS being broken up for privatisation, rising unemployment and cuts in benefits to the poorest.

[jim]

Grahamhobbs wrote:

I'm cynical, the Tories backed down because their people in the shires started screaming, but they will be deaf to the ordinary people screaming about the NHS being broken up for privatisation, rising unemployment and cuts in benefits to the poorest.

and I certainly agree. Just received a patronizing reply from Mark Hoban, our MP, telling me that my "understandable concern in this matter" had been manipulated by "our political opponents". I'm certain that he believes my "understandable concern" over education, health, library and social provision cuts is being manipulated by the same people as well and can be dismissed just as lightly!

Love and Peace
Jim