Juniper Tarn, Grizedale Forest. Photo: Barry CC-BY-SA-2.0
Outdoor enthusiasts are being urged to show their opposition to Government plans to privatise large tracts of the Lake District’s forests by joining a rally next weekend.
Organisers of the event hope to attract walkers and mountain bikers to the gathering in Grizedale Forest.
Former Forestry Commission chair Lord Clark of Windermere will address the rally on Sunday, 30 January. Broadcaster and writer Eric Robson, who is chair of the Wainwright Society and Cumbria Tourism, will also speak at the forest gathering.
Widespread opposition to the coalition Government’s plans to sell off up to a half of all the publicly owned forest land in England is growing. A survey by campaign group 38 Degrees undertaken by YouGov found three-quarters of the 2,000 people polled online opposed the plans, with 84 per cent saying forests should stay in public ownership.
A rally was held earlier this month in the Forest of Dean to voice opposition to the plans.
Save Lakeland’s Forests said some of the district’s best known woodland recreational areas were at risk, including Whinlatter, Grizedale and Ennerdale, which is the subject of a major ‘rewilding’ project to rid the valley of its blanket spruce cover and introduce mixed woodland.
Lord Clark said: “This is a great opportunity to send a signal to the Government, MPs and members of the House of Lords about the strength of opposition to selling off the public forests.
“This is not just about the Government’s consultation. The more urgent need is to do everything possible to change the Public Bodies Reform Bill to stop ministers being able to sell off these forests; and the first chance to do that will be in the House of Lords in the next few weeks.
“I urge as many people as possible to come to Grizedale Forest – walkers, mountain bikers, families, and people walking their dogs – just as millions of people do in our public forests every year. If we don’t stand up now and show how much these wonderful green spaces mean to us we risk losing them forever.”
Mr Robson added: “Selling off the public forests in the Lake District would be a disaster for tourism in this beautiful corner of the country and for biodiversity.
“Whatever ministers try to tell us, they cannot guarantee the same level of public access to these forests if they are sold off or the same high standards of environmental protection. Trying to suggest otherwise is simply misleading.”
Jack Ellerby of Friends of the Lake District and Save Lakeland’s Forests’ chair Paul Townsend will also speak at the gathering.
The rally will take place on the meadow next to the main car park at Grizedale near Hawkshead.
Further details are on the Save Lakeland’s Forests website.
