Widespread protests, including this one by seven-year-old Fergus Meanwell in Grizedale, greeted the Government's sell-off plans

The panel set up by the coalition Government to look into the future of England’s forests said that all forest and woodland should provide public benefit as well as contributing to the economy.

The Independent Panel on Forestry said there was a continuing need for a national public forest estate in England.

The panel, chaired by the Bishop of Liverpool, was set up following the outcry at the Government’s plans to sell off publicly owned Forestry Commission land in England.

In its progress report published today the panel, which includes outgoing Ramblers chief executive Tom Franklin, said it is working towards recommendations that will increase the benefits generated from all forests in England, including to the people who enjoy them, to nature and to the businesses that rely on them.

The bishop, the Right Reverend James Jones said: “Although our panel was born out of fierce debate over the future of the public forest estate, what has become apparent through our work so far is that we must look at the future of all woods and forests, not just the one fifth managed by the Forestry Commission.

“Through the 42,000 responses to our call for views, the public expressed their passion for forests as a place of recreation, to connect with nature and as a vital source of resources.

“These responses, along with the many people we have met on our visits, have helped inform our report.”

The panel said it would publish its final recommendations to Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman in the spring.

The progress report said there should be a continuing role for a national public forest estate in England.

The panel said it is looking at providing a wider range of benefits to more people, and will explore the role of not just the public forest estate but all woodlands, including those in other ownerships, in delivering more for society, the environment and the economy.

Bishop James said: “For now all of our work, especially in relation to the woods and forests outside of the public forest estate, needs further development in the run up to making recommendations in our final report next year.

“But as ever the panel are dedicated to further exploring these emerging themes.”

The Ramblers said the report was good news for the millions of people who visit, use public forests but urged the panel to go further in opening up the rest of our woodland heritage to all.

They welcomed the panel’s backing for public forests and for them to provide the same level, type and quality of access as today.

But the walkers’ charity said there is still a long way to go with regards to the future of the 80 per cent of English woods which are not in public ownership.

It urged panel members to look more closely at how woodland outside of public ownership can be opened up for the public to enjoy, such as in Scotland which has open access to all woods, both private and public.

The Ramblers also stressed that the panel must not treat all private woodland as the same; arguing there are vast differences between people walking in large scale commercial forests and small personal woodland.

Justin Cooke, Ramblers senior policy officer, said: “It is clear that the public has an affinity for our forests and woodland and values a walk in the woods as one of life’s simple pleasures.

“Not only must access be at the heart of the future of the public forestry estate but at the heart of England’s policy on the future of all woodland.

“The panel now has a golden opportunity to be ambitious, to truly put public access at the heart of forestry policy in England and recommend that people are able to visit their local woodland wherever they may be.

“The next few months are going to be crucial in firming up the panel’s final recommendations and we will be working hard to convince them that improving access to the other 80 per cent of our country’s woodland is just as vital as maintaining our public forests.”

More than 42,000 responses were received and analysed by the Independent Panel on Forestry. Its members also embarked on a series of visits to forests and woods across England.