Despite widespread opposition from environmental campaigners a consultation period has begun which outlines government proposals that will allow private owners to manage land previously owned by the Forestry Commission.
Shropshire has a vast amount of woodland that is currently looked after and run by the Forestry Commission including: Hopton Wood, which lies amid the glorious scenery of South Shropshire Hills, Eastridge Woods described as a gem in the crown of the the Shropshire Hills an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Haughmond Hill with its mixed woodland and fantastic views of Shrewsbury.
15% of the forest estate, worth an estimated £100m, is already being sold and the consultation could lead to the sale of the remaining 85% owned by the Commission, totalling 2,500 sq km.
The government plans to sell publicly owned forests to private companies, organisations and individual landowners. Commercially valuable forests will be leased to commercial operators for up to 150 years but under conditions that public benefits of the woods are preserved. The government also plans to keep access open to the public on foot but it may mean an end to cycling, horse riding and picnicking on the land.
Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has said “heritage” forests such as the Forest of Dean will be managed by charities or trusts. She added “There’s now no reason for the Government to be in the business of timber production and forest management”
But the plans have angered many in England who fear woodlands will come under threat from developers or be cut down for timber. Labour has called for a parliamentary debate on the plans, labelling them “environmental vandalism”.
In a letter to the Sunday Telegraph campaigners including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Judi Dench and Bill Bryson had described the sale as “unconscionable” and warned it could compromise nature protection and curtail rights of access enjoyed by millions of people.
Public opinion is currently opposed to the sell off with one campaign website 38degrees now obtaining 251,857 signatures for their online petition. The site says “The government is planning a massive sell off of our national forests. They could be auctioned and fenced off, run down, logged or turned into golf courses and holiday villages.”
The National Trust says unless the sales are sensitive to the forests’ cultural and conservation value, they should remain in public care.
Forests in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are not affected.
Is the selling of our public forests the price to pay for the national debt or will future generations live in regret once public ownership is gone forever? Leave your comments below.
Shropshire Woodland run by the Forestry Commission
Hopton Wood
Hopton Wood lies amid the glorious scenery of South Shropshire Hills, it is a coniferous woodland and covers an area of 350 hectares.ere you will find 32km (20 miles) of forest roads, tracks and single tracks covering the woodland. It’s varied terrain offers leisurely or exciting mountain biking to suit all levels of cycling ability. Colour coded routes make picking suitable routes easy.
Plans are afoot to revamp the trails at Hopton. Changes will start taking place in August alongside forest harvesting. Please take note of safety signage on site.
Eastridge
Eastridge Woods is a gem in the crown of the the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
This hill-top woodland has stunning views across the surrounding countryside and some great, raw mountain bike trails for those who likes roots rocks and a little bit of mud.
How to get there: Eastridge is part of The Marches. Minsterley is the nearest town or village.
From Shrewsbury take the A488 to Minsterley. In Minsterley turn left onto Callow lane just before the pub. Continue to the T junction and turn right, bear right when the road forks and take the first turning on the right up a narrow lane.
OS Grid Reference: SJ392028
Haughmond Hill
Walk through this mixed woodland to discover fantastic views over Shrewsbury to the hills of South Shropshire.
The viewpoint once boasted a castle like folly that featured in 19th century paintings of the hill. Around the site of the folly you will find earth banks and ditches believed to be remnants of an Iron Age enclosure.
Down the hillside, below the viewpoint, is a knoll known as Queen Eleanor’s Bower. No one knows the origin of the name but the mound is a ringwork, a type of medieval fortification, one of only 60 of its type in the country.
How to get there: Haughmond Hill is part of The Marches. Shrewsbury is the nearest town or village.
Follow the B5062 (Sundorne then Newport Road) out of Shrewsbury. At the brow of the hill, after the Abbey turn right. The car park is on the right after the quarry.
OS Grid Reference: SJ 545 147
Bury Ditches And Colstey Wood
Bury Ditches is home to one of the best-preserved hill forts in the country, dating from about 500BC. Come and meet Llew, the Iron Age boy, who helps visitors, young and old, enjoy the site. There is a relief plan of the fort at the start of the walks and information in Braille.
The spectacular views from the top make the steady climb worthwhile whilst visitors who are looking for a more level walk can follow the forest road past the barrier to a bench and a wonderful view.
How to get there: Bury Ditches And Colstey Wood is part of The Marches. Clun is the nearest town or village.
Located down a country lane between Clunton and Lydbury North, the woodland is signposted from the B4368 and B4385.
OS Grid Reference: SO 35 78