We Won!

In a surprise U-turn the government have abandoned their plans to sell off England's forests!

The move to sell 40,000 acres of woodland has been abandoned by Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman claiming that the government has listened to the people.

I like to think that campaigning can and does work but I'm left with an underlying feeling that there wasn't enough of a fight.  Don't get me wrong, I'm chuffed the government has ditched the plan but it just seemed too easy and that worries me. Perhaps I'm just cynical. Anyway, here's what the Woodland Trust have to say about it.

Save England's ancient forests

It doesn't end here...


Whilst welcoming Government intentions to abandon plans for disposal of public forests, the campaign to protect and restore England's ancient forests must go on, warns the Woodland Trust.


We welcome the opportunity for a more considered approach to the future of our much loved woodlands but our campaign continues. Whilst we welcome the removal of threats to public access, there is still an acute need for better protection of Ancient Woodland, our equivalent of the rainforests, and restoration of ancient woods planted with conifers.


Even if there are no sales of publicly owned forests, the worst of all worlds would be for there to be no change to the loopholes that have allowed 850 ancient woods to be threatened by built development over the past decade. Ministers have made strong commitments over the past few weeks to increase protection for ancient woods, and we will be holding them to these commitments.


As I write, there is a proposal to water down protection for ancient woodland in the planning system. We need your help to defeat this proposal by 28th February.

We must not let public passion and support for our woods and forests die down and now that ownership is no longer an issue, we must not lose sight of the need to increase protection for ancient forests and restore those planted with conifers, a once in a lifetime opportunity for woodland conservation.


Our campaign will continue and we urge everyone to continue to sign our petition and transfer their passion about who owns England's public woods to ensuring that all of England?s woods survive in the future.


Thank you for your continued support,

To sign the petition just click on the link below.

http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/campaigning/Pages/woodland-trust-campaign-continues.aspx

Shopping and Green Spaces

Clare and I popped into Birmingham for a bit of shopping on Saturday, with lunch at The Green Room.  Clare was disappointed that they had changed the menu but the food was still good.  According to the waiter it is about to undergo some changes and will be expanding in the not too distant future.

Sunday was a lazy day.  A relaxing morning was followed by coffee and sandwiches (with my parents) at the cafe in Brueton Park.  Afterwards we went for a short walk before heading home.  Prior to heading out, there had been an influx of birds into the garden.  I counted 5 x Redwing, 2 x Song Thrush, 3 x Greenfinch, a pair of Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Great Tits, a Robin, a Long Tailed Tit, a Chaffinch and a Jay.  They seemed to all arrive at once and left just as quickly. 

The weekend was cold and although there is still someway to go Clare saw the first signs of spring, snowdrops and daffodils.

Whilst on the subject of nature, I'm sure most people are aware of the government's plan to sell of the nation's woodland. The Woodland Trust is also worried that a lot of our ancient forest will be sold and conservation work will grind to a halt.  If you believe that the government should be preserving our forests then you can help by signing the petition below.

http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/campaigning/save-ancient-forests/Pages/fc-disposals-act-now.aspx