Hands off our forest!

2011.02.13

I stayed at my friend Jenny's house in the Forest of Dean last night after her birthday party. As I drove back through the forest this morning I noticed lots of trees with yellow ribbons tied around them and signs saying "Hands off our forest!". These have been placed there in response to the British Government's plan to sell off a lot if publically owned forests to raise money to reduce the current deficit. This has been a very unpopular plan and the residents of the Forest of Dean obviously feel particularly strongly about it. On Friday the government announced that they're putting their plans on hold temporarily so it looks like the level if public outrage has had some effect. It remains to be seen what will happen to the country's forests in the long run......

AMEN Helen!!! There is a large logging industry here but they are forced to replant. I guess it's a compromise.

????? · 2011-02-13: 17:55

A beautiful shot of a sad reality of our modern world! Good luck Helen! We have lost most of our trees to malls and stores.

danrav · 2011-02-13: 20:40

great documentation-

urmysunshine · 2011-02-13: 22:22

Interessant, very interessant Helen!
Gouvernats fires of any wood, it is the case to say it ! :)

josy63 · 2011-02-14: 00:36

Ohhh, I hope they keep the forests! It's the best you have! In every season they are beautiful!

snowpie · 2011-02-14: 07:41

They've talked about doing that here, too, in the past...a very bad idea. Brings to my mind the song, "They paved paradise and put in a parking lot..."

lookagain · 2011-02-14: 12:23

I am pleased that this has had a stay of execution - in Wales there were so many woodlands at risk, and I remain unconvinced about the conditions they said would be imposed upon purchasers. I have used woodlands for many years to deliver 'Forest Schools' a real opportunity for disaffected youngsters to succeed. Currently this is a 'free' resource...but I would imagine the new owners would want to charge!

cariad · 2011-02-14: 12:24