Thursday 31 January 2013

'No sell-off' for public forests

Hi all

Some news links for you:

'No sell-off' for public forests  - BBC


England's forests will be protected by new public body - The Guardian


As always, for more up to date links and discussion, please check out the Facebook page :)

Wishing you all a lovely day!

SBF

Tuesday 15 February 2011

News links - 15 Feb 2011

Some of today's news links:

National Forestry Sell-off - What's the real agenda?
Chris Ryan speaks up for Chopwell Wood campaigners
Campaigners in the Lake District warn that the battle for forests must continue
Sell-off 'threatens rare wildlife'
Government suspends forestry sale on “technical” issue
Defra's big issues: From forests and farming to badgers and biodiversity
It is the policy, not the trees, that is crashing down
Protecting the Public Forest Estate: Seizing the Moment
Brits to David Cameron: Save Our Forests!
Forests of course, but mostly a look back at set-aside

Your concerns

Hi everyone, some of you have contacted me to raise your concerns about some individuals collecting email addresses for personal gains. I just want to clarify this page and SBF campaign's standing on this issue i.e. this is not a business or a way of making money. My advice would be to use your judgement and be vigilant. If something doesn't feel right then do not give out your details. I do not ask for your personal details/email addresses. We are all in this together, working and trying to raise awareness. If an information comes my way, I give it out for free. If you have any other concerns then please drop me an email. Thank you, May. The fight for our forests continues!

Monday 14 February 2011

Monday - 14 February 2011

Some of today's links:


Chopwell Wood protest over sell-off plans
Thousands turn out to forest protest
Michael McCarthy: Our climate isn't the only green concern
Forest sell-off campaigners flock to wood
Forest sell off sparks furore
Hold on Forestry ‘sell off’ plans gives riders a boost
Businessman concerned about forest's future
Lewes MP refuses to throw "toys out of the pram" over forests sale
Petition started to protect woodland
Open Spaces Society brands forest sales halt a "tiptoe in the right direction"

Template - Press Release

Dear all


Please find below a template press release which you can use to promote your local campaigns. Email me if you have any questions. Please note that this just a guide so feel free to add/delete to make it suitable for your campaign to save our forests!


Thank you!


You can copy and paste it (see below) or download by going here



For immediate release/Embargoed until xx.xx.2011 [delete as appropriate]

[Name of town/village/county] Residents Against Proposed Government Sale Of Woodlands

Residents of xxx, against the government’s proposed sale of Forestry Commission controlled woodland, will gather at [insert location] on [insert date of protest] to voice their opposition.

They join with over half a million people nationwide who have signed an online petition http://www.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/save-our-forests  opposing the proposed forestry sell-off. Moreover, three-quarters of the 2,000 Brits polled by YouGov in January also stated that they were against the plans.

The Forestry Commission in England boasts 40 million visits a year.

[insert name of campaigner] from [insert name of town/village] comments: “Our woodlands are national treasures for all to enjoy, offering us countless benefits –  from activities such as walking, cycling, picnicking and birding, to simply providing a peaceful place to get away from the many stresses of life and enjoy nature.

If public woodlands are broken up and privatised, it could mean a significant reduction in both public access to the woodland and in the standards of care for the wildlife, including some endangered native species, that lives there.”

The government has stated that no conclusion has yet been made and that a public consultation is now taking place, However the plans, which are contained in the Public Bodies Bill and were not included in either Coalition party manifesto, nor debated at election-time, still continue to work their way through the House of Lords.

More/…
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Meanwhile, the government’s consultation document itself poses no question on whether respondents are for or against the sale of public woodland. Instead, it asks how our forests should be privatised.  Public opinion strongly suggests that the majority of the British public does not want our forests privatised at all.

Campaigners are concerned that changing forestry policy, and acting on it, is a long-term project that requires careful management and co-ordination. According to government plans, there is no guarantee that a piecemeal sell-off would continue this co-ordination and balancing of needs that has been the preserve of the Forestry Commission.

The privatisation of public woodland could also cost the government millions of pounds in lost tax revenues and cancel out most of the money raised from a sale, as private owners enjoy exemption from capital gains tax, income tax and inheritance tax.

 [Insert name of campaigner] from [insert name of town/village] comments: “This planned sell off has nothing to do with the sound management of our forests and the wellbeing of the people, flora and fauna that are served by those forests. It is unlikely that the public purse will benefit from the sale of these precious assets and it is possible that private companies could cherry-pick sites for commercial development, and voluntary groups would be left to look after ancient woodlands without a budget.

According to its most recent accounts, the Forestry Commission costs the taxpayer about £10 million a year – this is equivalent to 30p a year for every taxpayer. Even in our ‘age of austerity’, we strongly feel that this is very good value for money!”
-Ends-
For further information please contact:
[name]
[telephone]
[email]
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