Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee,
Whether summer clothe the general earth
With greeness, or the redbreast sit and sing
Betwixt the tufts of snow on the bare branch
Of mossy apple-tree, while the nigh thatch
Smokes in the sun-thaw; whether the eave-drops fall
Heard only in the trances of the blast,
Or if the secret ministry of frost
Shall hang them up in silent icicles,
Quietly shining to the quiet Moon.



Sunday, January 30, 2011

Save Our Forests


I've never added anything like this to my blog before but I do feel that the proposed sale of our national forests, particularly the ancient woodlands, is very wrong indeed. The thought of these beautiful places getting into the hands of people who are just interested in making a profit from them makes my blood run cold. If the Government no longer wants to maintain them then they should be signed over to organizations like The Woodland Trust or the local Wildlife Trusts. There is a mounting feeling against this proposal and the stronger and more numerous the opposition is the more likely it is that we will be able to stop it. There is an online petition which is available here and I do urge all English readers of my blog to consider signing it.

Save Our Trees Petition

Selling off the forests may well produce a large sum of money for the Government but the idea is both short-term (you can only sell them once) and short-sighted.

18 comments:

Rosie said...

Absolutely agree, Rowan - it is very short sighted and short term and the idea of the sale of such precious woodlands is very upsetting indeed. I've signed the petition:)

Mimi Foxmorton said...

Agreed.
Having been born in Germany and adopted to America I have always felt a subtle longing for *ancient* ground......

Gill said...

Petition signed! I didn't know anything about this sale until the open letter was reported on TV a couple of weeks ago. Would this not have been mentioned by the media if so many high profile people hadn't got involved? It's a scary thought. xx

Anonymous said...

The whole thing is appalling. I'm off to sign the petition.

Shirl x

Lynda (Granny K) said...

DH and I have both signed, also the one at 38degrees dot co dot uk.
I cannot believe the short-sightedness of the people in charge of our country.

Comfrey Cottages said...

thank you for sharing this Rowan. They let me, from a different country sign also:) xx in total agreement on this subject, and proud of you posting about it! xx

Anonymous said...

I agree with you Rowan, 100%!

Anonymous said...

I signed.

Thimbleanna said...

I read about this on Kitty's blog and it's so sad. I hope you are all able to stop it, or at least find a better solution!

laoi gaul~williams said...

oh Rowan it makes me feel physically sick at the possible outcome~i have signed assorted petitions regarding this and wish i were able to attend the London protest in march. i was going to contact the new forest green party to see if they know of any local protests.

Jean said...

I agree entirely, petition signed.

Anonymous said...

It's scary isn't it this idea. Thankfully many people and organisations are taking up the cause against it and I think The National Trust may become more pro-active too. Thanks for the link.

Jane said...

Tragic if this goes through. Like Comfrey Cottages, I am from a different country, but signed the petition anyways. After all, we are all citizens of the same world and I think all remaining ancient forests should be designated World Heritage Sites.

Penny said...

Seems to be happening all over the world.
Sometimes make you wonder about the advice Govts get.

Roy said...

I would want to see some very strong legal restrictions and requirements laid down to private companies that access to the public should be free and unrestricted 365 days a year, before I could even consider this idea. Are we going to get that. Doubt it.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

I read about this last week and was utterly appalled. It's just unthinkable.

Anonymous said...

You are so right. I do hope you can stop this ridiculous and hurting plan.
I wish I was Britisch, so I could sign the petition too !! Good luck.

Victoria said...

Powerful post Rowan...it is very sad! our forests everywhere are such a gift in so many ways..thanks for sharing awareness and shine on!