Worrying rumours of a behind-the-scenes effort to revive plans to sell off England’s woodlands.

Not again! There are worrying rumours of a behind-the-scenes effort to revive plans to sell off England’s woodlands. We may have less than a week to stop them and keep our forests safe for future generations.


Next week, the government's forest panel will publish a new report on the future of our woodlands. [1] Rumours are circulating that some panel members want to clear the way for a fresh sell-off. We’ve got a few days to persuade the rest of them to block this new threat to our beautiful woodlands.


Please add your name to the urgent petition now, and then forward this email to your family and friends. We’ll do an emergency delivery to each of the panel members before next Wednesday:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/keep-our-woods-safe


It's a bit depressing that anyone still thinks selling off England's woodlands is a good idea! But it's not all that surprising - the government forest panel includes vested interests from the private timber industry. [2] A huge people powered petition could help sway undecided panel members and make sure these vested interests don't win out.


Our woodlands are at their best at this time of year. Animals and plants are flourishing. A new generation of children is learning to ride bikes and climb trees. For those of us that live in cities and towns, woodlands give us a chance to slow down and enjoy nature. And for tens of thousands of people, jobs in forests pay their wages. [3] That's why last year, half a million of us stood together to stop them being sold off. [4]


The next few days are crucial to protect these beautiful wild places - please sign the emergency petition now:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/keep-our-woods-safe




Thanks for being involved,


Hannah, Marie, Cian, David, Becky, James, David T, Belinda and the 38 Degrees team




PS: The government has already stated publicly that up to 40,000 hectares of woodland could be put up for sale again within weeks of this report being published. We can't let this start again! Please sign the petition now: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/keep-our-woods-safe




NOTES
[1] DEFRA: Independent Panel on Forestry http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/forestry/
[2] DEFRA: Independent Panel on Forestry Panel members’ biographies http://www.defra.gov.uk/forestrypanel/about/members/
[3] Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology postnote: UK Trees and Forests http://www.parliament.uk/documents/post/postpn275.pdf
[4] The Independent: Forest farce: Cameron to axe sell-off policy http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/forest-farce-cameron-to-axe-selloff-policy-2217131.html