PRESSURE was mounting on ministers to ditch plans that would pave the way for parts of the New Forest to be sold off after it emerged more than 160,000 people have signed a petition opposing the reforms.
About half of the 1.85m acres of national Forestry Commission woodland could be privatised to raise cash under coalition plans but the move has caused fury.
The Save our Forests petition urges “Don’t sell them off to the highest bidder, don’t let private companies chop down our woodland, protect trees for conservation of wildlife and enjoyment of the public”.
The high-profile campaign has been backed by famous names including Oscarwinning actress Dame Judi Dench; the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams; celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley- Whittingstall; pop star Annie Lennox; and author Bill Bryson.
Shadow leader of the House Hilary Benn raised the huge amount of support it has gathered during questions in the Commons and called for a debate.
He added: “The last time the Tories were in office that is exactly what they did and they are at it again, only this time with Liberal Democrat support.”
Mr Benn went on to accuse Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander of “saying one thing in one place and the opposite in another place”
after he was photographed opposing the privatisation of forests in Scotland.
He added: “It seems the Chief Secretary is passionately opposed to the sale of forests in Scotland but wholly in favour of the sale of forests in England.”
New Forest is Crown Land, and a national park, and has been protected by its own Act of Parliament since 1877, giving Verderers veto powers over development.
It is protected by Natural England, as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and is a Special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation under EU legislation.
Government officials refused to rule out the possibility of it being sold off but ministers insist they have “no intention of seeing our forest land damaged”.
Julian Lewis, New Forest East MP, said: “I would have thought that any list of forests being transferred into private ownership would have the New Forest somewhere at the bottom.”
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