Government climbdown over plans to dispose of the New Forest

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has vowed to think again over proposals to sell 15 per cent of Britain’s state-owned forests over the next ten years.

It does not affect the New Forest, which is one of the sites the Govern-ment proposes to lease to a charity.

However, Mrs Spelman’s announcement was welcomed by countryside campaigners, including the 500,000 people who have signed the Save Our Forests petition.

It followed widespread criticism of the proposed sell-off and fears that public access to ancient woodland will be restricted in future.

Yesterday Forestry Commission workers launched a campaign to save their jobs with a peaceful protest outside their New Forest headquarters at Queen’s House, Lyndhurst.

The 30 or so flag-waving Unite members included George Whitcher, a tree cutter who lives in the tiny village of Fritham.

He said: “My family has been here for generations. We’re the eyes and the ears of the Forest,” he said.

Yesterday’s protest will be followed up by a public rally at Lyndhurst next Saturday.