Author Petra Billings As I sit in my office at Woods Mill with raindrops racing down the window, I’m cheering myself up by reading our new report on the woodlands of the West Weald and thoughts of bluebells and birdsong. … Continue reading
Author Katie Riley There is growing coverage in the media these days about the benefits of exposure to nature for our health and that of our children. We know that time spent outdoors reduces stress and improves physical health and … Continue reading
Author Graeme Lyons You know a tree is going to be impressive when it has a name. This is the Idehurst Oak at The Mens and it’s one of the biggest we have on our nature reserves. I have seen … Continue reading
Author Tom Forward A youth group from the local Baptist Church contacted me about leading an overnighter following a bushcraft day at Buchan Country Park that they had enjoyed the year before. Here, they had learnt about shelter building, fire … Continue reading
Author Tony Whitbread The problem with the current debate about the public forest estate is that it started in the wrong place. Admittedly it did attract a great deal of public interest, but instead of asking “how can we dispose … Continue reading
Author Tony Whitbread The current round of forest sales may have been postponed and the consultation on a new proposal for the public forest estate after 2014 cancelled but the future of the Forestry Commission is still unsure. The Forestry … Continue reading
Author Tony Whitbread It is welcome news that the government has changed its mind over the dismantling of the Forestry Commission. It might be a little uncharitable to call this a u-turn; the proposal was only a proposal and it … Continue reading
Author Tony Whitbread I have had the chance to have a glance through the public consultation on “The future of the Public Forest Estate” since my last blog. We can now see some more details but concerns remain. I’ll just … Continue reading
Author Tony Whitbread A consultation has started about a proposal for the government to sell some or all of the land looked after by the Forestry Commission – the Public Forest Estate. http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/forests/20110127-forestry-consult-doc.pdf Governments (of whatever political colour) tend to … Continue reading
