Post by joe on Feb 7, 2011 11:45:04 GMT
visitwoods.org.uk from the woodland trust is a web site all about visiting woods in your area or what ever area you choose to visit. select an area to visit from the area map learn about what's in your wood that you may not have known about, plants and animals
Learn about things to do, walking running, bird watching, Photography.
There's an interest article on the sell off of woods on the site too....
What the public forest consultation means for wood visitors
You will no doubt have heard in the news that the some of the woods and forests in the Public Forest Estate, currently managed by the Forestry Commission, may be sold. The Forestry Commission has already begun the process of selling around 15% of their land as a result of the 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review.
Defra (the government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) is now proposing a new approach to the ownership and management of all remaining publicly owned woodlands and forests, with a reduced role for the state and a growing role for the private sector and civil society. Defra will be in consultation to decide on the future of the Public Forest Estate until 21 April 2011.
90% of the Forestry Commission’s estate is currently protected by the Countryside Rights of Way Act (CROW) 2000, allowing visitors to access the land. If land is sold, the CROW Act is only able to guarantee ongoing access by foot. The Forestry Commission estate also provides facilities for leisure activities that many other landowners are unable to, such as mountain biking and horse riding. It will be entirely up to a new landowner if they wish to maintain access for these other activities. Current proposals put forward by the Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman would see provisions put in place to help protect current levels of access.
VisitWoods will continue to promote visits to all Forestry Commission sites open to the public. Where woods are sold, we will promote them for as long as the landowner is allowing access. We will endeavour to keep our database of publicly accessible woods up to date so that you are still able to find those woods which you are able to visit.
Learn about things to do, walking running, bird watching, Photography.
There's an interest article on the sell off of woods on the site too....
What the public forest consultation means for wood visitors
You will no doubt have heard in the news that the some of the woods and forests in the Public Forest Estate, currently managed by the Forestry Commission, may be sold. The Forestry Commission has already begun the process of selling around 15% of their land as a result of the 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review.
Defra (the government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) is now proposing a new approach to the ownership and management of all remaining publicly owned woodlands and forests, with a reduced role for the state and a growing role for the private sector and civil society. Defra will be in consultation to decide on the future of the Public Forest Estate until 21 April 2011.
90% of the Forestry Commission’s estate is currently protected by the Countryside Rights of Way Act (CROW) 2000, allowing visitors to access the land. If land is sold, the CROW Act is only able to guarantee ongoing access by foot. The Forestry Commission estate also provides facilities for leisure activities that many other landowners are unable to, such as mountain biking and horse riding. It will be entirely up to a new landowner if they wish to maintain access for these other activities. Current proposals put forward by the Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman would see provisions put in place to help protect current levels of access.
VisitWoods will continue to promote visits to all Forestry Commission sites open to the public. Where woods are sold, we will promote them for as long as the landowner is allowing access. We will endeavour to keep our database of publicly accessible woods up to date so that you are still able to find those woods which you are able to visit.