Ramblers campaigners Anastasia French, right, and Angelah Sparg with saplings which were delivered to members of the Independent Panel on Forestry

Ramblers campaigners Anastasia French, right, and Angelah Sparg with saplings which were delivered to members of the Independent Panel on Forestry

Campaigners have presented trees bearing messages to members of the Government-appointed panel looking at the future of England’s forests.

Each member of the Independent Panel on Forestry received a sapling bearing notes from the thousands left by concerned visitors to woodland rallies and other events this month.

The beech saplings were delivered today by the Ramblers, whose outgoing chief executive Tom Franklin is himself a panel member.

Ramblers’ campaigns officer Anastasia French said: “The public have an affinity with our forests and woods which comes from a deep sense of cultural identity. Thousands of people turned out during our Walk in the Woods Week to celebrate the wonder of going for a walk in the woods.

“We’re urging the panel to listen carefully to these messages and let these saplings mark the beginning of a forestry future we can all enjoy.”

Ramblers campaigns officer Anastasia French hands a tree to forestry panel member and Ramblers chief executive Tom Franklin

Ramblers campaigns officer Anastasia French hands a tree to forestry panel member and Ramblers chief executive Tom Franklin

The campaigning charity is urging the coalition Government to retain the public forest estate and argues it is the largest single provider of outdoor recreational opportunities and provides some of the best examples of welcoming, well-managed public access in England.

The Ramblers are also calling for all woodland to be opened up to the public.

Messages on the saplings include a plea for a family still to be allowed to visit the woodland site where a mother’s ashes are scattered, and the following exhortation from an unnamed member of the public: “I grew up in an area where we couldn’t play in woods. Do not do it to my son!”

The panel, which was set up by Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman in the face of a huge public outcry at plans to sell off England’s public forest and woodland, is due to present its interim findings on the future of forestry in England in November.

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