TO all Hands Off Our Forest supporters, a huge thank-you!

The news from the Government response to the Forestry Panel Report is very encouraging. We have all come a great distance since we all stood on a snowy Speech House field two years ago.

Now the Government has committed:

•to keep the Public Forest Estate in public ownership

•to recognise the importance of our Forest culture to the economy

•to confirm that forests and woodlands will not be sold and to formally rescind the suspended sale of 15 per cent of the Public Forest Estate

•to engage stakeholders, communities, and those who speak up for our forests, in designing how they are run in the future

•to increase and improve public access to woodland, including private woodlands

•to increase tree cover and provide woodlands accessible to where people live.

Friends of HOOF come from an infinitely wide range of people who make up our Forest community; a community which understands our Forest and wishes to see it safe for future generations; a community that has the Forest at its heart.

The truth is simply this. Without the support of the people of the Forest of Dean, HOOF would not have been able to achieve what we have. It is fair to say that the Forest of Dean was the spark which rose to a flame that helped inspire people across our country to stand up for their forests.

I feel sure that should the situation arise when we need to stand together again, the people of the Forest will be there to answer the call to protect their Forest as they have always done.

On behalf of the HOOF steering group I would like to pass on a huge thank-you for your continued support. We could not have done it without you.

– Rich Daniels, chairman.