THE SPEECH House was the venue for muted revels last Saturday evening by the HOOF group, as they came together to celebrate the victory over the Government plans to sell off the public forests.

Musicians and entertainers who had helped with the campaign, which resulted in a massive U-turn by the coalition government, returned to sing the songs and recite the poetry that was written in favour of their cause.

Speeches from a panel of four major players in the campaign encouraged the HOOF group to celebrate their victory – but with warnings that they should be 'ever watchful' of the situation – and that the celebrations of their success should be tempered by a readyness to call-to-arms should the situation regarding ownership of Britain's woodlands change again.

HOOF Chairman Rich Daniels, Baroness Jan Royall of Blaisdon and Forestry Commissioner Sir Harry Studholme were joined on the presentation panel by a suprise guest – leading environmental campaign­er Jonathon Porritt, former head of Friends of the Earth. All gave short speeches, and each one praised the 'dogged determination' of the people of the Forest of Dean to keep not just the local forest, but all the public British woodland, safe from being sold off to private developers and land speculators.

A concert followed, with Cinderford's Triangle FM providing the sound system for performances by Bob Smith, Forest of Dean Brass, Asha Faria-Vare, Max, Gorg N Zola, Keith Morgan, Muddy Summers, Cosmo, Mike Edwards and Folklaw.