LLAMA-trek boss and Forest Councillor Alastair Fraser says he would like to see a charitable trust running the Forest of Dean heritage woodlands.

Mr Fraser says he first wants to organise a public meeting to put proposals on the table adding he has plenty of ideas for making such a project a success.

Included are ways of making the Forest pay for itself in an organisation of unpaid trustees who would oversee the work of the present Forestry Commission, whose staff and expertise could be retained. Also to be addressed is the manage­ment of sheep and wildlife, including boar.

He thinks there may be lessons in the way National Parks are run in America,

"There are many areas to create revenue. For example, until now the Forestry Commission has been the only body permitted to sell wood in the Forest. I know several people who would like to be able to collect fallen trees for firewood sales and would be willing to pay for the rights," he said.

"We could look at new areas – concerts at Beechenhurst, for example. I think it's all very exciting and now is the time to act.

"It's all worth looking at, at least – if nothing comes of it, then we can stick with what we've got."

Since the release of the consultation paper on the Government's proposals for the future of Forestry in England last week, a number of notables, mainly Conservative councillors, have given their support in letters to the Review for moving the Dean heritage woods into trust management.

Meanwhile campaigners who fear the eventual break-up and sale of the Forest are maintaining their campaign to reject the Coalition's proposals.

The HOOF (Hands Off Our Forest) campaign is saying it will study the consultation terms while waiting for the resolution of the Public Bodies Bill, seen as crucial.

If an amendment to remove the Forest of Dean from the proposals in the bill is successful, then much of the consultation will be ineffective.

Amid other moves the National Trust has also said it could be interested in working to help heritage forests retain public access rights. And it is rumoured in a national newspaper that the transfer of the Forest of Dean to the Woodland Trust has already been 'privately agreed'.