MOST of us consider in a general sense the Forest of Dean to include all woodland, south of Ross on Wye and between the rivers Severn and Wye, including woodland at Tidenham (Poor's Allotments) and areas around Mailscot and High Meadow (between Berry Hill and the River Wye) along with other woodland currently being leased by the Forestry such as Huntsham Hill and Flaxley.

 The suggestion that the Forestry Commission owned bits of the Forest be put into 'Trust' may well protect the Statutory Forest Of Dean –recently black, white and green marks placed at sides of roads to show when passing in and out of the Statutory Forest of Dean – but leaves woodland outside of this area at risk of being sold to private interests.

If the Statutory Forest is protected from sale and put into Trust the problem then will then be that it will have to absorb many more visitors displaced from woodland sold off where access has been restricted.

Will this increased visitor pressure means even greater danger to the Forest we know and hold dear?

  The Statutory Forest is not enough.

– Frank Williams, Coleford.