AMID celebrations following the Government withdrawal of a controversial consultation on the future of English woodlands, there are stark warnings the battle to protect the Dean is not yet won.

The Forest's HOOF (Hands Off Our Forest) committee members and national bodies including the Woodlands Trust point out that ongoing Government plans may pose just as much danger.

Alan Robertson, who has been advising HOOF on Forest of Dean legislation, has written to Forest MP Mark Harper asking for reassurances on the Government plans to set up an expert panel to look into the future of England's public forests.

He wants the MP to ensure:

•That the panel's terms of reference will include an option to retain forests and woodlands in public ownership and under the management of the Forestry Commission;

•that in addition to representatives of key environmental and access organisations and the forestry industry there be included on the panel representatives from the Forestry Commission, such campaigning groups as HOOF and Friends of Sherwood Forest and verderers;

•that after the panel has reported, a White Paper and a Green Paper will be published to afford a proper, nationwide debate of the Government's proposals and the intended Bill;

•that the Bill be a Forestry Bill and that the Government's proposals be dealt with by way of primary legislation (as they were in 1981) and not by means of Henry VIII clauses.

He has also asked Mr Harper to confirm Secretary of State Caroline Spelman's statement that the planned 15 per cent sales (for which no legislative change was required) will be suspended pending the panel's report.

The Woodland Trust also claims planning reforms could slip under radar in aftermath of public forest debate and urges public to demand retention of protection clauses.

As part of its ongoing Save England's Ancient Forests campaign, the Woodland Trust is urging the public to use the last week of a pre-consultation period on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to demand Government retains a vital clause on ancient woodland protection.

The main public consultation period on the NPPF will be in the summer, but planning professionals, local authorities, community groups and members of the public have only until February 28, to shape the questions which will be in it.

Sue Holden, chief executive of the Woodland Trust, said: "We must not let public passion and support for our woods and forests die down, now that Public?Forest Estate ownership is no longer an issue.

"It is vital that people are aware of the importance of the ancient woodland protection provision in PPS9 – which could easily disappear under the reforms – and of the need to make the case now, not just for its retention but for its strengthening, in the new planning framework."

The Department for Communities and Local Government can be emailed through the Trust's website www. woodlandtrust.org.uk/

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