THE following is a copy of a letter to Mark Harper, MP.

'I am concerned that the Government is preparing to sell off many more of our forests whilst at the same time proclaiming its intention to halt the loss of bio-diversity by 2020. If this is the case then I believe that the Government either does not understand the relevant issues or it is being disingenuous. As I've mentioned to you before, a number of woods have been sold recently in this area with no regard for their wildlife. In fact it is likely that there was no proper inventory of the wildlife which they support.

One single example which would apply to the Forest of Dean is the Grizzled Skipper butterfly which we have here in the 'forest waste' near our home. My wife and I have been clearing scrub with the help of other volunteers to save a colony which currently survives in the Darkhill Ironworks. It has become isolated and has not been able to escape to other suitable habitat because of scrub encroachment. Last year we were pleased to spot it on one of the cleared areas. This butterfly used to be reasonably common in most counties. It has dwindled to a handful of colonies in Gloucestershire and some counties no longer have any.

This butterfly is only one small example and there are many, some very rare, creatures in a similar position.

How will the Government ensure that such colonies are not allowed to disappear from a forest or other land which is sold, especially if they are not even known about and documented?

How will the Government ensure that new habitat management work will be carried out on sold sites to create more suitable areas for such threatened species?

Under Forestry Commission management things are not always perfect but it is possible to get work done when man-power and budgets permit, especially with the help of an army of volunteers. If a forest is sold to a commercial enterprise, how are the resources going to be found to prevent loss of bio-diversity and who is going to ensure that this protection is enforced? For example, if woods are used for pheasant rearing and similar activities then any insects and other small creatures would disappear very quickly and probably for ever.

One other point I would like to mention is the possible misunderstanding of the unfortunate term 'Forest waste.' These areas of forest are often the ones where the greatest biological diversity exists. It is not the dense forests and plantations which support the variety of wildlife but the open sunny areas which have lain largely undisturbed. The forest waste around our home in the Dean has many heathland characteristics and flora and is home to four species of reptile, five amphibians, Grizzled Skipper, Dingy skipper and Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary butterflies, glow worms, clouded buff moth, unusual spiders, crickets and grasshoppers. Many of these are biodiversity action plan species. These areas are not that well catalogued so who knows what would be at risk if they were to be sold?

I am currently minded to sign the protest petition because I don't see what strategy the Government has to protect the wildlife in these areas which is better than that which we have now. I am hoping you can set my mind at rest but I don't believe you have addressed these points in your recent article in our Review paper. If the Government persists with this uncaring policy whilst at the same time claiming to conserve biodiversity then I regret that I will not be able to support either them nor you as my MP.'

– David Dewsbury, Lower Milkwall, Coleford.