THE Fern Bonfire at Speech House Field on Saturday (November 6, 6pm) will be the setting for a massive protest in song to stop the proposed sale of Forestry Commission woodlands.

Anyone who attends the event, which begins at 6pm, is being invited to join in a resounding rendition of the Battle Hymn of the Dean – last sung when our woodlands were similarly threatened in 1993/94.

Penned by the late Lily Dunn, the rallying call will hopefully be backed (as in the last battle) by Forest of Dean Male Voice Choir members. Dave Harvey has agreed to be MC. It is believed television cameras will be present too.

The Hands Off Our Forest campaign is gathering momentum and a petition form is printed here. It will also be available online on our website.

The sell-off plans are remarkably similar to those introduced in 1993/4 which were bitterly ought over at the time before the then government abandoned the unpopular proposal.

For details of the last great fight, the sell off statement from Defra and Forest MP Mark Harper's reaction to the issue, see our feature.

•The Fern Bonfire, organised through the Fern Committee by Forest of Dean Lions and Severn Dean Lions Club, starts at 6pm (gates open 5pm) with the lighting of the bonfire. Fireworks follow at 7.30pm (more details inside this issue on page 34). Entry is £5 which goes to local charities (accompanied children of primary school age or younger free).