FOREST of Dean commoners will finalise plans for the return of sheep to the area at a meeting to be held in Yorkley on Saturday.
The Commoners' Association will gather at the Nags Head (7.30pm) to put the finishing touches to an agreement to be signed with Forest Enterprise next month.
It is anticipated the sheep will begin to return in April.
"It is a very important meeting as we have a lot to consider such as hefting. We hope all commoners will attend," said Mr Henry Mills, of Blakeney.
The Association has been involved in detailed discussions with Forest Enterprise, the police and trading standards.
Meanwhile the pressure group Dean Forest Voice has called on the county council to instigate a "full and proper public investigation" into the factors leading to the culling of the freeroaming sheep.
Mr Mike Jones, of Redbrook, said the sheep were an important part of the Forest and would definitely return.
But, he said, it would take considerable time to re-introduce the sheep properly.
"Hefted sheep cannot be manufactured overnight and the interim period, while introduction takes place, will undoubtedly be a difficult time all round," he said.
Mr Jones said Dean Forest Voice wanted to know why no consideration was given to the entire loss of the strain and no effort was made to select and preserve at least a portion of the flock, and why a contingency plan worked out following the last epidemic in 1961 was not put in place.
"I think these are important issues that all interested Foresters are entitled to know," he said.