A Political Poem – (Part 1)

When it comes to selling off The Forest of Dean

How can a Government be so mean?

How many trees they'll eventually sell

No-body's saying and who can possibly tell?

The Forest is a national treasure

To be enjoyed by the people forever

Not sold off for what price they can get

To go towards paying off bankers' toxic debts.

They think 3000 people marching is rather a fuss

But it's so outrageous when you lose all your trust

The general public from mighty to small

Know the Forest is there for the benefit of all.

Forest folk you're no longer alone

Outsiders realise this is more than just your home

Generations of your people have lived out their lives here

'The Death-Knell' is tolling for a world you hold dear.

Gathering in solidarity you're doing your best

On mass you've been marching to file your protest

On Government paper it's easy to disguise

The sheer scale of this devastation we all recognise.

When planning out Forest plots to sell

Who's to say how many trees they're planning to fell

Once The Forest Of Dean has been sold

Who knows what's next to be left out in the cold?

Breath-taking views as far as the eye can see

Tourists travel miles to walk amongst the trees

A free beauty spot we're all entitled to acknowledge

Who knows what creatures we'll see on their daily forage?

So before the Forest is privatised and boundaries fenced

We stand together for common sense

In this fight the people have ancient rights

We're standing together to protect Forest sites.

Listen to the voices, look around and make other choices

We the people who've walked each Forest trail

Know what's at stake, in this battle we cannot fail.

We now band together for future generations sake

The Forest of Dean's not yours to take

United as one this mad scheme we shall derail

The Royal Forest of Dean is so Not For Sale.

– Janette Taylor, Gloucester.