As the government announces the formation of an independent panel of forestry experts as part of the planned review of forestry policy in England, the Woodland Trust says it is 'time for a hard look at the future of our forests'.

After the weekend of forest 'celebrations' organised by the Hands Off Our Forest HOOF Campaign (see feature), the Trust says it is "challenging both the panel and the government to a six point test for effectiveness and accountability."

The Trust, the largest 'woodland only' charity in the nation, owns more than 1,000 woods covering 20,000 hectares including woods at Brockweir, the Cadora Woods between Bigsweir and Redbrook and Beaulieu Wood and Priory Grove near Monmouth.

In a detailed statement the Trust says the following: "We welcome the opportunity to be part of the independent panel of experts charged with examining England's forestry policy in the light of the recent debate on public forest estate sales, and is pleased it has a broad remit which includes issues about which the Trust cares passionately.

"These include ancient woodland protection, restoration of planted ancient woodland sites, woodland creation as a means of delivering significant benefits to society, public access to forests, community woodland ownership and the future role of the Forestry Commission as both regulator and enabler, working to help all sectors increase woodland cover in the UK, which has one of the lowest levels in Europe.

"It is imperative however that the process of the panel's review is both robust and accountable, and that it delivers strong recommendations around these key issues, on which government then acts."

Sue Holden, Chief Executive of the Woodland Trust (who is on the panel) said: "If government is truly listening, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to advance the cause of woodland protection, expansion and restoration.

"Despite this being a nationally sensitive issue, the panel needs to be bold and must not be a talking shop. Its work has to be meaningful, so we are looking for strong recommendations for action from it, on which government will be held to account. There is an equally strong onus on both the panel to be effective and on the government to listen and implement. This is going to be a challenge."

The Trust is setting out six tests for the panel and for the government, as a measure of success:

• The panel should build on the numerous reviews on aspects of forestry policy undertaken over the past 10 years and not attempt to reinvent the wheel;

• The panel should be bold and decisive in its recommendations and set an agenda for change, not one based on the status quo;

• The panel should focus particularly its attention on the areas where public passions and concerns were raised during the recently abandoned public consultation, such as access and the protection and restoration of ancient woods;

• Government should provide an in-depth response to the panel's recommendations, indicating specifically which ones it will adopt and the reasons for those it rejects;

• Government should not use the panel as a reason to delay current commitments to action such as the Woodland Carbon Task Force;

• Other government departments such as DCLG must buy into the recommendations and Defra will need to be seen to be working to achieve this.

•The membership of the panel looking into the review of forestry policy in England has just been announced. The 12 members are: The Rt Rev James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool (chair); Shireen Chambers (Institute of Chartered Foresters executive director); Mike Clarke (RSPB chief executive); Tom Franklin (Ramblers Association chief executive); Stuart Goodall (ConFor chief executive); Stephanie Hilborne (Wildlife Trusts chief executive); Sue Holden (Woodland Trust chief executive); Alan Knight (Founder, Single Planet living ltd); Dame Fiona Reynolds (National Trust director general); Sir Harry Studholme (Forestry Commissioner); John Varley (estates director, Clinton Devon Estates); William Worsley (Country Land and Business Association president).

The terms of reference, agreed with the chair, can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/">www.defra.gov.uk/rural/ forestry/panel/

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Visit the Forest says MP

AFTER welcoming the appointment of an independent panel of experts to look into recommendations on forestry policy, MP Mark Harper has urged them to visit the Dean.

He said: "It is clear from the terms of reference that the panel will be expected to listen to views from around the country.  Bishop James, who will chair the panel, has confirmed that one of the panel's first tasks will be to meet with grassroots campaigners.

"I hope that the panel will visit the Forest of Dean as part of their evidence gathering process.  That will provide an opportunity for people in the Forest of Dean to feed their views into the panel's work.  I know that the Forest of Dean District Council has offered the use of its offices for the panel and I'm grateful to them for that offer."