AFTER the success of its rally on January 3 which hit national headlines from the Guardian to Private Eye, the Hands off Our Forest campaign is preparing to do battle for the long run.

Meeting on Monday (January 10) the alliance of groups across the Dean stressed the continued need to be a 'broad church' with no political allegiance and was pleased to note that three Conservative district councillors came to the rally.

HOOF, chaired by Richard Daniels was also pleased to say it is at the forefront of Forest campaigns in the UK and has been approached by groups from as far afield as Liverpool and Devon asking how to start and bolster a campaign.

In the short term (over the next few weeks) the campaign will focus on small acts of peaceful, non-disruptive protest and hopes to bring on board cyclists, riders dog sled racers and ramblers who all use and enjoy the Forest.

In the longer term the group aims a second high profile and mass rally in the Forest at a date to be confirmed.

It is rumoured that public consultation on the coalition government's white paper (outlining its intended policies in relation to the public forest estate in England) will begin towards the end of this month (perhaps January 21 but potentially later).

But, HOOF's legal expert Alan Robertson, stressed the importance of keeping a focus on the Public Bodies Bill.

He said: "This is not just a single argument. The Public Bodies Bill is attacking many things. The Forest of Dean is unique. If we don't treat it as unique we will sink with all the other forests in England. The Bill gives the power. Whatever the white paper says it is mainly a policy document they'll be adopting for the time being.

"It is the bill that has to be attacked. I can't stress that enough."

•Forest MP, Mark Harper, has been asked to explain the Public Bodies Bill and how it would affect the Forest of Dean to a district council scrutiny committee.

Councillor Len Lawton, chairman of the Forest of Dean District Council's Corporate Scrutiny and Review Committee said: "I have looked with interest at what's been happening in the Forest and think this meeting would be hugely useful. I'm taking the implied threats very seriously and feel that we must be seen as part of the consultation on this.

"We have received many emails on this issue from local people and believe this meeting with Mark is very important."

•Our sister paper, the Forester, is launching a competition with best selling crime author, Andrew Taylor from Coleford, inviting everyone to say in 100 words why the Forest is so special to them. And a children's art competition is planned with Coleford based illustrator and children's author, Shoo Rayner.

•A deputation of councillors led by Cllr Andrew Gardiner will be addressing the Lords next Monday (January 17) urging amendments to clauses 17-19 of the Public Bodies Bill. Speaking for the deputation will be Cllr Bruce Hogan (Labour) and former solicitor, Alan Robertson. In the deputation will be Forest of Dean District Council leader, Peter Amos (Conservative), representatives of this paper and The Forester and Lord Bledisloe of Lydney Park Estate.

•MP Mark Harper's postbag may well be full, but it is likely to be full to overflowing after student from Lakers School took to letter writing. In total nearly half the school, 344 out of around 700 students sent individual letters to the MP enquiring about the reported sell-off of the Forest.

•Media interest has been growing since the rally, with articles in the Guardian and Independent. BBC Countryfile is planning to film on January 17 and 18 and Newsnight is reportedly keeping a watching brief.