During January, ahead of the consultation process, various campaigns opposing the government plans to sell England’s state woodlands achieved widespread media coverage. Here is a sample:
31 January
The Daily Telegraph – MPs revolt, Commons debate Wednesday http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/8291358/Pressure-mounts-over-forest-sell-off.html
30 January
Sunday Telegraph - Higher level access http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/agriculture/forestry/8290822/Cyclists-and-riders-may-lose-access-to-woodland.html
The Observer - Monty Don on woodlands http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jan/30/monty-don-woodland-coppice-sustainable
Sunday Independent - http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/paul-vallely-stealing-the-common-off-the-goose-2198378.html
Mail on Sunday - Forestry as an investment http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/article-1351770/Investors-money-really-does-grow-trees.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Sunday Times – brief report of the debate in the news review section; full page article in the news section “The forest fightback” – National Trust and growing opposition; leader “We want tree huggers not tree muggers”; article by Ed Miliband “Selling England’s forests tears at our hearts of oak”; letter proposing a fund to buy all the land – 50,000 people each pay £10k.
29 January
The Times, 2 letters and an article: FC has an ecologist who looks after Thetford – how could the private sector do that?; Retired forester asks how you categorise woodlands that are on a continuum, or a complex blend; Article about Lake District heroes rally against forests sell-off.
28 January
The Guardian - Lord Clark http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jan/28/cameron-forests-protests-grizedale
BIKEmagic – higher level access http://www.bikemagic.com/news/campaigns-set-up-to-oppose-forest-sell-off/9706.html
Other:
CLA view http://www.farminguk.com/PopularNews/CLA-backs-forestry-privatisation-with-caution_19742.html
National Trust view: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gQ1mdXxPDFaopmmVwzG5u3nYZGwQ?docId=N0426871296271564269A
27 January:
Television/Radio:
- Stuart Goodall live Sky News interview, following item on Newsnight last night iplayer at 26.00 minutes.
- Guy Warren of Tilhill was on Breakfast TV.
- Tim Kirk did pieces for Hereford and Worcester radio and for Shropshire radio.
- BBC - Debate between minister Jim Paice, Lord Clarke, ex-Chairman of FC on Radio 4’s PM programme. It’s at 35 mins in: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00xpllw/PM_27_01_2011/
Newspapers:
- The Telegraph – very short report, Threatened woodland needs better protection, for PAWS says Woodland Trust.
Higher level access http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/agriculture/forestry/8290822/Cyclists-and-riders-may-lose-access-to-woodland.html
- The Daily Mail has a double-page spread on P ramorum and Acute Oak Decline (Chainsaw massacre).
- The Times - Short news piece ‘Fears for public woodland sell-off’, flagging up leases etc.
Secretary of State Caroline Spelman has ½ page in opinion page: I promise, I can see the wood for the trees – We are not selling off the New Forest. We are protecting access. Don’t believe all you read.
Beneath that is Matthew Parris (hon. fellow of ICF and regular Times columnist), Forest grumps – referring to misinformation. He suggests that the debate is populated by alarmists and vested interests and that all sides need to step back and recognise that some of the many public benefits may pull in different directions.
Also, one letter from Linda Whetstone (Commissioner in the ‘80s), supporting Matt Ridley’s opinion for selling.
- The Guardian - Lord Bragg, has given his support to the growing campaign to prevent the government sell-off http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jan/30/melvyn-bragg-lake-district-protests
- Daily Mirror – Woods sale plan ‘is just vandalism’. New Forest etc will be gated and public shut out.
- Daily Express has a page opposite the leaders, by Clive Aslet, editor of Country Life, Save our ancient forests – a proposal to sell off Britain’s forests has caused alarm but is preserving woodland always incompatible with commerce? Fairly balanced report (not 100% accurate), suggesting a different solution for different types of forest and perhaps the government should not own trees and run a business. Woodland Trust should vet any woodland before it is sold.
- The Independent, p26 small piece, Lib Dems threaten rebellion over forests sale; a few bits about what Caroline Spelman is (was) going to say.
Letter asking for conditions to protect wildlife in any sales, from League Against Cruel Sports, RSPCA, Care for the Wild, Mammal Society and other charities.
Letter saying that in Ireland, Chinese and Swiss have shown interest in buying Coillte – that’s what would happen here. From Celt Centre for Environmental Living and Training.
Letter from Edinburgh – the £100m proceeds equals the monthly subsidy to windfarms. Keep our forests and cut the windfarms.
- Financial Times –can’t see anything on their website.
- The Sun – nothing.
- Daily Star – no mention.
Other:
- UK News - Includes quote from fountains http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20110127/tuk-uk-britain-forests-fa6b408.html
- Press Association – Rally in the Lake District http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5iFCGtKN4rMqt8tTILzUnyr-uek6g?docId=N0437461296345998559A
25 January:
The Guardian – The state has no business being a lumberjack.
Outdoors – Protest rally at Grizedale
24 January:
C4 – a ‘romantic’ view of forestry
The Times – two items
News item: Charities will be given priority over cash in woodland sales, government amending policy after being "stung" by the level of criticism - the consultation announcement to be on Thursday.
Matt Ridley (occasional columnist) said selling off FC would be good. He describes it as officious, an anachronism and inefficient.
The Daily Telegraph – Protection for ancient woodland
23 January:
BBC– TV news coverage
10:47 in
22 January:
BBC Radio – Today programme interviews Chair of Westminster Rural Affairs committee
1:34:00 in
Earlier January coverage:
The Observer editorial on 16th January with link to comment by Andy Wightman: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jan/16/forests
The Sunday Times also had a piece about recent FCE sales, with examples of what has happened to public access in some of those.
The Times, in the middle of January, has had letters from Barbara Bloom (ex Commissioner) and David Foot (ex FC), among others on the need to retain FCE.
Note: The Times/Sunday Times are subscription online titles.
The Guardian speculates on FCE sales, this time about tax - 13th January: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jan/13/english-forests-lost-tax-revenues
Local paper on the New Forest - 13th January: http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8786793.___Save_New_Forest_from_budget_deficit_sell_off___/
Comment in The Independent 7th January: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-for-sale--camerons-green-credentials-2177929.html
The Guardian letters on 6th January, included a response from Jim Paice: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jan/06/forestry-commission-sale-protests
The Guardian commented on 5th January that the Minister was responding to: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jan/05/forestry-commission-sale-protest-laura-barton
The Guardian 3rd January on Forest of Dean rally: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jan/03/forest-of-dean-protesters-woodland
BBC coverage of Forest of Dean rally: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/gloucestershire/hi/front_page/newsid_9336000/9336394.stm
Example of online content: http://theenergycollective.com/vickyportwain/49242/government-sell-english-forests-quick-buck
No comments:
Post a Comment