Forest Sell-Off: Protect our Cultural Heritage and Archaeology

There are now many reports on the issues surrounding the government sell-off our forests. The main issues seem to be the concerns of public access and maintaining biodiversity within a mono-culture plantation system. However, there does not seem to be the same level of concern about the amount of cultural heritage and archaeology contained within our ancient forests and woodlands.

The above topic seems, at present, to have been marginalised in the debate on the FC management of our ancient forests and woodland. I am just flagging this up as the position in England is that we have possibly the highest concentration in the world of unresearched or under researched woodland sites. I have been actively involved with the FC for a number of years working on the archaeology contained within Sherwood Forest. I am sure commercial forestry would not see the preservation or conservation of heritage sites within their woodland as high priority. Also, to think that any level of local authority is capable of becoming involved with woodland management in the current financial climate is a mistake. 

Local authorities here in Nottinghamshire are slashing staff and services and are not looking for new areas of responsibility. Local authorities would probably like to give away their parks and gardens as well because they have already sacked the rangers that managed them. The Woodland Trust has been looking for people to lease woodlands as they are not able to resource all the extended responsibilities, funding has been cut from the Community Forests and small woodlands have been chopped up to create 2 and 3 acre woodland gardens just to promote sales.

I am all for public involvement and social forestry but to expect the untrained and unsupported public to pick up the responsibilities of woodland management is unrealistic.