Hands off our Forest
Encyclopedia
Hands off our Forest is a campaign group formed in 2010 to fight the UK Government's
proposed sale of publicly owned land in the Forest of Dean
. 'Hands off our Forest' describe themselves as a broad alliance of groups and individuals.
, Government and private landowners. The Dean Forest Timber Act (1808) resulted in large areas of the Forest being enclosed, depriving commoners of their customary privileges, and led directly to the Dean Forest Riots of 1831.
In 1981, Parliament passed the Forestry Act (1981), amending an earlier act of 1967 to allow the sale of land managed by the Forestry Commission
. Following a sustained campaign, the Forest of Dean was specifically exempted from the act. The Public Bodies Bill, introduced to Parliament
in October 2010, proposed to amend the Forestry Act 1967, potentially repealing the Forest of Dean exemption.
The reports were confirmed in late October, when the Minister for Agriculture and Food, James Paice
MP
, wrote to MPs to explain the Government's reasons for including powers to modernise forestry legislation in the Public Bodies Bill, which had recently been introduced to Parliament. His letter confirmed the Government was "exploring new ownership" options for forestry land currently managed by the Forestry Commission; which include large areas of the Forest of Dean.
, 'the news [was] met with near-universal disgust and shock'. The same newspaper also quoted Caroline Lucas
MP, leader of the Green Party
, as saying it was an "unforgivable act of environmental vandalism". An online petition opposing the sale, titled Save Our Forests has so far received more than 500,000 signatories.
for the Forest of Dean
, Mark Harper
, defended the proposals, describing them as an 'exciting opportunity for community ownership'. He also said James Paice's letter assured him everything the public holds dear about the Forest of Dean would be protected under any new ownership. However, the proposals were widely criticised by residents within his constituency, by the local press and by politicians with connections to the Forest of Dean, most notably Baroness Royall, Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords. She described Mark Harper as 'fundamentally wrong' and his views on the subject as 'utter nonsense'. Concern within the local community resulted in a number of Forest of Dean organisations joining to form an alliance, adopting 'Hands off our Forest' (HOOF) as its name.
This was claimed as a victory by some campaigners, although HOOF rejected the handover plan, deciding to stick to its aim of gaining an exemption for the Forest of Dean from the Public Bodies Bill; thus ensuring it stayed in public ownership and protected from any future sale or transfer.
Having waited for the consultation document to be published, Mark Harper held a public meeting in Coleford, on 4 February. Despite being given only 2 days notice, 400 people turned up, but the venue chosen could only accommodate around 150 and the rest had to stay outside.
, Caroline Spelman
, told MPs the government had "got this one wrong". She announced the consultation process had been halted and that the Government would remove the forestry clauses from the Public Bodies Bill. An independent panel would also be set up to consult on the issue of the future direction of forestry and woodland, and will report to the government in the autumn of 2011.. However, HOOF pledged to fight on until it had confirmation the Government had abandoned its privatisation policy, and called for representation on the panel. The group also said it would campaign against cuts within the Forestry Commission and woodland within the Forest of Dean not protected in the 1981 Act.
. The rally poster, by Helen Sandford, was also an historic and notable work of art. Filmmaker Woodrow "Woody" Morris was one of several people who made their own short films of the rally and several filmmakers are (as of March 2011) in the process of making films inspired by the campaign, including Mike Thomas, who chronicled many events including Mark Harper's February 2011 public meeting.
The protest singer, Billy Bragg
, gave permission for his British adaptation of Woody Guthrie
's This Land Is Your Land
to be used in the campaign, and is included on a HOOF benefit CD called HANDS OFF, which also features new protest songs directly inspired by the campaign by musicians who performed at the January 3 rally. HOOF's website is building an online exhibition of photographs and accounts of the campaign. In addition, Tom Cousins has voluntarily painted a range of large wall murals on the gable ends of Forest of Dean residents' homes and offices.
Government of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Government is the central government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Government is led by the Prime Minister, who selects all the remaining Ministers...
proposed sale of publicly owned land in the Forest of Dean
Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the county of Gloucestershire, England. The forest is a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and north, the River Severn to the south, and the City of Gloucester to the east.The...
. 'Hands off our Forest' describe themselves as a broad alliance of groups and individuals.
Historical context
The Forest of Dean has a long history of struggle between commoners and the CrownThe Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
, Government and private landowners. The Dean Forest Timber Act (1808) resulted in large areas of the Forest being enclosed, depriving commoners of their customary privileges, and led directly to the Dean Forest Riots of 1831.
In 1981, Parliament passed the Forestry Act (1981), amending an earlier act of 1967 to allow the sale of land managed by the Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
. Following a sustained campaign, the Forest of Dean was specifically exempted from the act. The Public Bodies Bill, introduced to Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
in October 2010, proposed to amend the Forestry Act 1967, potentially repealing the Forest of Dean exemption.
Background to the HOOF campaign
Towards the end of October, 2010, newspaper reports emerged, claiming that the Government was planning to sell off public forests in England. Following discussions with Dean Forest Voice, Baroness Royall and other individuals, Forest of Dean newspaper, The Forester, responded by announcing the formation of a 'Hands off our Forest' campaign.The reports were confirmed in late October, when the Minister for Agriculture and Food, James Paice
James Paice
James Edward Thornton "Jim" Paice MP is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He is the Member of Parliament for South East Cambridgeshire, and was first elected in the 1987 general election...
MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, wrote to MPs to explain the Government's reasons for including powers to modernise forestry legislation in the Public Bodies Bill, which had recently been introduced to Parliament. His letter confirmed the Government was "exploring new ownership" options for forestry land currently managed by the Forestry Commission; which include large areas of the Forest of Dean.
National reaction
According to The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, 'the news [was] met with near-universal disgust and shock'. The same newspaper also quoted Caroline Lucas
Caroline Lucas
Caroline Patricia Lucas is a British politician. Lucas is the leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, and the Green Party's first and only Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom...
MP, leader of the Green Party
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
, as saying it was an "unforgivable act of environmental vandalism". An online petition opposing the sale, titled Save Our Forests has so far received more than 500,000 signatories.
Local reaction
The member of ParliamentMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the Forest of Dean
Forest of Dean (UK Parliament constituency)
-Elections in the 2000s:- See also :* List of Parliamentary constituencies in Gloucestershire...
, Mark Harper
Mark Harper
Mark James Harper British politician and self-employed accountant . He is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Forest of Dean and is currently the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Cabinet Office, with ministerial responsibility for Political and Constitutional Reform.-Early life...
, defended the proposals, describing them as an 'exciting opportunity for community ownership'. He also said James Paice's letter assured him everything the public holds dear about the Forest of Dean would be protected under any new ownership. However, the proposals were widely criticised by residents within his constituency, by the local press and by politicians with connections to the Forest of Dean, most notably Baroness Royall, Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords. She described Mark Harper as 'fundamentally wrong' and his views on the subject as 'utter nonsense'. Concern within the local community resulted in a number of Forest of Dean organisations joining to form an alliance, adopting 'Hands off our Forest' (HOOF) as its name.
Aims and strategy
HOOF's website describes its aim as being 'to keep the Forest [of Dean] as it is – publicly owned and publicly run by the Forestry Commission' and its strategy as being 'that government should respect the 1981 Act regarding the Forest of Dean and give it, and the other Heritage Forests, full protection from disposal'.Public consultation
On 27 January, 2011, the Government published a consultation document. Despite the Public Bodies Bill having been in the House of Lords for three months, this made it clear for the first time that the Government was not planning, or no longer planned, to sell the majority of the Forest of Dean and instead planned to "transfer the ownership or management of the large heritage sites on the public forest estate to a charity or charities, via a trust arrangement or lease.........at no cost to the new owner".This was claimed as a victory by some campaigners, although HOOF rejected the handover plan, deciding to stick to its aim of gaining an exemption for the Forest of Dean from the Public Bodies Bill; thus ensuring it stayed in public ownership and protected from any future sale or transfer.
Having waited for the consultation document to be published, Mark Harper held a public meeting in Coleford, on 4 February. Despite being given only 2 days notice, 400 people turned up, but the venue chosen could only accommodate around 150 and the rest had to stay outside.
Campaign victory
The campaign celebrated a partial victory on 17 February 2011 when, speaking in the House of Commons, the Secretary of State for the EnvironmentSecretary of State for the Environment
The Secretary of State for the Environment was a UK cabinet position, responsible for the Department of the Environment . This was created by Edward Heath as a combination of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Public Building and Works on 15...
, Caroline Spelman
Caroline Spelman
Caroline Alice Spelman is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom who has served as the Member of Parliament for Meriden in the West Midlands since 1997...
, told MPs the government had "got this one wrong". She announced the consultation process had been halted and that the Government would remove the forestry clauses from the Public Bodies Bill. An independent panel would also be set up to consult on the issue of the future direction of forestry and woodland, and will report to the government in the autumn of 2011.. However, HOOF pledged to fight on until it had confirmation the Government had abandoned its privatisation policy, and called for representation on the panel. The group also said it would campaign against cuts within the Forestry Commission and woodland within the Forest of Dean not protected in the 1981 Act.
Timeline of events
- 23–24 October 2010. National newspapers report that the Government is planning to sell off public forests.
- 28 October. Forest of Dean weekly newspaper, The Forester, launches a 'Hands off our Forest' campaign.
On the same day, the Public Bodies Bill is introduced to The House of Lords by Lord Taylor of HolbeachJohn Taylor, Baron Taylor of HolbeachJohn Derek Taylor, Baron Taylor of Holbeach, CBE is a British Conservative politician and current junior minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.-Biography:...
. - 31 October. The Minister for Agriculture and Food, James PaiceJames PaiceJames Edward Thornton "Jim" Paice MP is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He is the Member of Parliament for South East Cambridgeshire, and was first elected in the 1987 general election...
MPMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, writes to MPs, confirming that the Government is "exploring new ownership" options for publicly owned forests in England. - 1 November. Dean Forest Voice co-ordinates the formation of a steering group.
- 6 November. With HOOF still not solidly formed, Forest of Dean poet and freeminerFreeminerFreeminer is an ancient title given to a coal or iron miners in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England, who have earned the right to mine personal plots, known as gales.-History of Freemining:...
Dave Harvey arranges a preliminary rally at the Speech House. A group of about 50 people gather in a marquee. - 9 November. The Public Bodies Bill receives its second reading in the House of Lords. It includes a clauses which could enable the Secretary of StateSecretary of StateSecretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
to amend the Forestry Act 1967 and order the disposal of Forestry Commission land in England. - 10 November. Hands off our Forest (HOOF) is officially adopted as the campaign name by the inaugural meeting of an alliance of several pre-existing local organisations, including 'Dean Forest Voice', 'Friends of the Forest', the Forest of Dean Local History Society, forestry trade unions, Play Gloucestershire, The Forest & Wye Valley Review, the Forester newspaper, Freeminers’ and Commoners’ associations. A committee is elected.
- Throughout November and early December, HOOF campaigns at events around the Forest of Dean, distributes "Forest of Dean - not for sale" boards, coordinates letter-writing campaigns and organises a petition, which gains 5,000 signatures within its first month.
Mark Harper MP announces in early December that he will meet with protesters in January 2011, when the Government is due to publish a white paper on forestry and canvasses constituents in CoalwayCoalwayCoalway is a village in the West Forest of Dean region of Gloucestershire, England, approximately one mile south-east of the town of Coleford.-External links:...
, asking their opinions on "an opportunity to own our Forest". - 23 November. The Public Bodies Bill reaches Committee stage.
- 24 November. Minister James Paice concedes to a House of Lords EU Select Committee's forestry inquiry that, under EU rules, forests could be sold to foreign interests and that, while he does not want forests to be woodchipped by biofuel companies, he could offer no guarantees they wouldn't be.
- 9 December. The Forest of Dean District Council agrees to back the HOOF campaign and to send a delegation to Parliament to put pressure on the Prime Minister, MPs and Lords against any sell-off.
- 10 December. About 500 people attend a public meeting, organised by Cinderford Town Council and backed by HOOF, held at the Miners Welfare Hall in Cinderford, to hear passionate speeches from Baroness Royall, Richard Daniels (HOOF chairman) and members of the audience. The Government's forest privatisation clause in the Public Bodies Bill was condemned but Baroness Royall stated her belief that it was unlikely the clause could be overturned. Efforts would therefore concentrate on achieving an exemption for the Forest of Dean, on the grounds that it was different to other forests in that, for historical reasons, it had very few actual rights of way but instead had customary privileges making it much more vulnerable to having the footpaths and bridleways closed.
- 15 December. HOOF members join a national rally outside the Houses of Parliament, organised by national campaign group Save Our Forests and the Public and Commercial Services UnionPublic and Commercial Services UnionThe Public and Commercial Services Union is the sixth largest trade union in the United Kingdom. Most of its members work in government departments and other public bodies although some work for private companies.- Membership and organisation :...
. - 16 December. It is reported that HOOF has backing from ColefordColefordColeford may refer to a number of settlements in England:* Coleford, Devon* Coleford, Gloucestershire* Coleford, Somerset...
and CinderfordCinderfordCinderford is a small town on the eastern fringe of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England. A population of 8,116 people is recorded in the 2001 census....
Town Councils and DrybrookDrybrookDrybrook is a village and civil parish in the Forest of Dean in west Gloucestershire, England.- Location :It lies near the middle of the Royal Forest, about three miles from Cinderford, and about two miles from Mitcheldean.- Population:...
Parish Council, while LydneyLydneyLydney is a small town and civil parish in the English county of Gloucestershire. It is located on the west bank of the River Severn, close to the Forest of Dean. The town lies on the A48 road, next to the Lydney Park gardens with its Roman temple in honour of Nodens.-Transport:The Severn Railway...
Town Council and West Dean Parish Council voted unanimously to express their objection to any sale. Actor Richard WilsonRichard WilsonIan Colquhoun Wilson OBE better known as Richard Wilson, is a Scottish actor, theatre director and broadcaster, best known for playing Victor Meldrew in the popular BBC sitcom One Foot in the Grave. He currently appears in the BBC drama Merlin.- Life and career :Wilson was born in Greenock, Scotland...
, the Bishop of GloucesterBishop of GloucesterThe Bishop of Gloucester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Gloucester in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the County of Gloucestershire and part of the County of Worcestershire and has its see in the City of Gloucester where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church...
, the Bishop of GuildfordBishop of GuildfordThe Bishop of Guildford is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Guildford in the Province of Canterbury.The title was first created as a suffragan see in the Diocese of Winchester in 1874. The suffragan bishop of Guildford assisted the Bishop of Winchester in overseeing the diocese...
, Baroness Fritchie and former Chancellor of the ExchequerChancellor of the ExchequerThe Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
Denis HealeyDenis HealeyDenis Winston Healey, Baron Healey CH, MBE, PC is a British Labour politician, who served as Secretary of State for Defence from 1964 to 1970 and Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1974 to 1979.-Early life:...
, whose wife Edna HealeyEdna HealeyEdna May Healey, Baroness Healey , née Edmunds, was a British writer, lecturer and filmmaker.-Life and career:...
was from Coleford, all endorse the HOOF campaign. - 20 December. Environmentalist Jonathon PorrittJonathon PorrittJonathon Espie Porritt, CBE, is an English environmentalist and writer. Porritt appears frequently in the media, writing in magazines, newspapers and books, and appearing on radio and television regularly.-Early life and family background:...
backs the HOOF campaign in his blog. - 23 December. More campaign endorsements are reported, including author Bill BrysonBill BrysonWilliam McGuire "Bill" Bryson, OBE, is a best-selling American author of humorous books on travel, as well as books on the English language and on science. Born an American, he was a resident of Britain for most of his adult life before moving back to the US in 1995...
, Lydbrook Parish Council, Forest in Transition (part of the Transition TownsTransition TownsTransition Towns is a grassroots network of communities that are working to build resilience in response to peak oil, climate destruction, and economic instability...
movement), children's author Shoo Rayner. and the Bishop of Gloucester. - 3 January 2011. 3000 people attend a HOOF rally at Speech House Meadow, including a procession through the Cyril Hart Arboretum led by the Forest of Dean Brass Band. Speeches are heard from Jonathon Porritt, Baroness Jan Royall, The Bishop of Guildford and others.
- 17 January. A deputation organised by Forest of Dean District Council meet Lords at Westminster.
- 23 January. Over 120 cyclists attend a HOOF cycle rally at Cannop Cycle CentreCannop Cycle CentreCannop Cycle Centre is a small woodland cycling centre, comprising mountain bike trails, visitor centre and bike shop. It is located on the site of a former colliery in the Cannop Valley, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. The nearest village is Parkend, away...
. - 27 January. The Government published its consultation document. See the Public consultation section.
- 31 January. HOOF steering group unanimously decide to reject the handover plan and stick with its aim of gaining an exemption from the Public Bodies Bill.
- 4 February. Mark Harper holds a public meeting to discuss the proposals. See the Public consultation section.
- 11 February. The Government announces it has put the sale of 15% of the public forest estate (which it planned to sell to the highest bidder as part of its comprehensive spending review) on hold while it looks at strengthening access and biodiversity protection for the woodlands. Some of those earmarked for sale before 2014 are within the Forest of Dean, but outside the legally protected area of forest.
- 17 February. The Government announces plans to transfer state-owned forests to the private sector have been abandoned. See the Campaign victory section.
- 19 February. Baroness Jan Royall ceremoniously removes a sign and yellow ribbon from an oak, but warns "this is not necessarily the end" of the battle.
- 26 February. HOOF hosts a summit of local and national public forest campaign groups in the Forest of Dean. As a result, the Forest Campaigns Network is formed to fight the next stage of the battle with local and national groups in a united front against taking any of the public forest estate out of public hands.
- 20 March. HOOF plans events, such as cycling and barbecue, as part of a national Celebrate Our Forests day, co-ordinated by the FCN and 38 Degrees. People taking part will be encouraged to wear something yellow or to display a yellow ribbon.
Related art, film and music
The campaign inspired a wide range of artwork, including creative banners, newspaper cartoons and children's artwork - some instigated by local schools. A protest artwork by Doug Eaton filled the window of The Gallery in Cinderford. The fire sculpture Big BENt (a wooden effigy of Big Ben by Phil Bews) became a national icon after being burnt at the January 3 HOOF rally and featured in The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
. The rally poster, by Helen Sandford, was also an historic and notable work of art. Filmmaker Woodrow "Woody" Morris was one of several people who made their own short films of the rally and several filmmakers are (as of March 2011) in the process of making films inspired by the campaign, including Mike Thomas, who chronicled many events including Mark Harper's February 2011 public meeting.
The protest singer, Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
, gave permission for his British adaptation of Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie
Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his...
's This Land Is Your Land
This Land Is Your Land
"This Land Is Your Land" is one of the United States' most famous folk songs. Its lyrics were written by Woody Guthrie in 1940 based on an existing melody, in response to Irving Berlin's "God Bless America", which Guthrie considered unrealistic and complacent. Tired of hearing Kate Smith sing it on...
to be used in the campaign, and is included on a HOOF benefit CD called HANDS OFF, which also features new protest songs directly inspired by the campaign by musicians who performed at the January 3 rally. HOOF's website is building an online exhibition of photographs and accounts of the campaign. In addition, Tom Cousins has voluntarily painted a range of large wall murals on the gable ends of Forest of Dean residents' homes and offices.
See also
- The Forestry CommissionForestry CommissionThe Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
- Mark Harper MP (Forest of Dean)Mark HarperMark James Harper British politician and self-employed accountant . He is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Forest of Dean and is currently the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Cabinet Office, with ministerial responsibility for Political and Constitutional Reform.-Early life...
External links
- Hands off our Forest, information page
- Forests on the Front Line, article by Jonathon Porritt
- Hands off our Forest of Dean, Facebook page
- Save Our Forests website
- Passage of the Public Bodies Bill
- A guide to the passage of a Bill