Private Forest Ownership equals Less Access

Robin Wood near Melbourne is a prime example of how access to woodland can easily be reduced by private owners. This wood is owned by the Church Commissioners (i.e. the Church of England) and managed by the Forestry Commission. For many years open access to the wood allowed mountain bikers and horse riders to roam over all of it. However just over a year ago, things changed and a sign appeared announcing that the lease had changed. Changed for the worse. Public access was now prohibited. Prohibited, despite the fact that a public bridleway runs through the middle of it.

After pressure, tatty A4 posters were produced to say that the bridleway and the footpath were not affected but all other access was not allowed. Those tatty posters have gone but the bridleway is still not properly way-marked. 

Of course the locals ignore the "No Public Access" sign and still ride their horses and mountain bikes over the site. A less generous private owner would no doubt fence the site off and allow narrow channels for the public rights of way as has happened at Rigg Wood in Cumbria. Make no mistake the privatisation of our forestry will disadvantage walkers, horse riders, orienteerers and mountain-bikers. If you belong to any of these groups make your voice heard before you lose your access.

Save Our Forests Campaign

I sent this letter to Lord Hunt of Kings Heath recently as part of the Ramblers campaign to keep access to rights of way through Forestry Commission land.

===

Dear Lord Hunt

I am a passionate walker and live in the midst of the National Forest, much of which is locally owned or managed by the Forestry Commission.

I am therefore writing in connection with the Public Bodies Bill that is currently in Committee in the
House of Lords. Whilst not all land accessed by the public must be publicly owned, it is vital that any sale of Forestry Commission land be carefully managed, with public access as a top priority.

I am very keen that community groups are able to take a more active involvement in their local woodland, but it is important that everyone’s ability to continue to access and enjoy British woodland is at the forefront of any sale agreement.

I would like you to ensure that five key criteria are included on the face of the Bill itself – to be met before any sale of Forestry Commission land is considered.

1) Public access is maintained and enhanced.
2) Public rights of way and access land are properly managed.
3) No sale or transfer is completed until the purchaser has committed to preserving and maintaining access.
4) Where access is currently not secured in law, this is remedied through CROW Act dedication.
5) The local community is consulted and given the opportunity to play a full and active part in woodland management, including first-refusal on purchase.

I would urge you to raise these concerns in debate, and ensure that the Public Bodies Bill will not damage the interests of walkers and other outdoor enthusiasts.

Best regards

Barry Thomas
Melbourne
cc:
Eva Hartson-Sanders
cc:
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon

Also look here:

38 Degrees | Save Our Forests

Robin Wood - Land Agents Smiths Gore Lichfield

I have written to the Land Agents who manage Robin Wood for the Church Commissioners asking them to explain why access has been restricted. The day to day management of the wood is handled by the Forestry Commission (West Midlands). I wrote to them over a week ago but no reply yet.

Robin Wood - some progress

The misleading sign above has been corrected by a notice pinned to the leg of the sign showing rights of way through the wood.

Unfortunately the notice is very difficult to read (I could barely make out the routes on the map - see below) and its attachment is rather flimsy.

I wonder why the owners (the Church Commissioners) have changed the access rules to the wood as until recently it was completely open access.

Link to previous post.

Robin Wood - Misleading Sign

I was very confused by this new sign whilst walking around the wood yesterday as a bridleway goes straight through the middle of the wood and a footpath along one side.

I have spoken to Alan Dowell of the Forestry Commission today who has agreed that the sign is confusing. He is going to add a new section to the sign pointing out that the ROWs are still open.

The Ingleby/Stanton Bridleway is to the right of the sign!