A lovely half day in the Pistern Hills

A beautiful sunny day to revisit a path not used for many years. I took the Arriva 61 bus to Ticknall Top Farm and ambled along Staunton Lane to the footpath beyond White Hollows Farm. The path climbs through a tiny wood, past Heath Farm to the top of the Pistern Hills. Not high but great views back to Ticknall and Calke. Also an ideal spot for eating your lunch. Not a soul on the whole walk. From there I made my way around the top of Smisby and on to Hartshorne. The valley between these two villages is one of the hidden gems of South Derbyshire. In Hartshorne I caught the bus back to Melbourne. A perfect half day's walk.

Save Our Forests: Countryside Alliance - Deafening Silence

Quote from the Countryside Alliance's website:

"The Countryside Alliance works for everyone who loves the countryside and the rural way of life. Our aim is to protect and promote life in the countryside and to help it thrive. With the highest membership levels since 2006, we are the only organisation working across such a broad range of issues."

Despite this manifesto I can't find anything about their attitude to the forest sell off plans and so called consultation. Lot's on their website about hunting and shooting but nothing about the preservation of what's left of our public forests. Their declaration that they work "for everyone who loves the countryside" seems very hollow indeed!

Addendum
I have now found an article on their website. Unfortunately it seems to have been written by DEFRA.

Reform of Public Forestry Estate

Save Our Forests: Alice Holt Protest

Excellent video from the protest meeting yesterday at Alice Holt Forest, Surrey.

Save Our Forests: Cameron Confused at PMQs

New Forest Hampshire

From today's Guardian, more misinformation from the Government:

Here is a statement. "The idea that all Forestry Commission forests are open to the public and do not charge is simply not true," said the prime minister. "Many forests, such as the New Forest, are not owned by the Forestry Commission and have much better access, no parking charges and very good records on habitat. While we are having this consultation, we should bust some of the myths that have been put around about this idea."

And here, by way of contrast, is another statement. "In 1924 the management of the New Forest passed to the Forestry Commission under the Forestry (Transfer of Woods) Act, 1923 and became vested in the Minister of Agriculture rather than the Sovereign."

Someone made a fool of themselves in the Commons this week, we think. We think it was Dave.

Hugh Muir - Guardian 11 02 2011

The BBC clip is here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12405934

Save our Forests - Breaking: Tory Party Unveils New Logo!

Save Our Forests: Jonathon Porritt is on the Nail!

Why have the environmental NGOs been so slow to counter the Forestry Sale proposals in the Public Bodies Bill?

Jonathon Porritt discusses this issue on his blog and more besides. Stimulating reading.

Here: http://www.jonathonporritt.com/pages/

Save Our Forests: Open Spaces Society response

Robin Wood sunset February 2011

The Open Spaces Society has published a set of safeguards for the public forest estate in England which will ensure open access to the forests which might be sold off. Of course I would prefer nothing to be sold off and the whole proposals (clauses 17 to 19) to be dropped from the Public Bodies Bill.

They have written to MPs urging them to advocate these safeguards in the debate.

All these safeguards must be satisfied before the sale of Forestry Commission woods and forests happen.

All land should be offered first to a charity or community group, together with the guarantee of sufficient funds for that organisation and its successors to manage it in perpetuity, for its access, biodiversity and landscape qualities.

Before any Forestry Commission land is sold, the prospective purchaser must sign an agreement, legally-binding in perpetuity, to:

1. retain and manage the land as woodland and not allow it to be developed for any other purpose,

2. where there are legal rights of access, maintain and increase these, adding rights for riders and cyclists wherever appropriate,

3. where there are no legal rights of access, dedicate the land so that there are permanent rights of access throughout the wood or forest for walkers, riders and cyclists,

4. welcome informal access, free of charge, at all times.

Says general secretary, Kate Ashbrook: "These are tough tests, but they are absolutely essential if our forests and woodlands are to continue to provide inspiration, refreshment and recreation for the public, as well being a vital component of the landscape and habitat for wildlife. Nothing less is acceptable."

Mark Spencer MP - Clueless

Just heard Mark Spencer MP for Sherwood on BBC East Midlands Today talking about Public Rights of Way on private property in the context of the forest sale scandal. It's obvious he has no idea about the status of Rights of Way and thinks that they are owned by landowners and not the Highway Authority.

He needs to stick to something he knows something about (whatever that is).

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.

Swannington Footpath Re-opened

The Swannington footpath N108 closed by a local landowner has re-opened with a nice new sign after the Planning Inspectorate has ordered its re-instatement.

Well done to Swannington Parish Council, the Ramblers (Stan Warren) and the Leicestershire Footpath Association for putting up such a fine performance at the Public Inquiry last February.

Follow this link for the full story:

http://melbournefootpaths.blogspot.com/2010/02/swannington-path-inquiry.html