Save Our Forests!
By Andrew Hewitt, 05 February 2011 –
On Sunday 30th January myself and Rhona and our families went to Grizedale Forest near Hawkshead to protest about the Government’s plans to sell off our forests.
Over 1500 walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders turned out to show their support for the campaign to save Grizedale and Whinlatter Forests in the Lakes, as well as many other forests nation wide.
Our local Lib Dem MP Tim Farron was there to show his support and to tell us that he would be voting against his own party’s proposal to sell off up to 100% of England’s Public Forest Estate in the House of Commons on Wednesday. There were also speeches from Eric Robson Chairman of Cumbria Tourism, and The Lord Clark of Windermere.
It was a fantastic day of cheering and chanting, lots of people had made banners and signs to display their anger against the government’s plans.
To Rhona and myself it is something we feel so strongly against. We use the forest regularly for walks with our families, and have done since we were children. It is something that we would like our children and generations to come to use in the future! Many of you I’m sure will have been to Grizedale yourself when visiting the Lakes and can see for yourself what a terrible shame it would be to loose such a viable tourist attraction to the Lakes. It raises over 20 million pounds a year! So why would this government want to sell something that actually makes them money!
We would like to ask all our guests to help our campaign and show your support to save not just our local forests but yours too!
Please follow the link www.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/save-our-forests and sign the petition.
Thank you for your help!
Hope to see you soon
Helen & Rhona