"Britain's Forests"?

[Big Jon]

I thought the London government only controlled English forests and Edinburgh controlled Scottish forests?

[AndyC]

And Cardiff the Welsh Forests?

[Freefall]

Yes and no. There are certain parts of the Forestry Commission that have national i.e. GB responsibilities but there are devolved parts of the business looking after England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is separate.

[DavidJ]

Thought I would add some background by quoting from the Forestry Act 1967 (as amended):

"The Commissioners shall be charged with the general duty of promoting the interests of forestry, the development of afforestation and the production and supply of timber and other forest products in Scotland, and in England and Wales and in that behalf shall have the powers and duties conferred or imposed on them by this Act."

"The Commissioners’ general duty includes that of promoting the establishment and maintenance in Scotland, and in England and Wales of adequate reserves of growing trees"

"The Commissioners may manage, plant and otherwise use, for the purpose of the exercise of their functions under this Act, any land in Scotland placed at their disposal by the Scottish Ministers under this Act or in England and Wales placed at their disposal by the Minister under this Act.."

"The Commissioners shall by order appoint committees for England, Scotland and Wales respectively, whose membership shall consist partly of persons who are Forestry Commissioners or officers of the Commissioners and partly of persons not exceeding three in number, who are not Forestry Commissioners or officers of the Commissioners; and the Commissioners may delegate, subject to such restrictions or conditions as they think fit, any of their functions to a committee so appointed.."

Hope this helps

[Spookster]

Wikipedia provides a reasonable explanation, and notes that since 1 April 2003 there have been separate commissions for England, Scotland and Wales.

Forestry Commission on Wikipedia

[Scott]

I thought the London government only controlled English forests and Edinburgh controlled Scottish forests?

Forestry is devolved in both Scotland and Wales, but the London government can override Edinburgh/Cardiff if it wishes (although doing so would be very controversial, so it is unlikely to happen over forestry).