Forest bites the dust

[Red Adder]

25 years ago as of next month (and for the subsequent 15 years) - Tunstall & Rendlesham - 12 square km of millions of wind-blown trees followed by complete clear feel- now at least weu can have events on them (FC activity permitting). Much the same for parts of the SE I presume.

Also it was very common 25 years for shooting tenants to effectively close forest to other users - something that is less of a problem currently.

[Clive Coles]

If you want to see more woodland planted in England here is your chance to influence Government thinking. Please take a few minutes to complete the FC/Natural England survey. https://www.facebook.com/notes/save-our-sandlings-forests/if-the-forestry-panels-recommendation-to-increase-woodland-cover-in-england-is-t/456639964372611

[70plus]

I can think of shed loads of areas in the UK that, for all sorts of reasons, are not as good for orienteering as they were 25 years ago.

Forgive me for (belatedly) mentioning Clocaenog in N.Wales, an extensive roughish forest which we used for Badge events until the early 80s. After that it was attacked by spruce beetle and much of it was clear-felled. Last year we thought it should be revisited in case it was usable. I found only one patch about 100m square which I could even get into. Many forest roads were little better than footpaths, and the whole area looked almost derelict. Perhaps we can expect this scenario to become more common?

[Clive Coles]

There are going to be changes ahead next year when the Welsh Assembly plan to create a single body to replace the Environment Agency, Countryside Council and Forestry Commission in Wales. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-20084131

With the formation of this new authority it looks as if environmental issues will dominate strategic decisions. On-going access for recreational purposes is likely to play second fiddle to environmental/conservation concerns. The balance that currently exists in our public forests that allows multi-purpose use could well shift as single-purpose conservation interests prevail.

There are fears that this solution could also be applied in England ~ this is one of the options being considered at DEFRA at the present time. We await the Government statement in January when they respond to the Forestry panels recommendations.

Orienteers need to engage with other Forest user groups in their locality to protect their position. This is happening in Thetford and Sandlings Forest. Are any other clubs getting involved with other forest users to press for continuing access to the forests ?