Image: Spelman said English forests won't be sold

Environment secretary Caroline Spelman has announced that English forests will remain in public hands, following the publication of the Independent Panel on Forestry's (IPF) new report.

The decision marks completes a government U-turn on the issue, as Spelman had earlier proposed plans (in January 2011) to sell off 258,000 hectares (637,500 acres) of state-owned woodland as part of efforts to reduce the government deficit.

The new IPF report called for the "triple bottom line" valuation of woodlands to deliver benefits for people, nature and the green economy.

According to the study, the public forest estate - less than 20 per cent of the total woodland cover in England - is the largest provider of outdoor recreation and leisure in the country.

The report has also urged the "revival of a woodland culture" and called for woodland and forests in public ownership to be sustainably managed in order to maximise their impact.

The Right Reverend James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool, said: "There is untapped potential within England's woodlands to create jobs, to sustain skills and livelihoods, to improve the health and wellbeing of people and to provide better and more connected places for nature.

"Most importantly, the public forest estate needs to be free from the electoral cycle, for trees have long lifecycles - decisions taken now are looking to a future that is 50, or even 100, years down the line."

Spelman said: "We will not sell the public forest estate. We'll be talking to all those who are passionate about our forests to decide how we will manage our forests for the future."

Woodland Trust policy director Hilary Allison added: "It is vital that the government now works towards ensuring the estate is effectively resourced and developed to deliver more benefits for more people."

Details: www.defra.gov.uk

Image: Sebastian Ballard