The Government has done a major U-turn - our public forests are saved!

Friends of the Lake District and Save Lakelands Forests are delighted that Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has announced today that the Government will abandon its public consultation to sell off the nation's forests. The Government has also said it will remove the forestry clauses from the Public Bodies Bill, currently under discussion in the House of Lords. An independent Panel will now be formed to examine the future for forestry policy in England.

Jack Ellerby of Friends of the Lake District, and spokesperson for Save Lakeland's Forests said: ‘The Government's proposals made no sense at all. We are delighted the consultation has been chopped! This is a great victory for everyone who signed the petition, wrote to their MP, or demonstrated against the planned sale of our forests - thank you so much for all your support with our campaign to ‘Stop the Sell Off'. And it worked - the Government has listened.

'The Forestry Commission still face major budget and staff cuts and there is still a question mark over the disposal of 15% of the public forests, already agreed, so our work is not finished.

‘The expert Panel that will report to the Government on the future of forests in England needs to spend some time in Cumbria. Come to see the fantastic work the Forestry Commission has done and get an understanding of the challenges we still face, including expanding wildlife habitats and networks, creating more mixed woodlands in inaccessible expensive upland locations, making woodlands more resilient to tree diseases, protecting fragile soils and improving water quality and flood control management.'

The planned rally at Whinlatter Forest near Keswick on Saturday 19 February will still go ahead, where speakers include Chris Bonington, climber Leo Houlding, Lord Clark of Windermere, Jamie Read MP and Policy Officer Jack Ellerby from Friends of the Lake District.

The rally will be held near to Whinlatter Visitor Centre, Braithwaite, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5TW at 1pm on Saturday 19 February, with a choice of easy or challenging mountain bike rides from 11am.

Save Lakelands Forests campaign, see www.savelakelandsforests.org.uk