Happy 2012!

At the start of 2011, I along with many others had no idea what the future held for our forests in the UK. As the months passed, the support and passion from local people soon became evident and it also became clear to our Government and local MP's that we were not going to give up our forests without a fight!
When the day came that our Government backtracked on its plans to privatise our forests, it was a massive relief for me as I didn't want to imagine the devastation these plans could have on our forests and the wildlife living within. My very sincere thanks to all who put their weight behind the HooF campaign and also to the many who supported this cause with so much passion.
The forests mean so much to many of us, for many different reasons. The time I spend in the forest with our varied and healthy wildlife can never be topped and I hope that it will always be out there for future generations to enjoy. For this reason we must always be ready to stand up and fight again and again and again if the fire reignites!

2012 will undoubtedly bring its hardships and personal battles to many of us, but there is something out there; something that has the capability to help us through the toughest of times, and that is nature. If you are looking for a way to escape the stress of modern life and the worries it brings, take nature into your life and realise what life is really about.
I wish you all the best for 2012.

Below are some of my favourite photographs of wildlife from the last 12 months in the Forest of Dean....















And finally, a photograph that for me "is" the Forest of Dean. The wild boars may have been illegally released and they may not be every ones cup of tea. However, they are here to stay and I for one will keep up the fight until they are given the status and protection the deserve.

Happy 2012!



Rob

Safe at Last!

Good news everyone - the UK Government has scrapped the idiotic plans to sell off the UK's woodlands!
People power has prevailed and we have shown that if enough of us stick together and say "NO", anything is possible.
There are people saying that the Government just backed down after they realised (themselves) that their plans were wrong and that they themselves were wrong for thinking that the "sell off" was a good idea, but what I can guarantee is that if the British public had not stood up and pressurised the Government, MP's and everyone else who supported this sell off - the sell off would have already started.

Hopefully they will now leave our forests alone and concentrate on the protection they require and deserve, for they are the life blood of everything living on this planet.
The destruction of forests throughout the world is a massive threat to life on this planet, but at least we can now carry on with our world wide campaigns to help halt the destruction and deforestation going on in many countries, without looking like hypocrites.

Long live our trees and all the wildlife they support!


Forest of Dean - December 2010

The Forest of Dean is NOT FOR SALE!

Living in the Forest of Dean my whole life has been incredible. My childhood memories of building tree camps and walking around the forest finding snakes, while learning about all our other wildlife could never be topped.
Every day I grow fonder of this place and could not imagine living anywhere else. Away from my family, the forest and wildlife is my passion, my reason for living.

I would like to ask everyone who is reading this to support the fight to save the Forest of Dean from being sold into private ownership.
The FoD is one of Britain's most ancient forests and because of its unique, ancient and varied habitats, it also supports wildlife, which is also unique.
Bircham Wood near Coleford in the Forest of Dean has already been sold. Hunting and harvesting rights were included in the sale and this is bad news for the forest and our wildlife!
Once the wildlife has been shot and the trees chopped down, we could see this beautiful part of the forest left as a baron wasteland, or even worse, developed for housing etc.
There is not one part of the forest, which is safe!

I can't and don't want to imagine what the FoD would look like without its forest, but one thing I do know.....

It would then be called just "The Dean!"


We are going to need more than just a giant if we are to stop these insane proposals, so please help us be showing your support, today!






SUPPORT US AND CONDEMN THE SELL OFF BY VISITING THE LINKS BELOW - THANKS!

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