Next chapter of woodlands debate

Following last winter's forestry outcry, the government-appointed Independent Panel last week released its interim Progress Report. The report follows a huge outpouring of feedback which saw 42,000 responses to the Panel's call for views.

The Panel's chair, The Right Reverend James Jones Bishop of Liverpool, said: "Although our Panel was born out of fierce debate over the future of the public forest estate, what has become apparent through our work so far is that we must look at the future of all woods and forests, not just the one fifth managed by the Forestry Commission."

In June 2011, The Mersey Forest and partners took the Bishop to see a brand new community woodland in action and to talk to local residents who have benefited from the project. One year on from being planted, Mab Lane Community Woodland has been named as Merseyside's Neighbourhood Improvement Project of the year and been proclaimed "a brilliant idea" by local residents who say it has "really changed the area".

As part of his visit to the woodland, the Bishop heard from members of the local community about the difference that the woodland had made to the area, with local resident Tony Beyga commenting:

"Bishop Jones appeared very impressed with the woodlands and listened to everyone's point of view and took on board all the comments and feedback. We hope he took away a positive impression and he could clearly see the amount of hard work and effort that has gone into making the woodland a very valuable community resource."

The Mab Lane visit was followed in November with an invitation to Director of The Mersey Forest Paul Nolan to meet the Panel to discuss community forestry in his capacity as chair of England's Community Forests. The Panel tweeted following the meeting that it was an "informative discussion".

The Panel says it is working towards recommendations that will increase the benefits generated from all forests in England, including to the people that enjoy them, to nature and to the businesses that rely on them. The recommendations will be made in their final report to Government in spring 2012.