A new government-appointed independent panel to make recommendations on English forestry policy will be chaired by James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool, and also includes ConFor chief executive Stuart Goodall.
The panel was announced yesterday by environment secretary Caroline Spelman and follows the government’s decision last month to shelve its plans to sell 85% of England’s public forests.
It will also advise the government on the role of the Forestry Commission in implementing policy.
The panel will make its recommendations to the secretary of state in the autumn.
The full membership of the panel is: James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool (chair); Shireen Chambers (Institute of Chartered Foresters executive director); Mike Clarke (RSPB chief executive); Tom Franklin (Ramblers Association chief executive); Stuart Goodall (ConFor chief executive); Stephanie Hilborne (Wildlife Trusts chief executive); Sue Holden (Woodland Trust chief executive); Alan Knight (founder, Single Planet Living Ltd); Dame Fiona Reynolds (National Trust director-general); Sir Harry Studholme (forestry commissioner); John Varley (estates director, Clinton Devon Estates); William Worsley (Country Land and Business Association president).
