'Hands Off Our Forest' March And Rally

gloucs | protests | feature Tuesday January 11, 2011 10:19 by HOOF

On Monday 3rd January at Speech House Meadow in the Forest of Dean, over 3,000 people braved the cold and snow to take part in the HOOF protest against the privatisation of the Forest.

One protester said "There are even more people here than were at the Save The Dilke rally, a battle which we won".

After a walk through the Cyril Hart arboretum the protesters heard impassioned speeches from Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, Jonathon Porrit of Forum for the Future, the Bishop of Guildford and many others.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon "We cannot and we must not allow our Forest to be sold. Don't wait for the consultation that is promised - act now!"

Dick Brice, Asha Faria-Vare and other musicians entertained the crowd. The grand finale was the ritual burning of a wooden statue of Big Ben.