Britain selling Sherwood Forest?

The Telegraph reports that as part of its austerity measures, Britain plans to sell off around half of its 748,000 hectares of government-owned forest, possibly including Robin Hood’s old haunt: The controversial decision will pave the way for a huge expansion in the number of Center Parcs-style holiday villages, golf courses, adventure sites and commercial ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.

The Telegraph reports that as part of its austerity measures, Britain plans to sell off around half of its 748,000 hectares of government-owned forest, possibly including Robin Hood's old haunt:

The Telegraph reports that as part of its austerity measures, Britain plans to sell off around half of its 748,000 hectares of government-owned forest, possibly including Robin Hood’s old haunt:

The controversial decision will pave the way for a huge expansion in the number of Center Parcs-style holiday villages, golf courses, adventure sites and commercial logging operations throughout Britain as land is sold to private companies.

Legislation which currently governs the treatment of "ancient forests" such as the Forest of Dean and Sherwood Forest is likely to be changed giving private firms the right to cut down trees.

Laws governing Britain’s forests were included in the Magna Carta of 1215, and some date back even earlier.

A source close to the British environment department describes the move in terms of "putting conservation in the hands of local communities," a phrasing consistent with the Cameron government’s "Big Society" vision. Most of Britain’s forests were lost by the 17th century to firewood and construction. We’ll see if the private sector can take care of the trees a little more responsibly this time around?

Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

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