by Angela Cole

acole@thekmgroup.co.uk

Some of Kent’s rarest wildlife could be put at risk by the government’s plans to sell off the country’s forests.

This is the stark warning from the Maidstone-based Kent Wildlife Trust in response to the consultation launched by the government on January 27.

The government proposes to sell off or lease England’s 258,000-hectare public forest estate - currently managed by the Forestry Commission on behalf of the environment, food and rural affairs department - to the private sector or to not for profit organisations.

Opponents of the move, including the Friends of Bedgebury Pinetum near Goudhurst, fear it could compromise nature protection and restrict public access to national woodland.

Now Kent Wildlife Trust’s head of conservation, Richard Moyse, has warned: "Publicly owned woodlands in Kent support important populations of nightjars; the county’s most important breeding population of the rare firecrest; and huge numbers of the scarce lady orchid (pictured) – a wildflower known only from Kent – together with huge numbers of other rare plants and animals."

"Not only that, but sites in Kent, all of which the government sees only as "commercially valuable", are enjoyed by huge numbers of people, who visit them to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings and wildlife."

The trust believes proper protection and management of local wildlife sites will be critical to keeping some of the county’s richest habitats.

Although, under the consultation, voluntary and community bodies will have some opportunity to bid for the woodlands, market values and commercial timescales mean they will struggle to raise the funds for such sites.

Mr Moyse added: "Woodlands without legal protection will just drop through the net, becoming simply commercial forests with little or no value for wildlife.

"Caroline Spelman, the Secretaryof State, says she is determined to protect and enhance these woodlands for future generations, but it’s simply not borne out by the government plans."

To get involved and have your say on the public consultation, visit www.forestry.gov.uk/england-pfeconsultation