§ Mr. Bodyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will consult the chairman of the Forestry Commission about the rules governing the admittance of the public to the forests it owns or leases with a view to permitting the public access, subject to the needs of good forestry.
§ Mr. WigginWe do not consider such consultations to be necessary since the Forestry Commission already follows a policy of welcoming the public into its forests on foot wherever possible. Access to freehold areas is restricted only where there are newly planted trees, special conservation considerations or forestry operations likely to endanger the public.
6WThe Commission has estimated that about 24 million visits were paid to its forests by members of the public last year. Full details of the Commission's recreation policy were set out in appendix V of its annual report for 1975–76.