I WAS born at Speech House, where you could not get better credentials for being a Forester, as Speech House has always been known as the centre of the Forest of Dean.

I grew up absorbing the beauty and the ever-changing seasons, with family and friends I walked the Forest ways in all kinds of weather. In summer we built fern houses, climbed trees, picked wild strawberries which grew on the bank by Beechenhurst, looked for chest-in the autumn and in winter enjoyed sliding and slithering on the pond near us when it was frozen over. It was a static pond for the purpose of putting out Forest fires. One year my brother-in-law, who was an American officer, was on leave and lit a fire on the bank to illuminate it. He was full of fun and we enjoyed playing on the pond by the firelight. Even our old dog joined in the fun, but he could not keep his balance and he skittered across the pond with his legs splayed out.

In spring we collected bunches of bluebells with beech sprays, nearby was an open ground amidst the trees by Dean Hall which we called the Drill ground where we played rounders and other games. Sometimes the gipsies camped on this ground.

I remember my mother taking us for picnics incorporating blackberry picking. Our dog Toby used to sneak the blackberries from mum's basket when no one was looking. We took the freedom of the Forest for granted. Even during wartime, when parts of the Forest were restricted, we still had lots of the forest in which to play. It was an idyllic time and the memories are precious to me. You can take the girl out of the Forest but you can't take the Forest out of the girl. Once a Forester, always a Forester.

I pray that this generation and future generat- ions will continue to enjoy the beauty of the Forest as we have always done. The Forest must not be allowed to fall prey to voracious predators who will strip the assets and leave a shell, a monument to a disgraceful and shameless plan.

It is unthinkable that the Forest should lose its status quo. The repercussions would be felt for generations to come.

Marigold Pritchard

Coleford