THOUSANDS of people have sent a clear message to the Government: we will not let you sell our Forest.

More than 3,000 people of all ages braved freezing temperatures and a snowstorm to attend a three-hour rally organised by Hands Off Our Forest on Bank Holiday Monday at Speech House Meadow.

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It began with a procession through the Cyril Hart Arboretum, which was so long speeches at the rally had to be delayed for 10 minutes so Forest of Dean Brass band could play for all marchers.

The rally and its cause gained prominent coverage on the evening BBC news bulletin and in The Guardian newspaper the following day.

Forest of Dean MP Mark Harper was not at the rally despite being invited, although he issued a statement to the media beforehand. He claimed campaigners were his political opponents.

But HOOF chairman Rich Daniels told the rally HOOF is not a political group and said any Government – whether Labour or Conservative-led – proposing to sell the Forest would be firmly opposed.

Mr Harper is urging people to wait to see the White Paper, due to be published imminently, but HOOF says the Public Bodies Bill, already being debated in the House of Lords, will enable all public forest land to be sold.

In November, minister Jim Paice told the House of Lords EU Select Committee that the Government is proposing 'very substantial disposal of the public forest estate, which could go to the extent of all of it'.

World-famous tree cons- ervationist David Bellamy sent a message to the rally, declaring: "The green heart of Britain is not for sale."