THE Dean's woodlands will not be sold off to private buyers following a major Government climb down this week.

While HUndreds of HOOF (Hands OFF Our Forest) campaigners held a torchlit demo at Mallards Pike, the House of Lords gave an assurance it would not transfer any publicly-owned forests to the Homes and Communities Agency after making an amendment to the Infrastructure Bill.

Spearheading HOOF's cause in the House of Lords was Baroness Jan Royall of Blaisdon, who said: "This is a big victory for everyone that has campaigned to protect our forests - HOOF, Save Our Woods and 38 Degrees.

"I'm grateful to everyone who has showed their support. We will be looking carefully at what the Government comes back with to make sure that the Public Forest Estate is properly excluded from the Bill."

For the full story, read The Forester.