Written question asked by Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord De Mauley (Conservative) on Monday, 28 February 2011.

Forestry Commission

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Henley on 2 February (HL Deb, col. 1407) that ““something of the order of 20 per cent of the forestry estate has no access because it is on leasehold land and access was never granted to it””, whether he was referring to statutory rights of access; and whether the Forestry Commission allows non-statutory public access to a majority of the leasehold land that it manages.

Answer: The Forestry Commission allows and encourages public access to the public forest estate wherever legally and practically possible. The proportion of the public forest estate managed by the Forestry Commission that is in leasehold ownership amounts to around 23 per cent (58,000 hectares). Lord Henley was referring to statutory rights of access: less than 1,000 hectares of this leasehold land has been dedicated for access on foot in perpetuity under the provisions in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act. For the remaining leasehold land, the Forestry Commission allows non-statutory access where possible. Approximately 30 per cent of leasehold land permits this, while 66 per cent of leasehold land has some constraints on access, which are set out in the lease. A small area has access by agreement and in some places public access is tolerated by the freeholder.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 6890; 725 c237-8WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Forestry Commission
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Oral answers to questions
House of Lords; Forestry Commission
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Oral questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Access Leasehold Forestry Commission Forests
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk