Following our last blog on this a number of people contacted Forestry England to ask why this hunt was still being licensed to access their land. The responses were frankly pathetic. We show one below:

From: XXX on behalf of Commissioners
Sent: XXX
To: XXX
Cc: Commissioners commissioners@forestrycommission.gov.uk
Subject: RE: Meynell & South Staffordshire Hunt

Dear XXXXXX

Decisions on operational issues are made at the appropriate level in the Forestry England management and governance structures.

Yours sincerely

XXX

The Forestry Commission claims that it “increases the value of woodlands to society and the environment.” Really? Well it might be nice to know in detail how they do that. The commissioners seem to be decent people with a strong interest in managing the forest estate for its owners, us. Perhaps they would be interested to know that a legitimate enquiry receives such a response sent on their behalf…perhaps not.

Meantime the local office that covers the woodlands in question is Central England who can be contacted at central.district@forestryengland.uk Please copy commissioners@forestrycommission.gov.uk into any email.