5 reasons to hug a tree

Nicky Stocks

17 February 2011

It's official - we're a nation of treehuggers.

The campaign against the Government's plan to privatise England's public forests has been a massive triumph. Spearheaded - and people powered - by 38 Degrees, it's succeeded in forcing the Government to abandon its plans and given us plenty to celebrate:

1. Strength in numbers

More than half a million people told the Government that they wanted England's forests to stay in public ownership. It's been relentlessly re-tweeted and - if my facebook news feed is anything to go by - it's the first campaign in ages to strike a chord with people who aren't already seasoned activists.

2. People power

The Government's U-turn reminds us that it can listen - something it can be easy to forget when signing a petition or sending an email to your MP, which can feel like a shot in the dark. If people make enough noise they can be powerful enough to get the Government to admit it's wrong.

3. Bucking the trend

With budget cutting dominating David Cameron's to-do list, it's great to see him admit that some things are worth more than a fast buck.

4. Nurturing nature

The local forest rallies and protests have reminded me how strong a connection people have with nature - especially when they can experience and enjoy it - and how much they're prepared to do to protect it.

5. Doing more

As well as backing the Save Our Forests campaign, here at Friends of the Earth we've been trying to get the Government to re-think the deforestation it sponsors overseas. We've been campaigning hard to stop South American rainforests being trashed to provide animal feed for our factory farms. Now that the Government has seen the English wood for the trees, I'm hoping it'll stop pumping our cash into wildlife loss overseas.

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