Whilst welcoming Government intentions to abandon plans for disposal of public forests, the campaign to protect and restore England’s ancient forests must go on.

Commenting on the decision, Sue Holden chief executive of the Trust says, “We welcome the opportunity for a more considered approach to the future of our much loved woodlands but our campaign continues.

"Whilst we welcome the removal of threats to public access, there is still an acute need for better protection of Ancient Woodland, our equivalent of the rainforests, and restoration of ancient woods planted with conifers.

"Even if there are no sales of publicly owned forests, the worst of all worlds would be for there to be no change to the loopholes that have allowed 850 ancient woods to be threatened by built development over the past decade.

"Ministers have made strong commitments over the past few weeks to increase protection for ancient woods, and we will be holding them to these commitments.”