Summary
The Forest of Dean’s bid for Unesco biosphere status could get the support of the commoners if their ancient right is re-confirmed and a group dealing with sheep is re-established. Forest of Dean District Council chiefs are in the process of applying for the status to give the area’s landscapes, wildlife, and heritage international recognition.
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However, c oncerns have been raised over a lack of public consultation on the council’s bid and what such a designation could mean for public access across the Dean. The Commoners’ Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the tradition of commoning in the Forest of Dean, is among those who are suspicious of the proposal.
They have questions over what it will mean for their ancient tradition which they would like re-confirmed. General secretary Mick Holder said: “We, the commoners, are not prepared to compromise our rights in any shape or form in respect of money, goods or any other thing.
“If it means we’ve got to compromise, we are not having it.” He said they have had three meetings on the matter to and have requested further information about the biosphere reserve application and how it would affect them. “The commoners’ right is a traditional right, it’s something we’ve had since birth,” he said. “It’s mentioned in the Charter of the Forest which was signed in 1217, giving us the right of pasture.
“Commoning is still very much alive in the Forest of Dean. It’s important that we don’t get any obstructions to commoning.” He also wants the Sheep Liaison Group, a multi-agency partnership which addresses sheep related issues like traffic accidents, welfare, and nuisance complaints, to be re-established. “As an example, at Elton Corner, on the A48, there is currently a carcass of a deer, we think,” he said.
“We haven’t been to investigate. It might be sheep and nobody wants to take responsibility for that carcass.” He also said there is also an outbreak of scab in the area which would generally be dealt with by the Sheep Liaison Group. “Over in Greece, which is not a million miles away, there is a serious outbreak of foot and mouth,” he said.
“Not very far away from Greece is an outbreak of swine fever. In the event that one or all of that comes to the Forest of Dean, who’s going to deal with it then? “No sheep liaison group, nobody to deal with it.” The Forest of Dean District Council says commoning would be one of the core practices celebrated within a Unesco biosphere designation for the area.
And that Unesco biospheres are about collaborative working and they would benefit from local partnerships. “Commoners’ activities, grazing, would continue totally unchanged reflecting points that have been discussed previously in meetings with commoners and in response to similar concerns,” a spokesperson said. “In fact, it would be one of the core practices celebrated within a biosphere designation.