Maria Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, will today (Tuesday 3 February) pledge to protect the public forest estate from any future Tory sell-off.

Maria Eagle will say that the next Labour Government will make increasing public access to nature a priority in all future decisions including on planting more trees and creating woodland.

Maria Eagle will make the announcement as part of Labour’s plans to bring nature closer to people and extend the benefits of clean air, green spaces and protection from flood risk to everyone instead of just a privileged few.

Speaking at the RSPB’s head office in Sandy, Bedfordshire, Maria Eagle will point to Labour’s proud environmental record on protecting nature and increasing public access to green space:

“When it comes to action on the natural environment the Labour Party has a record to be proud of. It was a Labour Government in 1949 – tough times with public spending constraints far greater than we’re seeing now – that took the action to create our national parks.

“Our Labour values tell us that everyone should have access to nature whoever they are and wherever they live. Nature and the power it has to sustain economies and nourish all life should not be preserved just for a privileged few.”

Maria Eagle will slam David Cameron’s broken promises on the natural environment:

“David Cameron promised us that he would lead the ‘greenest Government ever’ but the reality is that we’ve had five years of environmental degradation and the decline of nature.

“This Government has been a disaster for the environment. The most recent Natural Environment Indicators for England show improvements for only 20% of all the measures assessed. That is not an environmental record to run on – that’s a record to run from.”

Maria Eagle will outline how Labour’s 25 year plan for the recovery of nature will:

• Commit to defending the public forest estate from any future Tory sell-off
• Bring nature closer to people by making public access to green spaces a priority
• Protect and improve wildlife habitats and green spaces by building on the work of the Natural Capital Committee
• Encourage a step-change in nature conservation by empowering communities to protect and improve the natural environment
• Show real leadership in Europe and defend important environmental directives that provide clean air, beaches and wildlife protection

Maria Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary will say:

On forests:

“David Cameron wanted to sell-off our forests. The next Labour Government will protect our forests, keeping them in public ownership.

“And we will reform the forestry commission to increase public access to nature. We will secure ready access to trees and woodlands by planting them closer to the places where people live.”

On Labour’s plans:

“Getting the best out of nature means we have to do much more to bring nature closer to people. But in this country we have deep inequality of access to nature. The most deprived communities are ten times less likely to live in the greenest areas.

“So the next Labour Government will make extending the benefits of access to nature a priority. Because everyone should be able to enjoy the benefits of nature.”