Dear Mr Bailey

I am sorry that I have been unable to respond within the time scale I
indicated. I can only plead pressure of other commitments.

The announcement via the FC website that we were selling Pentraeth forest
was I regret to say somewhat misleading. The situation is that following an
exercise aimed at identifying means to rationalise the estate so as to focus
on those woodlands that deliver demonstrable public benefit, Pentraeth (and
other woodlands) were identified as potential candidates for sale. 

The FC is at present considering a possible sale of Pentraeth forest but has
yet to reach any final decisions. It is unlikely that a decision will be
made in the short-term given the complexities involved. The issue of
protecting the Red Squirrel population is just one of a number of issues
that need to be carefully considered before any final decisions are reached.

As soon as we are able we will be announcing how we propose to move forward.
Thank you for your interest.

Yours sincerely


Ian H G Shaw
Land Agent
FC Wales


-----Original Message-----
From: Shaw, Ian 
Sent: 25 September 2004 10:39
To: 'Wildlife & Countryside Services'
Subject: RE: Pentraeth forest and red squirrels put up for sale


Dear Mr Bailey

Thank you for your e-mail.

I will let you have a reply to the issues you raise within the next 7
working days.

Yours sincerely


Ian H G Shaw
-----Original Message-----
From: Wildlife & Countryside Services
Sent: 24 September 2004 21:00
To: ian.shaw@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Subject: Re: Pentraeth forest and red squirrels put up for sale


Dear Mr Shaw,

According to the FC Wales web site:

"Forestry Commission Wales has carried out a review of the land it manages
on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government with a view to offering for sale
woodlands which do not deliver significant public benefits.
Woodlands which currently produce low levels of public benefit or have low
environmental value have been identified through a strict selection process
and will be placed on the market in a programme of sales which FC Wales
expects to raise a total of £1.8m."
"The Director of FC Wales, Simon Hewitt, said, "This is land the Assembly
owns on behalf of the public and, as such, it has a duty to ensure that only
those woodlands that deliver positive public benefits or have real
environmental value are retained in public ownership. 
"The sale of land which offers little public benefit or where there are low
environmental sensitivities will enable us to maintain the delivery of
public benefits in other parts of the estate."

Surely woodlands which contain some of the last few remaining red squirrels
in Wales can be said to deliver significant public benefits and have high
environmental value? There are now less than 200 red squirrels in Wales
which are protected from the threat of the grey squirrels. Without
significant investment in grey squirrel control, it is likely that the two
other areas which still have red squirrels will lose them within the next
ten years. Therefore, Anglesey may be the last chance to retain this
endangered mammal within Wales, and any action by FC Wales which is seen to
jeopardise their survival would not be popular.

For Simon Hewitt to state, therefore, that Pentraeth forest does not
"deliver positive public benefits or have real environmental value" is at
least inaccurate, and arguably reckless in the extreme.

Unless FC Wales can ensure that the new owners of the forest will manage the
forest to benefit the last remaining native red squirrels, ........, the forest should be retained in
public ownership. [The] suggestion that the small part of the forest which FC
Wales owns is passed on to the Wildlife Trust, Menter Mon, or the County
Council, is a good one, and returning the ownership of the leased areas to
the (red squirrel friendly) landowners would be a popular gesture. If FC
Wales is not prepared to do this, it should retain ownership and manage the
forest for the benefit of red squirrels.

I look forward to your reply.

Regards,

Martin Bailey, Ecologist

Friends of the Anglesey Red Squirrels
http://www.redsquirrels.info 

Wildlife & Countryside Services
Llanfair Talhaiarn, Abergele, LL22 8TG
Tel/fax: 0845 2300 927
Mobile: 0 70 90 80 WILD
martin.bailey@wildlifeservices.co.uk
http://www.wildlifeservices.co.uk