THE Bishop of Liverpool will head up an expert panel looking into the future of England’s public forests.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman announced the Right Reverend James Jones would chair the panel, formed after the Government’s recent U-turn over proposals to offload England’s public forest estate in the face of widespread protests.

The panel’s role will be to advise the Government on forestry policy.

It is due to make its recommendations in the autumn.

As well as the Bishop, the panel consists of heads of conservation and countryside charities, along with forestry and rural business interests. Campaigners have already warned that it must be more than a “talking shop”.

Bishop James said: “I am honoured to accept the Secretary of State’s invitation to chair the independent panel and I am confident it will be able to provide her with sound advice about the future direction of forestry policy.

“It is clear the public care passionately about our forests and woodlands, and one of the panel’s very first tasks will be to meet with the grassroots campaigners who recently showed how much they valued their woodlands.

“The panel will approach its task with professionalism and thoroughness, and the public can have confidence that we will be robustly independent.

“We have a wide range of expertise on the panel and we will also look to bring in experts from other areas to help achieve the maximum benefits from our forests including public access, wildlife, conservation and sustainability.”

The Woodland Trust, whose chief executive Sue Holden is one of the members of the panel, welcomed the opportunity to advise on policy – but said the group had to make bold recommendations which the Government can then act on.