NEW Forest organisations have voiced their disappointment that the area will not be represented on the panel set up to consider the future of UK forestry policy.

Announced yesterday by Defra minister Caroline Spelman, the panel will be be chaired by the Rt Rev James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool.

Other members include representatives of national bodies like the Forestry Commission, RSPB, Institute of Chartered Foresters, Ramblers’ Association, the wildlife trusts, Woodland Trust, National Trust and Country Land and Business Association.

But there is no-one there to represent the New Forest which, as one of the heritage forests flagged up by Mrs Spelman in her failed plans to sell off Britain’s woodlands, locals feel it should be treated as a special case.

Official Verderer Oliver Crosthwaite Eyre was “very disappointed” there is no sign of any of the members having knowledge of the New Forest.

The Verderers “are worried by that significant gap in the panel’s expertise”.

“Mrs Spelman has made it plain in her instructions to the panel that it should gather evidence fully,” he said.

“We intend to ensure that our views are very clearly heard so that the New Forest remains in public ownership, with full and proper government funding guaranteed.” The views were echoed by the Commoners’ Defence Association and George Whitcher, New Forest Unite the Union representative for the Forestry Commission.

New Forest Association vice-chairman Peter Roberts said it would “actively seek to offer evidence to the panel at its earliest opportunity”.

He said the minister “seems to have forgotten about the original economic reason for the sell-off consultation”.

“She is now looking for advice on giving forests ‘the right protection’,” he said.

“Here in the New Forest we are not looking for more protection, just adequate funding to run the place.”

Open Spaces Society general secretary Kate Ashbrook welcomed the inclusion of the Ramblers’ Association but said “we consider the omission of organisations representing horse-riders and cyclists to be lamentable.”

New Forest Dog Owners’ Group’s Heather Gould said there was a conservation bias on the panel and the only recreational group with a representative was the Ramblers.

National Park Authority chairman Julian Johnson said it would be important the panel “engages in detail with the special circumstances of places like the New Forest and with the needs of users”.