06/03/2023
Sadly I’m Sure the isn’t anything that can be done by the council but I’m All for people trying.
Getting the forestry commission to engage in discussions has been difficult for years, they have put up many barriers to stop direct communication and even removed literature to make it harder to be contactable.
After they dispensed with the volunteer group who locked/unlocked the carpark they set about punishing dog walkers by reducing the amount of times the grass was cut, they did less and less maintenance stopped repairing gates and fences and the general public took it upon themselves to make their own repairs out of desperation.
For instance The gap under the gate from the carpark of breach lane is now so large a fully grown Labrador can now scramble under it as so can many dogs of smaller build.
How do I know this ? Well because I’ve been a active member of the poppy wood community volunteer group before we were forced out after years or voluntarily work .
for 14 years, I’ve been a walker and supporter of poppy wood, it’s been Sad to watch it get more and more unkept and watching litter and bags of dog waste hanging off bushes had been difficult to except I know many people still do pick up other peoples waste .
The are issues with the them and us mentality towards us ( dog walkers other uses ) and them the forestry commission staff who believe they are unaccountable to anyone, who have pretty much abandoned the wood and it’s visitors that is unless a tree has fallen down and needs emergency red tape around it which they are very likely to respond to that more out of a public liability issue than a general concern to visitors .
we see almost no other activity other than random signs about obvious things from
The forestry commission ( who are a government body incidentally) technically they are public servants who are supposed to be working in the publics interests and not have their own agenda.
Yet we only here of fence removal via word of mouth no official signs or discussion or how the public would or could be included or even fund the continuation of this.
Sadly they Have been downgrading the poopy wood for years and removed things or just stopped doing things with no opposition from anyone.
Reduced maintenance
Path spraying
Grass cutting
Fence repairs
Bridge repairs
Litter picking
Bridle path repairs
Hedge trimming
Rag wort treatment ( legal responsibility)
Thistle,and w**d control ( the w**ds act 1959)
Have all been stopped or been greatly reduced.
