direction of forestry and woodland, and will report to the government in the autumn of 2011. However, HOOF pledged to fight on until it had confirmation the Government had abandoned its privatisation policy, and called for representation on the panel. The group also said it would campaign against cuts within the Forestry Commission and woodland within the Forest of Dean not protected in the 1981 Act. Timeline of events 23–24 October 2010. National newspapers report that the Government is planning to sell off public forests. 28 October. Forest of Dean weekly newspaper, The Forester, launches a 'Hands off our Forest' campaign. On the same day, the Public Bodies Bill is introduced to The House of Lords by Lord Taylor of Holbeach. 31 October. The Minister for Agriculture and Food, James Paice MP, writes to MPs, confirming that the Government is "exploring new ownership" options for publicly owned forests in England. 1 November. Dean Forest Voice co-ordinates the formation of a steering group. 6 November. With HOOF still not solidly formed, Forest of Dean poet and freeminer Dave Harvey arranges a preliminary rally at the Speech House. A group of about 50 people gather in a marquee. 9 November. The Public Bodies Bill receives its second reading in the House of Lords. It includes a clauses which could enable the Secretary of State to amend the Forestry Act 1967 and order the disposal of Forestry Commission land in England. 10 November. Hands off our Forest (HOOF) is officially adopted as the campaign name by the inaugural meeting of an alliance of several pre-existing local organisations, including 'Dean Forest Voice', 'Friends of the Forest', the Forest of Dean Local History Society, forestry trade unions, Play Gloucestershire, The Forest & Wye Valley Review, the Forester newspaper, Freeminers’ and Commoners’ associations. A committee is elected. Throughout November and early December, HOOF campaigns at events around the Forest of Dean, distributes "Forest of Dean - not for sale" boards, coordinates letter-writing campaigns and organises a petition, which gains 5,000 signatures within its first month. Mark Harper MP announces in early December that he will meet with protesters in January 2011, when the Government is due to publish a white paper on forestry and canvasses constituents in Coalway, asking their opinions on "an opportunity to own our Forest". 23 November. The Public Bodies Bill reaches Committee stage. 24 November. Minister James Paice concedes to a House