of Lords EU Select Committee's forestry inquiry that, under EU rules, forests could be sold to foreign interests and that, while he does not want forests to be woodchipped by biofuel companies, he could offer no guarantees they wouldn't be. 9 December. The Forest of Dean District Council agrees to back the HOOF campaign and to send a delegation to Parliament to put pressure on the Prime Minister, MPs and Lords against any sell-off. 10 December. About 500 people attend a public meeting, organised by Cinderford Town Council and backed by HOOF, held at the Miners Welfare Hall in Cinderford, to hear passionate speeches from Baroness Royall, Richard Daniels (HOOF chairman) and members of the audience. The Government's forest privatisation clause in the Public Bodies Bill was condemned but Baroness Royall stated her belief that it was unlikely the clause could be overturned. Efforts would therefore concentrate on achieving an exemption for the Forest of Dean, on the grounds that it was different from other forests in that, for historical reasons, it had very few actual rights of way but instead had customary privileges making it much more vulnerable to having the footpaths and bridleways closed. 15 December. HOOF members join a national rally outside the Houses of Parliament, organised by national campaign group Save Our Forests and the Public and Commercial Services Union. 16 December. It is reported that HOOF has backing from Coleford and Cinderford Town Councils and Drybrook Parish Council, while Lydney Town Council and West Dean Parish Council voted unanimously to express their objection to any sale. Actor Richard Wilson, the Bishop of Gloucester, the Bishop of Guildford, Baroness Fritchie and former Chancellor of the Exchequer Denis Healey, whose wife Edna Healey was from Coleford, all endorse the HOOF campaign. 20 December. Environmentalist Jonathon Porritt backs the HOOF campaign in his blog. 23 December. More campaign endorsements are reported, including author Bill Bryson, Lydbrook Parish Council, Forest in Transition (part of the Transition Towns movement), children's author Shoo Rayner. and the Bishop of Gloucester. 3 January 2011. 3000 people attend a HOOF rally at Speech House Meadow, including a procession through the Cyril Hart Arboretum led by the Forest of Dean Brass Band. Speeches are heard from Jonathon Porritt, Baroness Jan Royall, The Bishop of Guildford and others. 17 January. A deputation organised by Forest of Dean District Council meet Lords at Westminster. 23 January. Over