Ross Gazette reader Steven Iles was one of 3000 protestors who took part in the Hands Off Our Forest (HOOF) rally on Monday, January 3rd. The protest was organised to show the government the strength of feeling there is against the privatisation of the Forest of Dean.

After a walk through the Cyril Hart arboretum the protesters heard impassioned speeches from Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, Jonathon Porrit of Forum for the Future, the Bishop of Guildford and many others.

Dick Brice, Asha Faria-Vare and other musicians entertained the crowd. The grand finale was a ritual burning of a wooden representation of the Houses of Parliament.

To read the full report see this week's Ross Gazette