The Independent Forestry Panel was established on 17 March 2011 by the Secretary of State, Caroline Spelman, to advise government on the future direction of forestry and woodland policy in England and the role of the Forestry Commission in implementing it.

• The Panel’s Terms of Reference

The Panel was chaired by the Right Reverend James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool. M embers have wide experience, knowledge and interests in economic, social and environmental aspects of forestry and woodlands.

The Panel published a Progress Report in December 2011  and their Final Report on 4th July 2012 .

The Panel members were as follows:

• Rt Reverend Bishop James Jones – Chair
• Shireen Chambers
• Dr Mike Clarke
• Tom Franklin
• Stuart Goodall
• Stephanie Hilborne OBE
• Sue Holden
• Dr Alan Knight OBE
• Dame Fiona Reynolds
• Sir Harry Studholme
• John Varley
• William Worsley

Further details:

• Panel members’ biographies
• Panel members’ register of interests