Forestry Commission specialists reject the Prime Minister's claim that organisations like the Woodland Trust and the National Trust "could do a better job than the Forestry Commission".

In a Prospect news release, FC branch president Lorraine Adams said: "Our members are disgusted at David Cameron's total disregard for the specialist skills of staff working for the Forestry Commission."

They pointed out that in 2001, the Forestry Commission was recognised as a world leader in sustainable forest management, receiving a ‘Gift to the Earth' from WWF International for its work on forest certification. This was the first time a state forest anywhere in the world achieved 100% certification to Forest Stewardship Council standards.