Must depend on where you are, around here and indeed most places up this way, as long as you act responsible then access isn't a problem at all. That aside, I can't help but thinking that by selling off part of the FC that actually makes the government money being a bit daft, a short term gain ( hmmm didn't the Tories do this last time too? ) for long term loss. I don't see the problem of a government ministry making money instead of spending it all, instead of making a few quid on a sell off, and no doubt tax concessions etc for a few years too. Handing over the keys to private companies of this countries forests just doesn't sit right. I might be wrong, perhaps private companies will continue to keep the free access to country walks ect, perhaps they will continue to carry out research in various areas from entomology to climate change. However private companies what to make profits for themselves not the government, so I'm highly cynical here, and can't help but think it's further Tory "Jobs for the Boys" again.