JUBILANT campaigners are rejoicing after controversial government plans to sell off England’s forests were shelved.

Last year, the Coalition unveiled plans to change the ownership of public forests, including Grizedale, to save millions of pounds as part of their public spending cuts.

But more than half a million people signed a petition calling for the plans to be scrapped.

Now, a Government u-turn means the policy will be re-examined.

Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society, said: “We are relieved that the government has at last seen the trees for the wood and recognised that its plans were a recipe for a complete disaster.

"The society was concerned that the government seemed to have no idea how it could protect public access to the woods and forests nor how it could protect them from development.

"Now there can be a proper, informed discussion about the management and enjoyment of all our woods.”