Wells constituency MP Tessa Munt says she wants local naturalist and broadcaster Chris Sperring independent panel' to consider future forestry policy for England.
Ms Munt visited Stockhill Woods, near Priddy, following the announcement by Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State at Defra, when she shelved Conservative plans for woodland sell-offs.
Ms Munt met Lorne Campbell and Kevin Stannard from the Forestry Commission, Andy Mallender from the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Chris Sperring MBE, Conservation Officer for the Hawk & Owl Trust.
Following a mass public outcry over proposed forest sales, Mrs Spelman told the House of Commons: "We got this one wrong".
Under fire for an hour of questions from MPs, she revealed she would end the consultation on the future of the forests, remove the forestry clauses from the Public Bodies Bill and establish an 'independent panel' to consider future forestry policy for England.
Ms Munt told the Minister in Parliament she wanted the consultation to continue.
"I do not understand why we are cancelling a consultation when the new panel will need to hear and make its decision by autumn," she said.
"It might be more logical to continue with the consultation for the remaining ten and a half weeks so that the public can continue to add their views to the current process."
Afterwards Ms Munt said: "Following a massive amount of correspondence on the future of the forests, I lobbied Mrs Spelman. I am pleased she decided to listen and scrapped these ludicrous plans. I want to thank everyone locally for their efforts and valiant campaigning – 'people power' really works."
Ms Munt did express concerns over Defra's next move.
She said: "I worry about Defra's intentions. Caroline Spelman did a fair job of apologising to the public, and rightly so. She did not, however, tell Parliament or the public how forests will be protected for the future. As an example, she said the sales and leases would be 'on hold' until the consultation was over, but then announced the consultation was being scrapped immediately. The situation is still confusing. Given the high levels of concern, people deserve to know what is happening".
"I want to know what Caroline Spelman's 'independent panel' will look like and I'd like clear assurances it will include relevant experts in the field. After my morning in Stockhill Woods, I am writing to the minister to suggest that the locally-based wildlife conservation expert, world-famous naturalist and broadcaster, Chris Sperring, should be a member of the Panel to ensure protection for biodiversity and the education work undertaken by the Forestry Commission at present."
She added: "I think it is very important that the public continue to let the minister know the forests belong to the people.''
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