DAME Judi Dench has joined the campaign to prevent the sell off of parts of England’s state-owned forests.

The York-born actress is among nearly 90 celebrities, politicians, academics and others who have signed a open letter from Save England’s Forests. Signatories include the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, the Astronomer Royal, Sir Martin Rees, the Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, and Lord Clark of Windermere, former chairman of the Forestry Commission.

All say the commission’s forests should be retained in state hands so they can be a free leisure resource and nature reserve.