THOUSANDS of acres of woodland in Lincolnshire now face an uncertain future.

The Government has opened a consultation period on whether to sell off Forestry Commission-run woods in England and potentially rake in £250 million for the public purse.

About 12,500 acres of woodland in Lincolnshire could be privatised under the scheme.

This includes Bardney Limewoods, a national nature reserve, and Willingham Woods and Osgodby Wood, near Market Rasen.

Two scheduled ancient monuments – a medieval moated site in Willingham Woods and Careby megalithic camp, in south Lincolnshire – are on Forestry Commission land in the county.

While Chambers Farm Wood, between Bardney and Wragby, is nationally famous for butterflies.

It also has one of the country's few breeding colonies of the rare Barbastelle bat and it is the only Lincolnshire location for the dormouse.

And about half of the woodland is set aside for the growth of native species including oak, hazel, lime and birch trees.

Users of wooded areas have voiced concerns about the Government's proposals.

Garth Hicks, head teacher at Bardney Primary School, said any sell-off of would be a "huge shame".

"Part of the benefit of the Forestry Commission managing Bardney Limewoods and Chambers Farm Wood, for example, is the activities that our children can take park in," he said.

"If these are sold off will these continue?"

Businessman Chris Darcel, 66, an Forestry Commission volunteer, said he could not see a bright future under private ownership.

"Years ago I trained as an engineer and I have grown up thinking that if something works, then don't fix it – the Forestry Commission seems to me like its working well," said Mr Darcel, who lives in Fiskerton.

"Once a week, seven or eight of us carry out voluntary work tidying woodland and enjoy being outdoors.

"I cannot see this happening under private ownership. Either people would dig up woodlands and plant wheat, or they would plant fast- growing trees for timber."

While Stuart Parker, area secretary of Lincolnshire Ramblers' Association, said members are calling for Government guarantees on access.

He said: "There's always been woodland sold off, but we want assurances over access in this latest consultation," he said.

"The Government says the definitive right of access will remain with rights of way legislation.

"At the moment, quite often the attraction is having the de facto right to roam. A lot of land is already privately owned. But the problem is if a new owner has, say, shooting interests, which would not be good for walking or other quiet recreational uses.

The National Trust it set to offer to manage or buy much of the woodland in England that could be sold off.