Tavish Scott, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Scotland, took the campaign to save our forests to Glentress mountain biking centre in the Scottish Borders.

Mr Scott, accompanied by local MSP Jeremy Purvis and Environment spokesperson Jim Hume took to the trails with resident mountain biking experts and owners of the Hub-in-the-Forest Emma Guy and Tracy Brunger.

Jeremy Purvis, Tavish Scott and Jim Hume at GlentressAfter listening to the impact that the Government’s plans to lease out vast swathes of Scotland’s most profitable forestry land would have on successful local businesses, the MSPs returned to Edinburgh to attend a protest outside the Scottish Parliament.

Commenting, Mr Scott said:

“Today, when I could keep up, I’ve talked to Tracy and Emma who run the Hub-in-the-Forest at Glentress mountain biking centre. They are clearly concerned about the impact that the Government’s plans will have on their business.

“We have collected over 6,000 signatures to the Liberal Democrat petition to save our forests.

“The depth of feeling prompted by this issue is unsurprising given that the SNP is playing with some of Scotland’s most valuable natural heritage. Even Margaret Thatcher didn’t try to sell off this family silver.

"We will not drop our fight to save Scotland's forests. The Government needs to listen to the voices of the experts, those employed and supported by the forests and rural industry and dump these proposals."