I am really only interested in groups who work closely with the FC, "informal" groups need not apply! 
I am trying to establish whether our experiences post OGB37 are atypical or if there is a trend across the UK.
Up to about 18 months ago we were working closely with the FC in Thetford Forest, building trails and planning great things for the now knackered trail network. Then, one day, at a regular meet with our FC contact we were told that the advent of OGB37 meant that no further work could be carried out until our two main trail leaders went on a familiarisation course, after which we could get back to work.
In due course, attendance completed, our two bods came back raring to go only to be hit with a series of increasing obstacles. The FC were keen for us to become a trail maintenance group, filling holes, picking litter etc and some of our merry band duly complied. Meanwhile, the group who wanted to do things such as build berms, low boardwalks over boggy areas etc were getting frustrated. After months of negotiation we were give a timetable, submit an Ops 1 and it will be passed or rejected within (I think it was) 6 weeks. Once this is in place you can get going.
Feathers smoothed, our now unruffled trail builders got to work, jumped through interminable hoops to get Ops1 completed and prepared for work. A week or so ago, a preliminary build day was agreed with the FC and preparations were made for this Saturday only for us to be told that there were yet another set of hoops (previously unmentioned) to jump through and as I heard it, we weren't going to be doing any work any time soon, at least not until this set of papers was filled in, passed round the office etc. Meanwhile, if we wanted to clear twigs etc off the trails we were very welcome, as long as we had method statements, risk assessments filled in etc etc.
Net result, one of our main men has had enough and threw in the towel yesterday and others feel it has now gone too far. We are a group of volunteers, not professional contractors and all we seem to be doing is chasing paper, having discussions about discussions, discussions about paper and anything but getting out there building.
We have built nothing in 18 months and although the FC feel they are bending over backwards to help us, all we see is obstacle after obstacle being put in front of us and diminishing interest from our group.
Have other groups had to put up with this level of obstruction or are we alone in this?
AFAIK FC are the body / quango set up by Government and tasked with overall management of the Public Forest Estate (GB) and meeting Government's objectives. FE is a quasi-commercial operating arm of FC. They are both, ultimately Government bodies, IMO.
