I help with work parties in a local wood approaching 100 acres so I guess that is not quite big enough to qualify as a forest but it's still a lot of trees.
It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest so has a management plan agreed by the Forestry Commision and English Nature which specifies the maximum, minimum and type of tree that can be felled.
It has recently had a grant from the Kent Downs and Marshes Leader Project (
http://www.kentruralnetwork.org.uk/leader) to develop it as an educational resource with signage, equipment, a wooden meeting house, portaloos etc.
It has bridle paths and footpaths throughout, dog walkers are welcomed but motorcyclists are a problem and are gradually being 'persuaded' to go away and not come back. It has a traditional charcoal burner and all proceeds from the sale of charcoal, logs, fencing etc produced from the felled trees go towards the maintenance of the wood.
And you probably guessed, it's privately owned but with an enlightened owner who sees that public engagement and enjoyment of the wood is vital for its future. I'm much happier with this situation than with the monoculture plantations that are typical of much Forestry Commision property.