How you can take part:You can help create the Forest:● Plant your own wood! Small or large, we have grants

to help you do this.

● Get together with your community or work colleagues and ask us how you can get involved.

● Plant a Tree in The National Forest – a wonderful way to celebrate a special occasion or to remember a special person.

● Grow a Tree from Seed.● Contact your council for details of their free trees scheme.

You can help look after the Forest:● Volunteer with BTCV (British Trust for Conservation

Volunteers) and help manage woodlands, hedgerows and enjoy being out in the countryside.

● Some Forest sites are managed by their own volunteergroups. Ask us for advice.

● Children and teenagers can get involved through schoolactivities and projects at Conkers and Rosliston ForestryCentre. They can plant trees through Tree for All.

You can take part in a variety of arts, health,nature and outdoor activities.

Looking after what we’ve plantedAll woodland needs managing to a greater or lesserextent. Pruning and taking out some of the weakertrees, ‘thinning’ as it is known, can encourage wildlifeand helps commercially valuable trees to thrive.Thinnings are used to make wood chips for automaticboilers or provide logs for open fires or wood stoves.More substantial timber can be used for construction,furniture or joinery.

Trees help to look after the environment. See more atwww.nationalforest.org/onyourdoorstep

Enjoy days out in the Forest.For ideas of things to do and places to visit, see the National Forest & Beyond Visitor Guide orwww.nationalforest.org/onyourdoorstep

Turn over for the Forest map

on yourdoorstep!

‘I feel most relaxed when I am out walking in thecountryside.

It lifts your heart’Community Perceptions Report 2009

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Why ‘National’ and why here?The National Forest was planned as a model of forestry for the whole country: a forest grown not only for trees, but also for wildlife, for people and for economic prosperity.

This area was chosen because there weren’t many trees! The vision was to create a network of newwoodland eventually linking former ancient forests of Needwood and Charnwood, and to help thecommunities of the former Midlands coalfield recover from the closure of the mines.

Find out more about creating the Forest and getting involved.

See www.nationalforest.org/onyourdoorstep or call us on 01283 551211

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What is The National Forest?The National Forest is one of thebiggest and boldest environmentalinitiatives in the UK. It is transformingthe landscape of 200 square miles of Derbyshire, Leicestershireand Staffordshire.The first tree was planted in 1991.Since then, 7.8 million have beenplanted – with many more to go!

Changing the LandscapeSince 1991, hundreds of new woodlands have beencreated, and ponds and orchards, hedgerows andheathland, meadows and marsh, have been dug,planted, laid and brashed.

Forest cover has trebled from 6% to 18% and thegoal is to reach one third of the total 200 squaremiles. The National Forest will be a mix oftowns, villages, farmland, industry, roads,rivers, open space: a living landscape linkedby woodland.

Over 23,000 people took

part in NationalForest activities

last year.

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www.nationalforest.org/onyourdoorstep

‘It’s a lovely place to live…

I couldn’t wish foranything better’Community Perceptions Report 2009

The National Forest CompanyBath Yard, Moira, Swadlincote,Derbyshire DE12 6BA

The National Forest Company is funded bythe Department for Environment, Food andRural Affairs to create The National Forest.We do this by working in partnership withfarmers and landowners, with parish councils, with businesses, with individuals,with people like you.

www.nationalforest.org/onyourdoorstepCert no. SGS-COC-1202

Woodland cover 1991 (6%)

Woodland cover 2010 (18%)

A gift that grows into The National Forestwww.nationalforest.org/giftshop t: 01283 551211

plantatree

For more informationon The National Forest, including what trees we plant, where to see wildlife, cycling, walking, days out, even where to learn woodland crafts, seewww.nationalforest.org/onyourdoorstepor call us on 01283 551211

How are we doing?

Forest Facts● 7.8 million trees planted.● Forest cover has increased from 6% to 18%.● 85% of the trees planted are broadleaf and

15% conifer.● Over 300,000 children have enjoyed environmental

education visits to The National Forest.● New woodland and related habitats would cover

5,700 football pitches.● Put end to end, the new hedgerows we have planted

would extend further than Nottingham to Birmingham.● Over £115m has been invested in Forest-related

projects and regeneration programmes.● Tourism brings in more than £280m to the Forest each

year and has directly generated more than 4,400 jobs.

Rosliston Forestry Centre:Enjoy woodland walks,indoor and outdoor play,cycle hire, fishing, falconry,gift shop and restaurant –plus attractive timber

lodges to hire.

National Memorial Arboretum:The award-winning Armed ForcesMemorial is the centrepiece of astunning arboretum with over50,000 trees and 160 majormemorials – a place for quietcontemplation and remembrance.

Conkers – the hands-onDiscovery Centre at theHeart of the Forest:Enter a world of adventure

with a unique mix of indoorand outdoor experiences,

including the Conkachootrain, assault course and the

Enchanted Forest.

Calke Abbey: Explore thisfascinating house and itsbeautiful walled gardens.Calke Park is a NationalNature Reserve, famous forits ancient oak trees.

Snibston: Discover – orremember – the Forest'smining heritage withSnibston’s colliery tours,interactive museum, countrypark and nature reserve.

Bradgate Park & Beacon Hill:Enjoy some of the best views inThe National Forest from these

wonderful country parks. Stride outacross heathland, amongst bracken,

rocky outcrops, deer – and trees!

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Days Out in the ForestThis map shows just some of the manyplaces for a brilliant day out in the Forest.There’s a huge choice of things to see and do, not tomention the woodlands to explore and free play areastoo. Discover the treasures of the past and the richheritage of the Forest; have a fun day out with friends or family; try your hand at woodland crafts, weave awillow sculpture or learn how to prepare wild food.

Don’t miss the National Forest Wood Fair onAugust Bank Holiday Monday at Beacon HillCountry Park.

WildlifeWildlife in the Forest is thriving! See our Guide: Where to see wildlife in The National Forestwww.nationalforest.org/onyourdoorstep

WalkingThere are dozens of walks in The National Forest to suitall abilities – and it’s healthy too! See our website forsuggested routes, maps and what you will see on theway, whether it’s a two mile stroll or a fifteen mile hike.www.nationalforest.org/onyourdoorstep

The National Forest Walking Festival in May is a greatway to discover the Forest on your doorstep. Seewww.thenationalforestwalkingfestival.org.uk

CyclingThe gentle terrain of The National Forest is perfect for family cycling. A purpose-built cycle centre is due to open towards the end of 2010, and surfacedtrails throughout several National Forest sites makecycling a fun way to keep fit and enjoy the Forest. Why not start with the new five mile Conkers Circuit?

Yoxall

Alrewas

Barton underNeedwood

Overseal Moira

Donisthorpe

Measham

Ibstock

Whitwick

Markfield

WoodhouseEaves

Burton uponTrent

Swadlincote

Ashby de laZouch

Coalville