The National Forest

The National Forest is a living environmental project in central England. It covers 520 square kilometres across parts of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire. The plan began in the 1990s to join ancient woods with new plantings and create a single forest. It stretches from Leicester in the east to Burton upon Trent in the west. The aim is to link Needwood and Charnwood, two older forests on its edges. The National Forest Company runs the project. It started in 1995 with Susan Bell as its first chief executive. The company works with landowners to turn farmland into woodland. Nearly ten million trees have been planted so far. Woodland cover has risen from six per cent to twenty-five per cent across the area. At the heart of the forest is Conkers, a visitor centre near Moira. Rosliston has another centre with wildlife walks and playgrounds. The towns of Ashby de la Zouch, Burton upon Trent, Swadlincote and Coalville lie within the forest’s boundaries. Ordnance Survey maps mark the whole area as The National Forest. Visitors walk through young woods now growing into mature trees.