The National Forest straddles an area of the Midlands, stretching across Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire. Established more than 30 years ago, it is a post-industrial region that has been regenerated to become a sustainable and much-loved part of the landscape. It now incorporates wildlife corridors, woodlands and footpaths and has become a a textbook example of how mixed use landscape and forestry can support both the environment and livelihoods.

The National Forest Company workers with local landowners and woodland owners, to help them manage their woodlands and supporting them to plant new areas of forest in exchange for some kind of public benefit. It’s a win-win situation that benefits landowners, the environment local tourism and small businesses.

The picture below, near the company offices in Moira, shows from left, established woodland and an area that plays host to the Timber Festival in July; an area of new planting and in the rear, a landfill site that is being planted over with new trees.