Management at The National Forest Company have set up a series of pub drop-in sessions to tell farmers and landowners about grants and opportunities available.
The organisation has funding for tree planting to create woodland and parkland, for planting and restoring hedges, creating ponds and maintaining wet grasslands, installing water troughs, creating orchards, woodland management, advice on developing sustainable tourism accommodation, and much more.
Since 1995, the National Forest Company has supported hundreds of farmers, holiday and leisure operators and hospitality businesses through the creation of 200 square miles of new woodlands in parts of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire.
More than nine million trees have been planted, taking forest cover from 5 per cent to 22 per cent, with diversity increasing across bird, bat, small mammals and butterfly populations, compared to national declines.
Forest creation manager Rob Cleaver said: “Creating the National Forest is only possible because of our landowners.
“The aim is for a third of the land in the Forest to be forest cover, which will deliver benefits for biodiversity, carbon storage, timber production, farm and business diversification, tourism and employment.
“Landowners in the forest can help us deliver these benefits and be part of a positive change in the face of biodiversity loss and the climate crisis.
“We’re setting up these pub drop-in sessions so we can have an informal chat and hear people’s aspirations for their land.
“We can discuss with them how we can help them make that happen, and how they can get the best out of their land.
“In addition to tree planting and many related improvements, we can support fencing, paths, signage, benches, educational visits under our nationally inspiring outdoor learning programme, and forest art installations.
“With landowners we’ve created paths that provide public access to safe green spaces, for people to relax and enjoy the physical and mental benefits of connecting with nature.”
Members of the National Forest team will be at the following pubs between 4pm and 8pm on the following dates:
- Thursday, October 6: The Bradgate, 37 Main Street, Newton Linford, LE6 0AE
- Monday, October 10: Horse Shoe Inn, Tatenhill, DE13 9SD
- Thursday, October 13: The Black Horse, 17 Burton Road, Coton in the Elms, DE12 8HJ
Anyone with land in the National Forest and an interest in tree planting, habitat creation for wildlife, or simply to see what might be possible, is very welcome to call by.
