Forest Scene summer 2015

Events

NEW WOODLAND TAKES ROOT IN WYCHNOR

Montgomery Wood offers fantastic views across the River Trent to St Leonard’s parish church, Wychnor.

MAY

23 – 25 The Bushcraft Show, Beehive Farm, www.thebushcraftshow.co.uk

The National Forest Company Bath Yard, Moira, Swadlincote, Derbyshire DE12 6BA T: 01283 551211 E: enquiries@nationalforest.org W: www.nationalforest.org

Derby

Burton upon Trent

Leicester

Swadlincote Ashby de la Zouch

Large print version available Tel: 01283 551211

23 – 30 Ashby Arts Festival, www.ashbyartsfestival.co.uk

Birmingham

Nottingham

ForestScene SUMMER 2015

Coalville

JUNE

12 – 14 Download Festival, Castle Donington, www.downloadfestival.co.uk 20 – 21 The Vintage Years Festival, The National Brewery Centre, www.nationalbrewerycentre.co.uk 26 – 28 National Forest Folk Festival, www.affc.demon.co.uk 27 – 28 Festival of Leisure, Swadlincote, 01283 222848 27 Armed Forces Day, National Memorial Arboretum, 01283 792333

JULY

July – September (selected dates) Maize Maze, National Forest Adventure Farm, www.adventurefarm.co.uk 11 – 6 September, The Garden of the Imagination and Calke Explore, Calke Abbey, 01332 863822 12 Ashby Show, Heather, www.ashbyshow.com 17 – 18 Jazz and Beer Festival, The National Brewery Centre, www.nationalbrewerycentre.co.uk 27 Night World, Rosliston Forestry Centre, 01283 535039

AUGUST

1 Plant Hunters’ Fair, National Memorial Arboretum, www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk/ 7 – 9 Strawberry Fields Festival, Heather, www.strawberryfieldsfestival.co.uk 31 The National Forest Wood Fair, www.nationalforestwoodfair.co.uk

SEPTEMBER

12 Last Night of the Proms, Rosliston Forestry Centre, 01283 563483 15 Bat Walk Rosliston Forestry Centre, 01283 535039 19 – 20 Melbourne Festival, www.melbournefestival.co.uk

OCTOBER

2 – 3 The Third Annual SIBA Beer Festival, The National Brewery Centre, www.nationalbrewerycentre.co.uk 3 Ride to the Wall, National Memorial Arboretum, www.ridetothewall.org.uk/

For more events see www.nationalforest.org/visit

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Montgomery Wood is a new 2.8 ha (6.9 acre) woodland in The National Forest, created by local businessman Chris Montgomery. Chris runs a landscaping business based in Burton and having bought the land a few years ago, decided to create the woodland under the National Forest Changing Landscapes Scheme. Chris said: “I wanted to create a woodland that could provide fuel for my family in the future whilst also benefiting wildlife and providing a place for people to enjoy the wonderful views of the river and beyond. The Changing Landscapes Scheme has helped me achieve this.”

Urban trees Montgomery Wood was designed by Angus Hancock of Cameron Forest & Garden, one of the National Forest Company’s agents, but was planted by Chris himself. It lies between the A38 and the River Trent opposite the hamlet of Wychnor and provides a link between adjacent woodlands also created as part of The National Forest. Montgomery Wood features an otter holt to provide a rest up area for itinerant otters using the Trent along with two raptor posts for birds of prey. Chris has created permissive access across the whole woodland in addition to the public footpath that runs

Simon West, Head of Forestry at the National Forest Company, said: “The creation of Montgomery Wood has provided a beautiful place for others to enjoy, bringing real benefits to the wildlife in the Forest, and a resource that will in time yield wood for fuel and other products. It’s great to see local businessmen like Chris investing in the Forest and creating a legacy for the future.”

Black to Green – get involved….

Black to Green’s activities will focus on heritage, people and habitats. The three year project will provide many opportunities for local people to get involved, including: l looking after the woodlands, grasslands and wetlands; l a community wood-fuel project;

l a range of activities for young people and families; l a training programme for school teachers and

community group leaders;

l the construction of a new bird hide and sand

martin wall for a new bird watching group;

l activities celebrating the industrial heritage.

Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust will be a key partner in the project, helping to assess and record the current picture of wildlife activity in the area. A new mobile app, map and website will help tell the story of how the landscape used to be, and help people visualise the mines, brick yards and railways that have now largely disappeared. Black to Green will also help its local communities look after this part of the Forest well into the future.

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Many readers of Forest Scene will be familiar with the National Forest Plant a Tree scheme, and this spring we were joined by members of the Sikh community in Derby who had chosen to plant trees with us to celebrate Sikh Eco Day.

URBAN TREES ARE BRINGING THE FEELING OF THE FOREST TO HOUSING ESTATES AND ALLOTMENTS WITHIN THE NATIONAL FOREST. Enjoying the new orchard at Hugglescote Allotments. From left, Kathy and Derek Wardle, Hugglescote Allotment volunteers; Julie Summerton, Community Focus Officer, North West Leicestershire District Council; John Everitt, Chief Executive, National Forest Company; Ron Jakeman, Group Managing Director, H K Wentworth; Karen Harrison, Marketing Manager, H K Wentworth; Lynne Richards, Head of Fundraising, NFC.

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l wildlife identification and recording;

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alongside the Trent and provided two new seats close to the river, plus an information board giving more details about the site.

High ropes and low ropes: new attraction at CONKERS This summer sees an exciting new aerial experience opening at CONKERS. The High Ropes course has 15 aerial sections to complete, with climbing nets and high level walkways, a 70 foot zip wire and 15 metre rapid descender. The Low Ropes course is for younger visitors, to help build their confidence with ten different elements of adventure while safely harnessed throughout. High and Low Ropes Adventure opens at Conkers in the second week of July 2015, with a separate charge for these new attractions within Conkers itself.

Letterbox or Inbox? Don’t forget to let us know if you would prefer to read Forest Scene online. Email forestscene@nationalforest.org Thank you!

CELEBRATIONS FOR SIKH ECO DAY

Nearly 400 silver birch, oak, hornbeam, crab apple and orchard trees, some standing over two metres tall, have been planted across urban spaces in the Forest, gracing parks, housing estates and allotments from Newhall to Ashby and from Measham to Ellistown. The trees have been funded by the National Forest Company’s Programme Development Fund, North West Leicestershire and South Derbyshire district councils and Ellistown parish council. Community allotment and school orchard trees have been supported by National Forest sponsor H K Wentworth. Planted by groups of school children, ‘friends of’ groups and volunteers, the trees contribute to the growing urban Forest, bringing benefits to both those who live nearby and the surrounding environment. Trees add beauty to the surroundings,

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create shade, absorb water, clean the air and provide food and shelter for wildlife. Ron Jakeman, Group Managing Director of H K Wentworth, visited Central Road Allotments in Hugglescote, where a small orchard of apple, pear, plum and cherry trees has been planted. He said: “We’re delighted to be able to support The National Forest’s urban tree planting programme. I was impressed by the enthusiasm and dedication of the Hugglescote allotment volunteers who’ve created a very special place for local people to enjoy.” John Everitt, Chief Executive, NFC, said: “The National Forest does not stop at the edges of our towns and villages, but can be felt by everyone wherever they live. This planting programme shows how you can connect the countryside to our urban spaces to bring trees to the heart of our communities.”

You can now find The National Forest on Facebook, and we tweet @NatForestCo

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Sikh Eco Day falls on 14 March each year and marks New Year’s Day for the world Sikh community. It also honours the Seventh Master of the Sikhs who was a great environmentalist, healed the birds, grew medicinal plants and planted fruit-bearing trees. The group represented Derby’s four Gurdwaras (Sikh temples), and in all they planted 35 trees. Dr Hardeep Singh, on behalf of the Derby Sikh community, said: “Celebrating Sikh Eco Day, being kind to Mother Nature, and respecting and preserving the wonderful creation on this planet, is a step towards making this a better and more harmonious world, both inside and outside. “We had the idea to plant trees in The National Forest some time ago, and we were delighted to be able to attend this year’s event. We all found the experience really wonderful and we

can honestly say that it left us all with a warm glow inside. My 13 year old son is particularly keen to return soon to do some more planting. “It was a brilliant day and we hope to turn this into a regular event for Derby’s Sikh community.”

Go ahead for Black to Green

The National Forest Company and its partners in the Heart of the Forest Forum have been awarded £770,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the innovative Black to Green project. Black to Green will conserve and enhance the Heart of the Forest, a ten square mile area centred on Moira, Donisthorpe and Ashby Woulds, the most radically transformed landscape within the 200 square miles of The National Forest. Lying at the heart of the former Midlands Coalfield, woodland cover in this area has increased from 1% to 27% over the last 20 years. It is an exceptional story of rapid change from 19th century deep coal and open cast mining, to a 21st century attractive and sustainable landscape led by the creation of The National Forest. Following last year’s development stage and its programme of walks, woodland management, nature conservation work and woodland crafts, and extensive consultation with local

“We are looking forward to the Black to Green Project starting. The carers and their families will really enjoy opportunities to get more engaged in the Forest and they can’t wait to get involved.” Lyn Blackman, Chairperson Swadlincote Special Needs Circle

communities and local landowners, the project can now expand into a full three year programme. Alan Leather, Development Manager for Black to Green, said: “Black to Green will help people learn about, enjoy and take part in this extraordinary story of landscape change at the Heart of the Forest. We are delighted HLF has chosen to support the project.”

>> See page 5 for how you can get involved.

John Everitt: new chief at the helm 14 year old Holly Forrester planted a tree “for the environment. It is great to put something back,” she said.

plantatree

www.nationalforest.org/sponsor/plantatree

www.nationalforest.org

Photographs courtesy of Christopher Beech, Darren Cresswell, Natasha Hambly, Terry McGuire, Jacqui Rock, Beth Walsh.

“By the time you read this I will have completed my first 100 days as the new Chief Executive of the National Forest Company. We have an ambitious strategy for the next ten years of the Forest, with more focused forest creation, more forest management as we grow the woodland economy, development of the visitor destination to establish the Forest firmly on the tourist map, and closer engagement of communities to reap the many benefits the Forest can provide. Sophie Churchill was always going to be a hard act to follow as Chief Executive, but I am looking forward to working with you all as partners, supporters, funders or residents to create this impressive vision for the Forest. We at the National Forest Company cannot do it alone, and over the coming weeks, months and years we hope to inspire you to support us in whatever way you can, to play your part in transforming this landscape for future generations.”

The National Forest – transforming 200 square miles of central England

Donisthorpe youth group out in the Heart of the Forest

6 Bushcraft School, Calke Abbey, 01332 863822

Catherine’s column Twenty - twenty

Spring finally arrived, as we celebrated the achievement of 20% forest cover throughout the 200 square miles of The National Forest, and the National Forest Company’s 20th birthday. We had said our fond and grateful farewells to Sophie Churchill before Christmas and welcomed John Everitt as the new Chief Executive in January. He quickly settled in and picked up where Sophie had left off. It was a somewhat quiet birthday because in 2016 we will be celebrating the first quarter century of The National Forest itself and that we plan to do in some style - more details to come later. To mark our two decades and as part of the build up to the first 25 years of the Forest we were pleased to welcome Lord Heseltine back to the Forest (see picture). He planted one of the first trees in the Forest in 1991 and planted another young oak on this return visit to Willesley Wood. On a whistle-stop tour of the Forest, he saw woodland management works at Grangewood, the substantial new tree planting at Netherseal and discussed the economics of woodland management with Andrew Kirkland, one of our early supporters. He paid tribute to the Forest as a visionary project that captured the imagination of so many members of the community who have supported it. He added: “I’ll be back in another quarter century to have another look!”

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Community wood fuel

Leicestershire County Council’s Sarah’s Wood has been a hive of activity over the winter. As well as general woodland management work, a pilot Community Wood Fuel Group has been set up. As part of the trial scheme, the members have enjoyed thinning the woodland with hand tools and then were rewarded for their hard graft with a boot full of logs at the end of each day. Supported by training and expertise from woodland professionals, the group is made up of local people who have a variety of interests and backgrounds.

Support and advice for woodland management

A recent survey of the group revealed that although initial motivations had been to gather firewood for their own use, members’ interests also extended to wildlife conservation and woodland management.

The National Forest Company’s Woodland Management Programme continues to provide support and advice to woodland owners within The National Forest. As part of this programme a Woodland Management Grant (WMG) is offered to help actively manage these young sites.

Local resident Tracey Erving took part in the project. She said: “It was a great experience. I really enjoyed the sessions and look forward to being able to volunteer more in the future. The organisers made it such fun and really took care of us all!” Further training and tools will be provided to the group through the Heritage Lottery Funded Black to Green project. More events will soon be planned for the winter 2015/16.

The WMG was offered to 37 applicants from across the Forest last year, covering all aspects of woodland management including ride edge thinning and coppicing,

Grangewood is a 40 hectare Tender Scheme winner from 1997. The trees have been growing for 18 years and have reached the stage of first thinning. This is where up to 30% of the trees are removed to reduce competition and allow the remainder to capitalise on the extra light and nutrients to continue their successful development. Grangewood’s WMG application included thinning ride edges to improve access and to give the trees the space they need to continue to grow, pruning trees to facilitate access and promote good quality timber and the removal of redundant tree guards, which had now served their purpose and looked untidy in the woodland.

pond restoration, grey squirrel control, removal of redundant rabbit fencing and installation of bird, bat and owl boxes. The grant re-opened on 1 April 2015 for new applications.

Stoneywell, the National Trust’s exquisite Arts and Crafts cottage in The National Forest, is now open.

Ever more people are also getting out and about in the Forest in their leisure time. Having walked part of the National Forest Way, I can heartedly recommend it and plan to complete it later in the year. What better time of year to get out than over the coming months and what better way to get to know the Forest than on your feet. Whatever your preferred leisure activity, enjoy the summer and the autumn in the ever more wonderful National Forest.

Catherine Graham-Harrison OBE, Chair, National Forest Company.

Woody Tree

The National Forest’s own ‘Woody Tree’ sadly passed away last year. Terry Green, a local woodsman and wildlife enthusiast from Coleorton, was a keen supporter of The National Forest, and donned the costume of ‘Woody Tree’ to help promote the Forest in its early days. His family were invited to plant a tree to remember Terry and celebrate his contribution to the Forest (see right). They said The National Forest had been part of all of their lives, his daughter Victoria adding: "Planting a tree to remember Dad is a very fitting tribute to a true countryman and complete lover of nature. It is a fantastic opportunity for his grandchildren to carry on his love of The National Forest."

A NEW 17.22 HA WOODLAND (42.5 ACRES) FuNDED THROuGH THE NATIONAL FOREST CHANGING LANDSCAPES SCHEME IS TAKING SHAPE AT BRANSTON LEAS, ALONGSIDE THE RIVER TRENT, JuST SOuTH OF BuRTON uPON TRENT. Nearly 20,000 trees have been planted, with seven acres of wetland for wetland bird species and grazing livestock that will help manage and increase the biodiversity of the site. St Modwen, a development and regeneration company, successfully applied to the NFC’s CLS scheme in partnership with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust. Several community events have already taken place on the site, with local residents and schools invited to ‘plant a tree at Branston Leas’. Simon West, Head of Forestry for the NFC, said: “Branston Leas Wood will be a valuable addition to the Forest habitats south of Burton upon Trent, for both the people and the wildlife that live there. The transport corridor between the A38 and the railway line is surprisingly rich in wildlife.” Following a school planting event, one of the teachers said: “The students had a great time planting at Branston Leas – I know that some of them would love to repeat the experience and may now even consider gardening and wildlife work as a career!”

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NFC sponsor Lex Autolease employees undertook 80 hours of woodland management at New Lount with the help of Leicestershire County Council rangers.

Forest cover reaches 20%

From 6% in the early 1990s, and over 8 million trees later, The National Forest has achieved 20% forest cover. Thank you to all our many partners and supporters – we couldn’t have done it without you!

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Terry describes himself as an obsessive dendrophile, having planted trees from an early age and gaining a diploma in timber technology as part of his shipyard apprenticeship in Edinburgh. Beverly Fairbrother at the National Forest Company prepared a certificate to mark Terry’s ten years of involvement with Grow a Tree from Seed (see photo). Find out more about Grow a Tree from Seed at www.nationalforest.org /involved/seed.php

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TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE FOR THE NATIONAL FOREST WOOD FAIR ON BANK HOLIDAy MONDAy 31 AuGuST. Buy IN ADVANCE AND SAVE MONEy!

Join us for a brilliant day out for all the family – there’ll be lumberjacks, chainsaw carving, horse logging demonstrations, pole lathe turning and greenwood crafts. Children will love the tree climbing and the coracle pool, the eco-art and the stories and songs from the Wild Man of the Woods. Enjoy woodcraft masterclasses, delicious locally-sourced food and drink, and listen to live music during this great day out for Sponsored by everyone who loves trees, timber and woodland. See more at www.nationalforestwoodfair.co.uk

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Monitoring bank voles

PHS Direct supports woodland discovery

The National Forest Way has been open for a whole year and walkers – and runners – have been telling us what they think of the new 75-mile trail.

Terry McGuire is a stalwart supporter of the National Forest Company’s Grow a Tree from Seed campaign. He lives with his family in Coventry and has been growing trees in pots and planting them in The National Forest for ten years. He told Forest Scene: “I’ve watched the development of The National Forest from the very beginnings. At one stage it may have been nearer us in Warwickshire, but when this area was chosen that was fine too. It’s a thrilling thing to do, to plant a forest using the old brownfield sites and on the old pits and open cast mines. We needed a large lung in the Midlands.” Terry’s lost count of the number of trees his family have grown from seed and planted in the Forest, but at the most recent event they planted 14 oaks, two beech and one rowan. Over the years they have planted oak, ash, walnut, holly, hazel, field maple, rowan and beech trees.

Sam Lattaway, Head of Landscape, Biodiversity and Recreation for the NFC, said: “As part of this national study, The National Forest will help The National Forest Company is determine what makes woodlands a partner in a national research enrich a wider landscape, looking project to investigate what makes at the small mammals, birds, woodlands function well as part of a invertebrates and plant life that live resilient, wildlife-friendly landscape. here. The information gathered will WrEN (Woodland creation and demonstrate not only what makes Ecological Networks) is a a woodland work as a wildlife collaborative project led by the habitat, but also, on a wider scale, University of Stirling, Forest how woodlands interact with each Research and Natural England, to other to allow plants and animals to look at how changes in land use move between them and indeed, over time impact on wildlife and across a whole varied landscape. ecological networks, using woodland as an example habitat. “The findings of the WrEN research will advance the The National Forest is perfect for thinking on woodland creation this study, an ideal example of lowland English woodland, much of and management for the it created relatively recently on land benefit of healthy wildlife, resilient ecosystems and formerly used for agriculture, diverse landscapes.” mineral extraction and other uses.

Walk the Way

Terry’s trees from seed

Schools planting event at Branston Leas

Owners of trees planted more than 15 years ago, supported by us, have also started to undertake serious woodland management work: clearing woodland rides, thinning and coppicing and clearing out old tree tubes.

Branston Leas

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National Forest Wood Fair

Presented as it was lived in during the 1950s, it is the first National Trust house to open in Leicestershire. Designed and built in 1898-99 by Leicester-born designerarchitect Ernest Gimson, as the summer residence for his brother Sydney’s family, the cottage almost appears to grow out of the Charnwood landscape. Visitors can wander through four acres of beautiful gardens, full of heathers and seasonal flowers, and venture into parts of the 11 acres of SSSI woodlands, purchased by the National Trust with the help of the National Forest Company. Visitors must pre-book in advance. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stoneywell or call 01530 248040

There are other things to celebrate too after a busy start to the year for John and the NFC team. We are delighted to share the good news that we have been awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £770,000 for the Black to Green project and we have also completed the purchase of Hanging Hill Farm in the heart of the Forest. This gives us an important missing piece of the land jigsaw and also buildings with potential for development for the benefit of everyone in The National Forest. These are great milestones for us and, at the same time, we continue to plant trees with more landowners coming forward for our Changing Landscapes Scheme; with the support of one of our local sponsors, PHS Direct, enabling local schoolchildren to plant trees; and over 1,000 people joining us for our Plant a Tree events. Over the last year, Plant a Tree was supported by people from every county in England, as well as from Wales and Scotland: we can truly say we have become The National Forest!

The owner decided to invest further in these woodland operations and thin the remainder of the compartment (not just the first 6m covered by the grant scheme). This has meant that 5 ha of young woodland has now been thinned within this attractive woodland. The timber was sold to a local firewood contractor (just five miles away), with some of the brash (branches) going to Twycross Zoo to satisfy the browsing needs of the giraffes and elephants. For more information on the Woodland Management Programme and the WMG please contact Charles Robinson, Woodland Management Officer at: cerobinson@nationalforest.org or call 01283 551211

Over 2,000 children from 30 schools have planted trees and learnt about the environment, trees and wildlife since the start of 2014, thanks to National Forest sponsor PHS Direct’s support of the woodland discovery programme in The National Forest.

Local blogger Hazel McDowell said there were so many highlights along the Way it was hard to choose: the lush green oasis of Dimminsdale woods, crossing the river plain between Branston and Walton on Trent “brimful of butterflies, bees and wildflowers”, or the magnificent Battlestead Hill.

My family and I really enjoyed the whole day out. Forest, family, food and fun: it all made it special for us, and the addition of my little great granddaughter attending as well completed the whole experience.

With much mud and many smiling faces, the staff and children really enjoyed the experience. “It’s the doing, the getting involved that’s so brilliant,” commented one of the teachers. James Clark, Managing Director of PHS Direct, said: “Tree planting with these young children has been a refreshing contrast to the immediacy of our day to day business. In tree terms these kids are mere saplings. And as the trees we’re planting now won’t be harvested for 35 years, it is the children’s generation, not ours, who will reap the benefit. These events put PHS Direct’s contribution into a much longer-term perspective.”

Fisher German has supported the creation of the National Forest Way and the staff were eager to get to know the trail first-hand. Andrew Bridge, the company’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “The National Forest Way allows you to experience the diversity of the countryside and ecology on your doorstep. As a business Fisher German walked the Way as two groups, one starting at the National Memorial Arboretum and the other starting at Beacon Hill, in July 2014. Blessed with beautiful weather the walk provided a fantastic opportunity for colleagues in the business to catch up and build friendships that will last for years to come. We all have memories of the natural beauty that exists around every twist and turn of the Way.” Caroline Scothern is the new Recreation and Sport Development Officer with the NFC and is the main point of contact for the National Forest Way.

You can become a Friend of The National Forest. Help us look after the woodlands, improve access to the Forest and provide inspiring environmental education projects for young people.

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Leave a legacy to The National Forest and create a green and living memory. See www.nationalforest.org/sponsor/legacy/