The government has announced that the National Forest will receive an additional £2.4m to boost forest creation over the coming year.

The extra funding will enable more trees to be planted, the creation of more green and wooded spaces for people to enjoy, and new wildlife habitats in and around the Ashby area.

It comes as part of year three of the Nature for Climate Fund, a package for all woodland creation delivery partners throughout the country to help meet the Government's tree planting targets.

The National Forest successfully achieved the milestone of more than 200 hectares of new forest habitat created last year, through a combination of land acquisition, grants to farmers and landowners, and use of the planning system.

This resulted in over 200,000 trees being planted throughout the 200 square miles of the Forest, covering parts of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire.  

 John Everitt, chief executive of the National Forest Company (NFC), the organisation that leads the creation of the National Forest, said: "The additional funding is excellent news and will enable us to work with partners, communities and businesses to continue the transformation of this area.

"The National Forest demonstrates how trees can lead a positive response to the urgency of climate change, and how woodlands near to where people live and work bring benefits to our wellbeing, support farming and industry, and promote nature's recovery."

Forest cover in the National Forest has now reached over 22 per cent, up from only six per cent in the early 1990s.

The national average for woodland cover in England is 10 per cent.

The National Forest achieves its continuing success by working with businesses, landowners within the Forest and local communities, as well as individuals who dedicate a tree in the Forest to remember a loved one or celebrate one of life's special moments.

Substantial tree planting is also achieved through the planning system, thanks to close partnership working with local authority planning departments throughout the Forest.

Minorca Woods at Measham: business partnership

Minorca woods, formerly a deep mine and open cast coal mine, is a new woodland site near Measham.

The transformation of the site has been supported by an innovative 75-year partnership between the NFC and top UK clothing brand FatFace.

Over 53,000 trees have been planted on the site so far, and the carbon stored as they grow will form part of a business model that supports both carbon reduction and storage.

A carefully considered mix of different tree species has been used, consisting of both broadleaved trees and conifers. 

Some of these were chosen for their ability to take up carbon quickly, others chosen specifically for the benefits they provide for wildlife.

Grants to landowners

Grant-aided schemes have led to 50,000 trees being planted this year.

These schemes can support landowners of all kinds, including farmers, parish councils, businesses, local authorities and schools.

The NFC's various schemes cover large scale forest creation over many hectares, or tree planting of less than a single hectare in a small corner of a field.

As well as enabling tree planting at scale, the schemes provide many different benefits for local access and wildlife habitats, such as this year's mixed woodland planting by Leicestershire County Council at the restored Ravenstone quarry, specifically designed to enhance the local barn owl population.

Everyone can get involved in supporting tree planting in the National Forest.

Individuals can contribute through the National Forest's Dedicate a Tree scheme HERE.

Landowners within the National Forest can find details on all the schemes available HERE.