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Our history

In the last 30 years, a quiet revolution has been taking place in these 200 square miles of the Midlands. More than 9.5 million trees have been planted in what was once one of the least wooded parts of the country, steadily expanding and connecting woodland across a previously fragmented landscape.

It was grey, smoke filled, covered in coal dust. People had to wash the nets on their windows every week, because they'd just be covered in coal dust.
Hazel McDowell, Resident

From black to green

Following the closure of the coal mining and clay extraction industries in 1980s, large swathes of the Midlands landscape had been left scarred and derelict, with a loss of community identity and an uncertain future. But a passionate group of people had a vision; the first broadleaf forest to be created at scale in England for over 900 years. A place where woodlands would be at the heart of a revitalised landscape, with trees growing alongside where people lived and worked.

A story of regeneration

In the late 1980s the government launched a competitive process to identify the location for a new multi-purpose forest. With a groundswell of public support, a landscape in need of change and an ambition to connect the ancient remnant forests of Charnwood and Needwood, the National Forest area was chosen. By 1991, the 200 square mile boundary was agreed and the first trees were planted.

A place of transformation

From these early beginnings, the idea has been nurtured and grown, supported by partners and successive governments for over three decades. Today, the mines have been restored, the landscape transformed and Forest cover dramatically increased from only 6% of the land area to more than 25%. It is a success story of environmentally-led regeneration, restoring nature, improving the wellbeing of communities and stimulating the green economy.

The National Forest transformation