The annual networking event for the National Forest & Beyond tourism partnership was held at Twycross Zoo this week.
Over 70 delegates representing local tourism businesses, attractions and tourist information centres from across and near the 200 square miles of The National Forest, joined the tourism partners – East Staffordshire Borough Council, North West Leicestershire District Council, South Derbyshire District Council and the National Forest Company – for a series of lively presentations and leaflet swap.

Coinciding with English Tourism Week, the event welcomed Jason Freezer, Head of Destination Management at VisitEngland, who spoke about current national tourism trends and the work being undertaken to raise the profile of tourism across the country.

Dr Sharon Redrobe, Chief Executive of Twycross Zoo, outlined the master plan to transform Twycross Zoo, an attraction of national significance which acts as a gateway to The National Forest, standing just a few miles outside the boundary.

John Everitt, newly-appointed Chief Executive of the National Forest Company (NFC), spoke about his first impressions of the Forest and its potential to grow as a unique forested visitor destination, within easy reach of so much of the country. He said: “This was one of the first opportunities I have had to address a larger audience of Forest businesses and the energy and positivity for the destination was palpable. It was great to speak with so many local businesses who are passionate about The National Forest, and being able to link the event with English Tourism Week gave us a platform to raise the profile of the work we are doing across the Midlands.”

Tourism is worth £336m pa to the National Forest & Beyond area and there were 7.2 million visitors to The National Forest in 2013. The industry supports 4,561 tourism related jobs.

Represented at the event were glamorous camping specialists The Dandelion Hideaway, the Forestry Commission's Hicks Lodge: the National Forest Cycle Centre; Woodland Survival Crafts; YHA National Forest; Sealwood Cottage Vineyard; Field Sport UK, the National Brewery Centre, Champneys Spa  and the National Forest Adventure Farm, amongst others.

For more information on The National Forest see www.visitnationalforest.co.uk

Ends

Photo caption: The National Forest & Beyond tourism networking event; from left: John Everitt, National Forest Company; Dr Sharon Redrobe, Twycross Zoo; Jason Freezer, VisitEngland.

Media contact:  Carol Rowntree Jones, Media Relations Officer, National Forest Company, on 01283 551211; email: crowntreejones@nationalforest.org or Richard Drakeley, Tourism Development & Promotions Officer, 01283 551211 email: rdrakeley@nationalforest.org
For more information on The National Forest see www.nationalforest.org
Digital images are available. Contact media@nationalforest.org

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The National Forest & Beyond is a partnership of East Staffordshire Borough Council, North West Leicestershire District Council, South Derbyshire District Council and the National Forest Company, brought together to promote The National Forest and the surrounding area as a destination for short breaks and days visits.

2. The National Forest area covers 200 square miles of the counties of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire.  Its objective is to increase woodland cover within its boundaries from an initial six per cent to about a third. No multi-purpose forest on this scale has been created in the UK for one thousand years. To date the proportion of woodland cover in the Forest has more than trebled to 19.8 per cent and in 2012 HRH the Duke of Cambridge planted the eight millionth tree in the Forest. 

3. Year by year, The National Forest has been steadily turning what was once one of the least wooded areas of England into a multi-purpose, sustainable forest.  The National Forest provides environmental, social and economic benefits, including landscape enhancement, creation of new wildlife habitats and major new access and leisure opportunities. It is an excellent example of sustainable development – with environmental improvement providing a stimulus both to economic regeneration and to community pride and activity.

4. To achieve these objectives, the National Forest Company leads the creation of The National Forest, working in partnership with landowners, local authorities, private business, voluntary organisations and local communities and has strong support from Government, politicians and the public.  The Company receives grant in aid from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

5. The National Forest Company's Triennial Review by Central Government in 2013 stated: “Many [stakeholders] stressed the need for the continued role of the NFC to maintain momentum and ensure that the long term aims for The National Forest are achieved. The importance of a 'truly sustainable landscape scale project' was stressed, with the need for continued objectives across a wide agenda including economic growth, woodland culture and habitat networks.”

6. In 2008, the National Forest Company and partners won the inaugural Sustainable Development UK Award, for their work in Ashby Woulds, at the heart of The National Forest.