Autumn is one of the most striking seasons to explore the National Forest.

Across its rolling countryside, ancient woods, and newly planted woodlands, trees are turning from green to gold, amber and crimson. It is a striking reminder of how a once industrial area has been reshaped into one of the country's boldest environmental projects.

Since the early 1990s, close to ten million trees have been planted, linking ancient woodlands with new habitats and weaving nature back into villages, towns and farmland.

From peaceful lakeside paths to long distance trails, visitors today can enjoy routes that not only showcase seasonal beauty but also tell the story of renewal and regeneration.

Spires and Stiles walk
The Spires and Stiles walk in the Mease Lowlands is a nine-mile route linking six National Forest sites and passing through farmland, hedgerows and mixed woodland. Coton Wood, planted in 1995, features oak, ash, field maple, hawthorn, cherry and other native trees, while Grangewood, planted in 1997, offers broad views across the Forest. The route passes through Rosliston Forestry Centre where you can enjoy sculpture trails, nature areas and refreshments at the café.  www.nationalforest.org/explore/walking/spires-stiles-walk

Best Kept Villages walk
This eight-mile route takes in some of South Derbyshire's most attractive villages. It passes through woodland brightened with autumn foliage and connects historic homes and churches with long established local traditions. At Coton in the Elms, walkers can see newly planted disease-resistant elm trees, and the route follows the old Procession Way, also known as the Coffin Route or Devil's Arches, once used to carry the deceased to Lullington for burial. www.nationalforest.org/explore/walking/best-kept-villages-walk

Parklands and Woodlands walk
Near Melbourne, the Parklands and Woodlands walk provides a 5.4-mile circuit through countryside and ancient woodland. The woodland paths have a natural feel and in autumn the colours of beech and oak are particularly striking. The route passes through Calke Abbey – listen out for the sounds of roaring stags in the deer enclosure as they begin the autumnal rut. www.nationalforest.org/explore/walking/parklands-and-woodlands-walk

Heart of the Forest trail
Two circular trails start and finish at Moira Furnace, offering an insight into how former industrial land has been reshaped. The northern circuit (4.5 miles) passes Albert Village Lake and Bath Yard Basin, where autumn trees are reflected in the water, while the southern circuit (5.5 miles) follows woodland tracks through Hicks Lodge and Donisthorpe Woodland Park, both restored from coal extraction. Interpretation hubs along the way tell the story of how coal and clay gave way to forest and wildlife. www.nationalforest.org/explore/walking/heart-of-the-forest-trail

Albert Village Lake circular walk
For a gentler outing, the surfaced circular path around Albert Village Lake offers a tranquil setting in all weathers, surrounded by seasonal colour. The lake attracts wildfowl, including reed warblers and water rail, and benches provide places to pause and take in the view. A nearby commemorative woodland was planted in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales. www.nationalforest.org/explore/woodlands/albert-village-lake

The National Forest Way
Stretching for 75 miles, the National Forest Way showcases the variety of landscapes across the Forest. The route runs from the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to Beacon Hill Country Park in Leicestershire. In autumn the trail is particularly beautiful, with sweeping views over woodland canopies touched by red, orange and gold. www.nationalforest.org/explore/the-national-forest-way

Visitors at this time of year are rewarded not only with dramatic scenery but also with quieter paths and cooler air that make walking especially enjoyable. Each route combines seasonal beauty with stories of how the National Forest has been created from a once industrial landscape.

Further details of these and other walks, including downloadable maps, are available from www.nationalforest.org

­Notes to Editor:

The National Forest covers 200 square miles of the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire. Its creation began in the early 1990s, a radical vision to bring the benefits of trees, woodland and multi-use forestry to lowland England, where thousands of people live and work.  

The Forest provides a national demonstration of the value of the natural environment to drive regeneration and showcase policy and practice, research and development in the heart of the country. 

It was the first broadleaf forest to be created at scale in England for more than 900 years and is now seen as one of the boldest environmentally led regeneration initiatives in the country. It has transformed a post-industrial Midlands landscape – scarred by coal mining and heavy industry - from black to green. 

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. More than 9.8 million trees have been planted so far. Forest cover has increased from six percent to 25 percent, approaching double the national average for woodland cover. The aim is to reach around a third forest cover.   

Trees have been the catalyst for change and transformation. The National Forest is a positive response to the climate crisis and is putting in place the building blocks to deliver mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Through partnerships the National Forest is working to create wildlife habitats, reduce flooding, improve air quality, store carbon and create space for outdoor education, supporting the health and wellbeing of communities and enabling Forest-related businesses to thrive.

The National Forest Company (charity no: 1166563) leads the creation of the National Forest, working in partnership with landowners, local authorities, businesses and its communities. It has strong support from government, politicians.