The National Forest Company (NFC) is launching a new grants scheme to help fund projects aimed at establishing the National Forest as a sustainable destination for people to visit. 

The grants have been set up to support businesses with their continued recovery from the pandemic, and to encourage them to invest wisely now to create a greener future for the sector.   

Developing sustainable tourism aligns with the National Forest's 25-year vision for the Forest to be a place where people and nature can work together to grow a positive future. Through these grants, the NFC aims to support organisations that share this vision and can put forward projects that help to develop the National Forest as a landmark sustainable tourism destination: inspired by the Forest, accessible to everyone, and responsive to the urgency of climate change. 

John Everitt, chief executive of the NFC, said: “There is a growing demand for more sustainable holidays and short breaks, where visitors know they are supporting green jobs and having a lower impact on the planet. We're excited to be launching our sustainable tourism grants here in the National Forest and leading the transition to a low carbon destination.” 

Qualifying projects may fall into one or more of the following categories: 

1. Improve and promote access for all visitors to surrounding woodlands and habitats.  
2. Strengthen visitor connections with the Forest.  
3. Protect and enhance nature to improve the visitor experience.   
4. Raise visitor awareness of the National Forest story and future vision.  

The Sustainable Tourism Grants Scheme is open now until 31 May 2022.  Grants of up to £5,000 are available to organisations working in the tourism and hospitality sector, including small businesses, charities and social enterprises. Those looking to apply should visit the National Forest website to find out more:  https://www.nationalforest.org/about/grants-sustainable-tourism-grants or contact Richard Drakeley, Tourism Development Manager – rdrakeley@nationalforest.org  

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Media contact: 

Carol Rowntree Jones, Media Relations Officer, NFC, crowntreejones@nationalforest.org   Tel: 01283 551211 / 07870 568628 

For more information on the National Forest visit www.nationalforest.org  

Digital images are available, please contact media@nationalforest.org 

Notes to Editors 

1. 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 multi-use forestry to lowland England, where thousands of people live and work. Nine million trees have been planted so far. It is the first forest to be created at scale in England for 1,000 years and is now seen as one of the boldest environmentally led regeneration initiatives in the country, transforming a post-industrial Midlands landscape from black to green, and linking the remnant ancient forests of Charnwood and Needwood.  
2. 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. Forest cover has increased from 6% to 22%, approaching double the national average for woodland cover. The aim is to reach around a third forest cover.  
3. The value of tourism towards the National Forest's economy is substantial. Prior to the pandemic, 9 million visitors helped generate £472 million each year, in turn providing employment for over 5,300 people. 
4. It is 'forest' in the old sense of the word: not wall to wall trees but a distinctly wooded landscape that provides a setting in which people live, work and learn. The trees, woodlands and related forest habitats provide homes for wildlife, are spaces for recreation and support health and wellbeing, provide employment, clean air, carbon storage and add immensely to the quality of life.  
5. The trees have been the catalyst for change. However, this isn't enough. The National Forest has always been a tree-led response to the climate crisis, but today the problem is much bigger. Our planet is facing a climate emergency and our society is experiencing social and economic problems that are all made worse by climate change.  The National Forest's vision takes a dynamic approach to the challenges faced by our environment, society and economy, finding innovative solutions that benefit all three simultaneously. This is real sustainability in action, in partnership, in a real place, showing that we can grow a greener, healthier and more sustainable future together.  
6. 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 and the public, and continues to be supported by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.