Plantatree in The National Forest is a gift that will get you and the family out in the fresh air in the New Year. Buy one for your family, or for a group of friends.

The National Forest is growing in the heart of the Midlands � over 200 square miles of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire � and nearly eight million trees have already been planted. Do your bit and join in with your spade and wellies and plant your tree!

Buy plantatree as a gift and you will receive a personalised certificate with your own special message. You are then invited to the Forest for a special tree planting event. On the day you can choose your tiny tree, generally an oak, ash or birch, and with the help of foresters from The National Forest, plant the �whip� as part of a growing National Forest woodland. If you prefer not to attend, the tree can be planted for you.

The woodland will always be there for you to visit, so what other gift could be so long lasting and ever changing, as the trees grow and the woodland and wildlife change with the seasons?

Plantatree in The National Forest costs �25 which reflects the true cost of creating and developing the new woodland, including its future care and maintenance.

It is easy to buy online at www.nationalforest.org/giftshop or for further information email enquiries@nationalforest.org or tel: 01283 551211.

ends

Media contact: Carol Rowntree Jones, Media Relations Officer at the National Forest Company 01283 551211. For background information please visit www.nationalforest.org Digital images available, contact media@nationalforest.org

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. 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 already trebled to 18 per cent and over 7 million trees have been planted.

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. 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.

3. 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.

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

Carol Rowntree Jones Media Relations Officer National Forest Company Bath Yard, Moira, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE12 6BA Tel: 01283 551211 Fax: 01283 552844 Email: crowntreejones@nationalforest.org Website: www.nationalforest.org