With trees dripping with fresh lush leaves and summer flowers splashing colour across the countryside, The National Forest is ripe for capturing that perfect shot on camera. And help is at hand for visitors to do just that.

The National Forest Company has teamed up with professional photographer Christopher Beech to put together ten top photography tips. They include techniques such as using objects in the foreground, thinking vertical and locking the focus.

Living in the heart of this �Forest in the making� has given Chris more than 12 years experience in capturing the landscape transformation across The National Forest. Chris has been taking photographs from the age of twelve, and as Course Leader at Burton College, has successfully combined teaching for the last 15 years, with freelance commercial photography and personal practice.

Chris said: �The National Forest is rich in its diversity of landscapes, which makes it a brilliant place to take photographs - from the ancient Forests and parkland, young woodland, wildflower meadows, lakes and rolling hills to the wealth of wildlife in the area. And the beauty of the Forest is how it changes throughout the seasons. The colourful wildflowers will soon make way for the reds, the golds and the wonderful light that Autumn brings.�

The Top Ten Tips are available to download from the National Forest Company website at www.nationalforest.org/visit/

Suggested sites to capture the Forest include sparkling Foremark Reservoir or the parkland landscape of Calke Abbey - with its resident deer, misty lakes and ancient oaks. Beacon Hill within the ancient Forest of Charnwood offers panoramic views, while the lush green paths at Willesley Wood near Ashby de la Zouch literally draw you in to explore the woodland.

For more information on attractions, activities, events and places to stay in and around The National Forest, the 2009 visitor guides to the Forest and Beyond are bursting with great ideas. These are available from Tourist Information Centres or from the National Forest Company.

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Media contacts: For further information contact Carol Rowntree Jones, Media Relations Officer, or Penny Wilkinson, Tourism & Promotions Officer, at the National Forest Company, on 01283 551211. For background information please visit www.nationalforest.org Digital images available, contact: media@nationalforest.org

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Christopher Beech: Chris completed a Masters Degree in Practice and Theory in 2001, and has since developed a regular programme of new work and exhibitions. Commercially, Chris has regular commissions from The Arts Council England, BBC, and the National Forest Company. He also has extensive experience of running and fundraising for community arts projects. For more information and examples of Chris� work visit www.christopherbeech.com

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

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, which celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2005, receives grant in aid from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

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 National Bike Week in The National Forest starts on Sunday 14 June 2009. Mature and developing woodlands provide the ideal backdrop to a network of quiet lanes and hearty cafes, making the Forest a great location to turn the pedals. Local cycling and triathlon clubs regularly venture out around the Forest on their rides, and have produced a varied programme of cycle rides for this year�s National Bike Week. There�s a ride to suit all abilities from the experienced cyclist through to the beginner and they�re all free of charge For more information visit http://www.nationalforest.org/visit/cycling/