You don�t need to travel to far flung parts of the country to take part in the renaissance in traditional crafts, to be featured on BBC TV over the next six weeks. Here in the heart of The National Forest there are plenty of opportunities to learn the techniques, skills and often forgotten histories of woodland crafts.

Mastercrafts, a six week series filmed in Dorset, starts on 12 February on BBC2, and follows three hopefuls in their search for the perfect traditional craft for them.

Here in The National Forest you can train under master woodsman Peter Wood in his woodland workshop Greenwood Days. Under his expert guidance, novices and keen amateurs can learn pole lathe turning, Windsor chair making, how to make your own long bow and learn to fire it, steam and tar a coracle, weave a willow basket or bend a hazel hurdle on courses lasting from one to eight days.

If Ray Mears� bushcraft survival skills are more to your taste, there are three survival schools based in The National Forest. Forage for wild food, collect rain water from leaves, twist twine out of tree roots or filter water through socks lined with moss and wood ash. Build a snug shelter in the woods and watch the stars come out.

Or you can volunteer with BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) and learn dry stone walling, hedgelaying, coppicing and other countryside skills. It�s a great way to meet people, have fun and get fit at the same time.

See more about Forest experiences on The National Forest website at www.nationalforest.org/visit/thingstodo/experience.php For Peter Wood�s Greenwood Days courses: www.greenwooddays.co.uk Survival schools in The National Forest: Survival School: 0871 222 7304 Woodland Survival Crafts: www.woodlandsurvivalcrafts.com Woodland Ways: www.woodland-ways.co.uk BTCV: 01530 277855 www.btcv.co.uk

Ends

Media contact: Carol Rowntree Jones, Media Relations Officer, National Forest Company: 01283 551211 For further information on The National Forest visit www.nationalforest.org Digital images are 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 7.7 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, Derbyshire DE12 6BA tel: 01283 551211 email: crowntreejones@nationalforest.org www.nationalforest.org