With the bluebells fading and snowdrops a distant memory, it is now the turn of the showy summer wildflowers to provide vivid bursts of colour across The National Forest landscape.

From June onwards, one of the most stunning wildflower meadows is at Billa Barra in Leicestershire. The meadow was created in 2003 in partnership with Landlife, the national wildflower charity and Barlows, commercial interior design specialists. Visitors to the site, which is owned by Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council, can enjoy lovely views over Leicestershire�s rolling landscape amid the wildflowers.

There are many beautiful sites within the ancient Charnwood area of The National Forest including the Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust�s Lea Meadows Nature Reserve. In June many hundreds of common and heath-spotted orchids flower near to the stream at Lea Meadows. These are just 2 of the 240 species of plants that have been recorded at this Reserve, which is one of the best places in the East Midlands for wildflowers. As well as the rare plants, kingfishers are often spotted here skimming over the water and the stream is home to the endangered white clawed crayfish.

Willesley Wood near Ashby de la Zouch also sees a colourful display of wildflowers every year. Wildflowers attract insects and other invertebrates, making these meadows a rich habitat for wildlife.

Sence Valley Forest Park is home to a wonderful array of butterflies including Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Small Skipper, Green Veined White, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. These are attracted to the wide variety of habitats created at the Forest Park including its wildflower meadow. Managed by the Forestry Commission, Sence Valley Forest Park is a wonderful example of how a disused opencast colliery can be transformed into a diverse wildlife haven.

The National Forest has produced a leaflet showing where to see wildlife across the Forest including wildflowers. To get a copy of this or The National Forest and Beyond visitor guides, which contain ideas on where to go, what to see and places to stay in and around The National Forest, contact the National Forest Company on tel: 01283 551211, email: enquiries@nationalforest.org Or go to the website: www.nationalforest.org

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Media contacts: For further information contact either Penny Wilkinson, Tourism & Promotions Officer, or Carol Rowntree Jones, Media Relations 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. Sence Valley Forest Park Community Ranger, Chris Mansell Tel: 01889 586 593, Website: www.forestry.gov.uk

An active volunteer group is based at Sence Valley providing a ranger service, fundraising and undertaking varied conservation projects. New members to this group are always welcome. The Forestry Commission�s website www.forestry.gov.uk has dates of up coming tasks and volunteer days.

2. The Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust is working for the protection and enhancement of Leicestershire and Rutland�s wildlife and wild places. It is dedicated to securing a better future for wildlife and improving people�s understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of wildlife. It cares for 36 nature reserves covering more than 900 hectares. Contact: Neil Pilcher Tel: 0116 272 0444

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.