Outstanding Progress

The National Forest Company (NFC) reports on a hugely successful year in its latest Annual Report covering the year to March 2000. Highlights include:

* 480 hectares of land converted or committed to Forest purposes, a 22% increase over last year and 96% of the ambitious target of 500 hectares set for the year.

* Land converted or committed to the Forest includes:

- 242 hectares of new land secured through the Tender Scheme (Target 240 hectares)

- restoration of 91 hectares of mineral land (Target 63 hectares)

- 94 hectares acquired by the NFC via its new ability to purchase land itself.

* 315 hectares of new open access secured (95% of Target)

* 142 hectares of nature conservation habitats have been created or brought into management (Target 150 hectares)

* securing Severn Trent Water and Jaguar Cars as prime corporate sponsors

* Over 9500 people attended events run, or grant-aided, by the NFC

* 105 school visits to the educational facilities at the Heart of the National Forest Visitor Centre and Rosliston Forestry Centre.

In its brief history, woodland cover across the 200 square mile National Forest area has almost doubled from 6% to the present 11.2%. Altogether an impressive 2598 hectares of land has been converted or committed to the Forest.