First Youth Hostel For Forest

The funding for a brand new youth hostel in the heart of the National Forest has been secured. East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA), together with Leicestershire Economic Partnership, has confirmed it will fund YHA National Forest to the tune of £1.78M. This is the final piece in the £3.2m funding jigsaw needed to create a new youth hostel and camping and caravanning site at Moira, in the heart of the National Forest. Substantial funds have already already been commited by the camping anf caravanning club and the National Forest Company.

The new hostel will be run by YHA (the Youth Hostels Association), and will attract an estimated 12,000 overnight stays a year, primarily from schools, youth organisations and families visiting the Forest. Work on the building will begin in October 2006 with the opening of the new facilities expected by summer 2007.

“This is great news for the Forest,” said Sophie Churchill, Chief Executive of the National Forest Company, and herself a life member of YHA. “YHA National Forest will bring many more people to enjoy the Forest, from all parts of the Midlands and further afield. They will have lots of choices on their doorstep, and the area will benefit greatly from the visitors. Moreover, by enabling more overnight stays it contributes to the sustainability of the Forest as a visitor attraction – people can see more with fewer journeys. I am also particularly pleased that the hostel will be built to a high environmental specification.”

Chris Boulton, YHA Chairman, said: “The new hostel will be a welcome addition to our network of 215 great locations providing high quality accommodation for young people in an easily accessible area, enabling them to learn about one of Britain’s leading environmental and sustainable development projects - The National Forest.” Frank Horsley, emda’s Rural Affairs Team Manager, said: “The project represents a fantastic opportunity to build on the success of The National Forest, moving forward in the creation of a new tourist destination of national importance. The economic benefits for the local area of increased visitors will be felt by local service providers and supply chain businesses alike – boosting job creation and income generation in North West Leicestershire and South Derbyshire. Furthermore, the sustainability at the heart of the hostel’s design further demonstrates that environmental responsibility makes good business sense.”

The new hostel will be of the highest quality. The Heart of the National Forest Foundation, which has led the creation of CONKERS, will be responsible for the hostel’s construction. The striking design of the building will incorporate features relating to renewable energy (woodfuel) and the use of timber.

Visitors to the Hostel will be able to take full advantage of the wide range of activities available in The National Forest from walking, cycling and horse riding to survival skills training, greenwood crafts and ski-ing or snowboarding on perma-snow. Heritage visits and trips to market towns cater for those who choose a calmer pace!

The new camping and caravanning site, which is to be developed alongside the Youth Hostel, will be run by the Camping and Caravanning Club. It will provide an opportunity for more staying visitors to enjoy the attractions of The National Forest, adding to the environmental, social and economic benefits which will be provided by the Youth Hostel.

Other funders include Leicestershire County Council, North West Leicestershire District Council, Clear Skies, Waste Recycling Environmental Limited (WREN), the National Forest Company and charitable donations.