The National Forest

• Sponsorship & Support

• Business Benefit Scheme

• Business Benefit Scheme Success Stories
• Actons Solicitors
• AF International
• Anglia Courier Express Ltd
• Astrazeneca
• Barlow Group Ltd
• Bluesky
• Central Networks
• E.ON
• E.ON UK
• E.ON IS UK
• ESiT
• Flex Computing
• JA Ball New Homes
• Laser Build
• London Speaker Bureau
• Needham and James
• Parcel Force
• PAST Limited
• PH Flexible
• Plastribution
• Plumbing Trade Supplies
• RSA and Cartridge World
• Silverwood Books
• Standard Soap Company
• Timber Neutral
• TNT
• TR Register
• Wilson Vale Catering

Barlow Group Ltd

Information Kiosks

Sheffield-based Barlow Group Ltd, one of the UK’s top ten commercial interior design and manufacturing specialists, joins the impressive list of key long-term sponsors of The National Forest. Their expertise in interior design has kicked off the initial three year sponsorship deal with the design and installation of information points at the Forest's main visitor centres.

The innovative information kiosk design at Conkers Discovery Centre was unveiled by Barlows' Managing Director Geraldine Broderick who cut the ribbon between two specimen mountain ash trees to reveal the ultra modern design, featuring a map of the 200 square miles of the Forest.

Geraldine Broderick explained:
'Our involvement with The National Forest is very exciting and allows us to put something back into the resources we use. We are committed to looking at new materials, production methods and environmental quality standards. This sponsorship is a great way to be involved in something that is not just for today but for future generations.'

Barlows are also contributing to new experimental work on how best to establish wild flowers in a variety of Forest habitats.

Wildflower Project

Barlows have contributed to new experimental work on how best to establish wild flowers in a variety of Forest habitats – resulting in the clothing of beautiful Billa Barra Hill in Leicestershire in carpets of wildflowers.

With views across to Bardon Hill (the highest point in Leicestershire) and far beyond, to East Midlands Airport, this stunning site was bought for The National Forest by Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council in 1996. The Barlows sponsorship enabled environmental conservation charity Landlife to extend a national wildflower project into The National Forest by preparing a specially created wildflower seed mixture, including the nation's favourite wildflower and National Forest Biodiversity Action Plan species, the Bluebell.

This wildflower planting is part of a national research project appropriately called Break New Ground where the National Forest Company is working in partnership with Landlife. This important programme, backed by Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) employs a radical deep ploughing technique that enables the seeds to be planted in less fertile sub-soil to help them thrive in conditions they prefer. It could set new standards for woodland plantings nationwide, which will mean that wildflowers and trees are planted together to give us magical flower-filled forests of the future.