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Hosted by Eleanor Barraclough, this series explores the 30-year journey of the National Forest through the voices of those who have shaped and experienced it. From witnessing the first tree planted to the next generation enjoying its benefits, discover the inspiring stories behind this transformative landscape.
Presenter: Eleanor Barraclough
Scriptwriter: Cressida Peever
Producer: Melvin Rickarby
A High Wire Audio production
In this episode we focus on the things that preceded the National Forest’s inception, culminating in a land crying out for regeneration – not just environmentally, but economically and socially too. We explore the visionaries who decided to push for change, and how they made their voices heard. We understand what is at stake for the land and people who live here.
We’re in the same place, but now it’s 1995 and the National Forest Company has been officially founded. We visit the site where the first National Forest trees were planted. We speak to a group of young adults; they are all very different, but have one thing in common: there were all born here in 1995. We speak to their older family members about what was happening for them at that time; their way of life and their hopes for the future.
It’s the 2000s, and the Ashby Canal is newly reopened. We plant the NF’s five millionth tree just outside Burton upon Trent and launch the National Forest Wood Fair. Our 06 March 2023 NF babies are teenagers now, and talk about their experience of growing up here. The NF is in its own period of growth and transition.
We’ve caught up with the present day: it’s 2023 and the NF is growing and firmly entrenched in the landscape. Now, we have the space to think about expansion and our place in the world. We check in with our environment, economy and society. We’ve come so far, and made a huge impact. But new areas of focus have emerged since we began: the cost of living, mental health provision, and the stark effects of climate change.
We visit Timber Festival – the former forest festival, that took place in the National Forest at Feanedock Woodlands. Here, art, culture and wellbeing are at one with the landscape. It’s joyous – a slice of the harmony the NF’s strategy aims to create long-term. We celebrate everything the NF has achieved so far, and take an in-depth look at how it’s brought the community together.
In this episode, we explore the future of the National Forest. What will it look like centuries from now, when today’s NF babies are the ancestors of future generations? Our experts and advocates share their visions of a world where green space is truly accessible—and how long it might take to get there. We ask big questions, dream big, and invite you to be part of the journey. Who’s ready to help make it happen?
Love what you hear? Why not consider making a donation to the Forest to help us to continue to create a greener, healthier and more sustainable future.
