Memorandum from The National Forest Company
(EM 20)
The National Forest Company would like to present
the following comments as evidence to the enquiry.
However, firstly by way of background summary
of The National Forest and the NFC, for further information, please
see our website www.nationalforest.org
WHAT IS
THE NATIONAL
FOREST
The National Forest is a forest in the making.
— It is an inspiring example for the country,
in the face of climate change and other environmental pressures.
— It is a place of enjoyment and learning
for its residents and visitors.
— It is a place of contrasts, where people
find quiet relaxation and active leisure.
— It is a working forest providing new
and sustainable livelihoods.
The National Forest enriches the lives of its
people and the landscape and wildlife of this part of England.
The idea of a new multi-purpose forest for the
nation was first mooted in the Countryside Commission's 1987 policy
document Forestry in the Countryside. The aim would be
to demonstrate in lowland Britain that a large scale, attractive
Forest could be created, blending commercial forestry with ecological,
landscape and public benefit. Economic regeneration would come
from the restoration of mining sites but in the long term many
other benefits would also be achieved. The future of agriculture
would be supported through opportunities for rural diversification.
From one of the country's least wooded regions,
the ambitious goal for The National Forest is to increase woodland
cover to about a third of all the land within its boundary.
This is now well under way with woodland cover
having increased from around 6% in 1991 to nearly 18% in
2008. This has made large swathes of countryside more accessible
for local people and visitors with 90% of woodland sites open
to all, to be explored and enjoyed. Increasing numbers of people
are relishing this new public access in ever-changing surroundings
and finding a host of attractions and activities to enjoy—all
to the benefit of the local economy.
WHAT IS
THE NATIONAL
FOREST COMPANY
(NFC)
The National Forest Company was established
in April 1995 and is responsible, through partnership working,
for the delivery of the Government-approved National Forest Strategy.
The Company is limited by guarantee and its founder members were
the then Secretary of State for the Environment and the Minister
for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The Company receives funding
to assist in the delivery of the National Forest Strategy from
its sponsor department, the Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs (Defra). Our mission statement is that, The National
Forest Company:
— Attracts and uses resources for ambitious,
sensitive and imaginative Forest creation.
— Provides the setting for new businesses,
recreation, tourism and an improved quality of life.
— Enhances wildlife and biodiversity.
The National Forest Company works through working
partnerships with landowners, businesses, public, private and
voluntary organisations and local communities to fulfill the shared
vision for the Forest. It promotes the widest possible participation
in and enjoyment of the Forest.
As the Forest matures, the Company promotes
at international, national and local levels the experience and
knowledge emerging from this inspiring and ambitious project.
EVIDENCE AND
COMMENT (USING
YOUR HEADINGS)
— the role, responsibilities and accountability
of emda. The NFC has always found emda staff and
board members to be accessible and has been impressed with the
breadth and depth of the consultation exercises it has undertaken.
Inevitably, however, there will be occasions when a regional level
body can see a little remote from local "on the ground"
issues. This reflects the comprise involved in regional strategic
activity rather than any shortcomings on behalf of emda
itself. Indeed, the establishment of the sub regional partnerships
and the emerging Multi Area Agreement based programmes has helped
to give a county based structure to emda work.
— the process by which the RES was drawn
up and the level of involvement of regional stakeholders. No comment.
— the effectiveness of the RES for the
East Midlands in delivering against its targets. The experience
of the NFC is that there has been sufficient flexibility in the
RES to enable investment in land, visitor and tourism based projects
to be funded which have benefitted local communities and contributed
to regional reclamation, employment and business development targets.
— the effect of the financial and economic
situation on businesses in the region including the effect on
different sectors and the impact on local employment, and how
well emda is meeting needs in the challenging economic
climate. In the National Forest, emda has recognised the
benefits to the regeneration of former mining communities of linking
to the Forest vision and building a high quality tourism and visitor
infrastructure as part of a diversified economy.
— the changes to regional policy proposed
in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction
Bill and the potential effect on emda. No comment.
— the role of other Government agencies
such as the Government Office for the East Midlands, and of partnerships
between Government agencies, local government and the private
sector, in delivering the aims of the RES. Region cross organisation
working seems to have been good, exemplified by the Integrated
Regional Strategy but I am not able to comment on what challenges
this held for the Regional Assembly and emda. In Forestry,
emda contributed well with others to the preparation of
Space 4 Trees, (the Regional Forestry Framework). Arrangements
between GOEM, emda, Forestry Commission and Natural England
on the Rural Development Plan seem to be working well.
— the way emda's resources are divided
between rural and urban parts of the East Midlands, and whether
the division is appropriate. Within the Forest, emda has
recognised the need for a focus on coalfield regeneration and
the development of the visitor economy in what is a rural area.
With the sub regional partnerships (LSEP and DDEP) and East Midlands
Tourism, emda has contributed substantial funding (over
£12 million) to the following projects:
SRB programmes in Swadlincote and Coalville
Rural Coalfield programme
Heart of The National Forest (including Conkers
visitor centre)
Rosliston Forestry Centre, including timber
lodges
National Forest Youth Hostel
Land acquisition and site development to develop
and extend greenspace as part of the early Green Infrastructure
programme
The Woodland Economy Business programme (WEBS)
The development of gateways to the Forest using
new high quality signage and other visitor infrastructure.
— how well emda is performing on
sustainability. The projects supported by emda have helped
to develop the National Forest as a showcase for sustainable development
and design. Conkers, the Youth Hostel and Rosliston have all been
successful in regional and national awards in sustainable development
categories.
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