National Forest could extend to Hinckley under council plan
National Forest already covers parts of the borough
THE National Forest could be extended south into the Hinckley area.
The environment scrutiny committee at Leicestershire County Council has resolved to approach the National Forest Company to look at expanding the green area’s boundaries.
Over 200 hectares of farmland and derelict land across the county have been turned into woodland since becoming part of the forest, which was launched in the 1980s.
It covers a large portion of North West Leicestershire, including Ashby, Coalville and Measham, and extends to Bagworth and Thornton in Hinckley and Bosworth borough and up to Nanpantan in Charnwood district.
A spokesperson for the council said: “We are looking into the possibility of working with the National Forest Company to investigate the feasibility of expanding the National Forest’s boundaries.
“No discussions taken place so far.”
Bosses at the forest have said they are open to talks.
Chief executive John Everitt said: “We have been consulted and are in discussions on the tree management strategy with the council, where we will no doubt pick up any discussions around boundaries if they are raised.”
The forest also has an aspiration for 33 per cent forest cover within its area, meaning that 7 million trees would be planted, with 250 hectares a year to be turned into trees over the next 25 years.
Hinckley councillor David Bill, who was on the committee that first formed the National Forest, raised the idea of expanding the boundary. have
He said he would like to see it come down as far as Burbage Common.
Hinckley and Bosworth
Borough Council has been in discussions with the National Forest for some time about enlarging its boundaries.
Bill Cullen, chief executive of the borough council, said: “The council have been in dialogue with the senior team of the National Forest Company regarding looking at the potential for identifying further gateways into the forest from the Hinckley area and to embed national forest educational programmes into our local schools.
“These initiatives will help support our climate change ambitions to reduce carbon emissions.”
Across the country, there are roughly 300 hectares of established woodland on the council’s country parks, 104 hectares on the council’s county farms estates and 10 hectares of woodland plantations in highway verges.
The Government’s Committee on Climate Change last year recommended that 30,000 hectares of woodlands should be planted annually across the UK.