Charnwood Forest secures National Lottery support

Charnwood Forest in Leicestershire has been awarded a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of more than £2.7m.

The grant will help fund the Charnwood Forest Landscape Partnership Scheme. 

The five year scheme will promote awareness and understanding of Charnwood Forest through geological conservation, habitat restoration, improvements to connections between sites for visitors, creating innovative interpretation, outdoor learning opportunities for young people and adults, and a five-year programme of cultural and heritage activities and events.

John Everitt, Chief Executive of the National Forest Company, host organisation for the project, said: “Charnwood Forest’s future hinges on our ability to convey its story effectively. We need to fill people with surprise, delight and awe when they hear it. Only when they understand Charnwood Forest will they be moved to care for it. This Scheme will support more than 80 sites across Charnwood Forest and enable over 1,000 volunteers to learn about and help us to protect this precious landscape.”

Atul Patel, Chair of the Landscape Partnership Steering Group, said: "Many organisations and volunteers throughout Charnwood Forest have put in masses of work to achieve this award for the Charnwood Forest Regional Park. A huge thank you to the Fund’s Midlands and East Area Committee and lottery players for their support. This award will unlock further match funding, and we can’t wait to get started on work on the ground as soon as the Covid-19 situation allows.”

Cllr Blake Pain, Cabinet Lead for Environment at Leicestershire County Council, said: “I am delighted that the Charnwood Forest Landscape Partnership bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund has been successful, and thank everyone involved for their hard work and commitment. The £2.7m will provide much needed and welcome investment in Charnwood Forest and I am confident it will enable people to explore, understand and care for Charnwood Forest and its hidden gems and provide the impetus for the creation of a valuable legacy for Leicestershire.

“Leicestershire County Council has been proud to support and contribute to this project and we look forward to continuing to work with the wide range of partners involved over the next five years and beyond.”

Cllr Jonathan Morgan, Leader of Charnwood Borough Council, said: “This is wonderful news, particularly at a time like this, and reminds us that there is plenty to look forward to in the future. We are incredibly proud to be part of Charnwood Forest and this lottery funding will help to make the woodlands more accessible to a wide range of people. It will also help preserve it for future generations and help people understand its importance in the local, regional and national landscape.

“As a Council we have already significantly invested in improving the Outwoods in Loughborough and it is highly cherished by visitors.”

The award, match funded by additional contributions to the value of £963,000, will ensure 18 co-ordinated projects will go ahead. These include:

• Geological conservation and research
• Innovative interpretation
• Habitat restoration
• 15 natural flood management projects
• 10km of improvements to Rights of Way and the creation of a safer, off-road path between Beacon Hill and the Outwoods
• Heritage and health programmes, in particular for those with access and special health needs
• Roadshows, events and Citizen Science projects involving 10,000 people
• 1,250 volunteering opportunities
• Participatory arts programmes to engage people to record and celebrate Charnwood
• Outdoor learning
• Improved visitor information
• Mapping of Charnwood’s distinctive stone walls.