Image via WikipediaBYRKLEY GARDEN CENTRE -

GATEWAY TO A GROWING DESTINATION

Visitors to Byrkley Garden Centre will discover more than just plants, trees and shrubs as they browse, but can now explore a ‘forest in the making’.  The extensive garden centre has teamed up with the National Forest Company to install facilities with information on the centre and the growing forest.

Byrkley Garden Centre is based upon the site of the former kitchen garden for the country mansion Byrkley Lodge.  The new facilities at the garden centre include a shelter with a living roof and panels that detail the history of the stunning hunting lodge and its vast kitchen garden, which for centuries has been the site of great gardening tradition.

A map shows walks around the surrounding countryside including parts of mature woodland within the ancient Needwood Forest, which forms the western border of The National Forest.

Ian Van den Berg, Manager of Byrkley Garden Centre, said: “The new facilities will give our customers a unique opportunity to learn about The National Forest and the fascinating history of this area.”

The project is part of the Advantage West Midlands funded Visitor Infrastructure Project, designed to promote the wealth of things to see and do across the 200 square mile Forest, and make the connections between one part of the Forest and another.  Other sites that feature new facilities as part of the project include the National Forest Maize Maze, barton Marina, Jacksons Bank on the Duchy of Lancaster Estate, MOTO Service Area Tamworth and the National Memorial Arboretum.  Each site will have varied information points, ranging from the shelters, panels and benches, to listening posts and touchscreen kiosks.

Sophie Churchill, Chief Executive of the National Forest Company said: “We are delighted to work with Byrkley Garden Centre in raising awareness of the Forest, which spans parts of three counties – Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.  Its history and heritage are fascinating - they give a new dimension to buying your winter pansies! The new installations will give visitors a sense of the whole of The National Forest as a place to visit and enjoy: they will help to promote the wider area and link attractions within the Forest. Byrkley Garden Centre should be on anyone’s route through The National Forest.”

The project follows the success of the Visitor Infrastructure Project across the East Midlands side of The National Forest, where new facilities were installed at twenty venues including attractions such as Conkers Discovery Centre and Snibston, woodland sites such as Sence Valley Forest Park, Poppy Wood and Beacon Hill Country Park, as well as Donington and Leicester Forest East Service Areas on the M1, and the Tourist Information Centres at Ashby de la Zouch and Swadlincote.

The work is due to be completed by March 2009.  In the meantime, visitors can find more information on the huge choice of things to do and see in the Forest or places to stay for a brilliant weekend break by contacting the National Forest Company on 01283 551211 or logging onto the website www.nationalforest.org

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Image via WikipediaFRUITFUL MONTHS FOR SURVIVAL SKILLS
in The National Forest

Interest in ancient woodland crafts and bushcraft skills, inspired by programmes with survival experts such as Ray Mears, is rapidly growing throughout the country.  And, as the coming months find The National Forest at its most fruitful, now is the best time to come and find out how to survive here!

There are three survival schools operating from within The National Forest area that run day, weekend or week-long courses.  These teach visitors not only the fundamental principles of survival and wilderness bushcraft, but also how to identify and cook edible plants, recognise specific trees and discover uses for different plants and trees - helping visitors get to grips with the differences and similarities between harmless edible species found in the Forest and their poisonous cousins!

Jason Ingamells, chief instructor of Woodland Ways Survival School said: “The National Forest is a great place for people to come and ‘experience’ woodland. It is brilliant to be based within this growing Forest and our courses not only teach people to use the plants and trees but also to appreciate the woodland around them.

“If visitors are looking for wild food, it is important to identify the plants correctly. There are many books now on the topic of edible plant identification but, for the novice, there is really no substitute for an experienced guide.”

Visitors to woodlands during the months running into Autumn will discover trees laden with edible delights.  Among those currently to be found are blackcurrant, gooseberry, redcurrant, wild rose flower, lime blossom, green walnuts, raspberry and mushrooms.  These can be used in traditional recipes such as rose petal jam, lime blossom tea and walnut pickle.

Throughout August fortunate Forest foragers can find a veritable feast including wild strawberries, blackberries, hazelnuts and elderberries.  But in September, the number of different ripe species almost doubles with fungi, fruits and nuts, such as beech nuts, bilberry, bramble, hawthorn berries, juniper and rosehip, ready for picking.

But if foraging seems all too much like hard work, there is a wealth of excellent tea shops and restaurants across The National Forest where you can relax and enjoy food in the Forest before embarking on a peaceful woodland walk.

Penny Wilkinson, from the National Forest Company commented:  “The National Forest has this wonderful woodland resource for people to come and enjoy – whether to learn ancient skills or just to enjoy the fresh air and get away from it all on a Forest walk.”

There is a huge range of outdoor activities available across The National Forest to encourage people to get out and enjoy the new and ancient woodlands, such as guided walks to identify trees and wildlife, conservation activities, as well as walking, cycling and horse-riding, The National Forest website www.nationalforest.org has a whole host of ideas to enjoy the great outdoors.

For more information on where to go, what to see and places to stay in and around The National Forest, the 2008 visitor guides to the Forest are bursting with great ideas. For a copy telephone 01283 551211, email: discover@nationalforest.org.  Or go to the website: www.nationalforest.org

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