Council backs National Forest in eco award

County Council leader David Parsons is calling on residents to help a charity, responsible for breathing new life into swathes of derelict Leicestershire land, clinch a prestigious award.

The Heart of the National Forest Foundation is in the running for a top 'regeneration champion of the decade' gong and Mr Parsons is urging people to vote for it to win.

Since 1998, it has transformed Leicestershire communities by leading the regeneration of dis-used collieries and the surrounding landscape, and creating environmental, educational and recreational facilities. As well as building the £20million interactive Conkers visitor attraction, the group is working with local people to turn surrounding land into a 1,000 acre forest park in the heart of the National Forest.

The foundation is one of six shortlisted for the Pro Con People's Choice Award - in their eighth year, the accolades celebrate excellence in the property and construction industries in Leicestershire.

After helping to found the charity, the County Council has supported it in many ways, including:

• providing funding for Conkers and the National Youth Hostel at Moira
• setting up the woodland park at the reclaimed Donisthorpe Colliery site
• establishing the Ashby Woulds Heritage Trail linking Conkers to Measham
• restoring one-and-a-half miles of the Ashby Canal including the basin at Conkers

County Council leader David Parsons said: "The National Forest is one of the jewels in Leicestershire's crown and without the Foundation's contribution over the past decade, parts of the county would be very different places. At one stage, the Ashby Woulds parish contained more than one quarter of Leicestershire's derelict land but thanks to the work of the charity and the Ashby Woulds Regeneration Forum, the area has been transformed - this has been recognised with a national award."

"The Heart of the National Forest Foundation has created a marvellous asset for Leicestershire over the past 10 years and I urge as many people as possible to get voting and make sure it receives the credit it deserves."

Stephen Woolfe, Chairman of the Heart of the National Forest Foundation, said: "Leicestershire County Council has been one of our greatest supporters over many years and we are absolutely delighted that the Council is urging people to vote for the Foundation as the 'Regeneration Champion of the Decade' - we can only keep our fingers crossed!"

To vote for the Heart of the National Forest Foundation, please visit www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk - the deadline is Friday, 1st October and the winners will be announced on 11th November.

For more information, please visit:

Heart of the National Forest Foundation: www.heartofthenationalforestfoundation.co.uk

Pro Con Leicestershire: www.procon-leicestershire.co.uk