Making Business Sense. Efficient, Effective, Ethical

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1 Making Business Sense Meeting corporate social responsibility and environmental objectives by supporting The National Forest Efficient, Effective, Ethical

2 As an instrument of planetary home repair, it is hard to imagine anything as safe as a tree. Jonathan Weiner, Author

3 The Ambition The National Forest is the boldest environmentally led regeneration project ever seen in this country. A vast, new forest is being created, reflecting the growing awareness of our need to protect and cherish our environment, and our desire to pass it on undamaged and even enhanced for future generations. Your support delivers benefits immediately but also leaves a legacy for generations to come. By working in partnership with the National Forest Company, businesses can meet environmental and corporate social responsibility objectives, delivering measurable benefits to the Forest and its communities, as well as the millions of people who visit each year. You create a partnership with an inspiring organisation with an impressive, well documented record of achievement. The National Forest is maturing as one of the country s boldest landscape and forestry projects and a leading example of sustainable development in practice. Local residents and communities clearly value it immensely. Huw Irranca-Davies Minister for the Natural and Marine Environment, Wildlife and Rural Affairs The National Forest contains more than 350 new and ancient woodlands open for visitors to explore, linked by a network of quiet country lanes and cycling trails. Woodland cover is now at 18% with over seven million trees planted. The goal is to plant a further eight million trees, to achieve woodland cover across a third of the 200 square miles of the Forest. Beneficiaries include the 200,000 people living within the Forest boundary, and annually the 41,000 children receiving environmental education and the 7.6 million visitors. By increasing the woodland cover, the Forest connects towns and villages to beautiful green spaces. It offers residents and visitors a wide range of healthy activities to enjoy and places of beauty to visit with friends and family. It is possible to buy trees anywhere in the world, but we offer active involvement in the creation of this special place right at the heart of England a place where you and your employees can continue to visit to see how the woodland is growing. A transformed landscape, from mining to woodland. Aerial photographs of Bath Yard, Moira in 1989 (top) and 2004 (bottom).

4 Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago. Warren Buffett, Businessman and philanthropist Addressing Climate Change The National Forest shows that forestry in all its dimensions can bring so many benefits above and beyond the trees and woods themselves. In particular, we have an important part to play in mitigating the negative effects of climate change. Carbon sequestration (uptake) by woodland planted in The National Forest is calculated by the Centre for Environment and Hydrology. The centre s carbon accounting model was developed for the UK Government to monitor carbon sequestered from woodlands. A laudable cause addressing climate change, where woodland helps offset the effects of greenhouse gas emissions. Also through planting native tree species, a rich habitat for local wildlife is created. The Forest is connecting woodland and other habitats, which create more resilient landscapes for wildlife. Trees help to filter pollutants and reduce soil erosion. They also provide shade that moderates temperature in buildings and reduces energy costs. Selective planting in flood plains can also contribute towards flood control. You generate strong positive PR and newsworthy stories and receive a licence to use The National Forest logo. Support from our media team and access to our library of stunning images are provided for use in your own communications. We take the environment very seriously and encourage our customers to do the right thing by reducing their carbon footprints rather than just paying money to offset them. However, we wanted to make our own contribution, as a business; this collaboration allows us to make our own investment in the environment and the British landscape. Mark Chessman, Finance Director, Lloyds TSB Autolease The National Forest is a beacon of hope and a pioneering initiative for the UK as a whole. Jonathon Porritt, Chair, UK Sustainable Development Commission

5 A444 The National Forest has given people something to be proud of and something inspirational to be involved in. Felicity King-Evans, Editor, SDUK magazine Documenting Positive Action The National Forest is viewed with affection by communities living within the Forest. It is an inspiring example of the power of positive action. We place a high priority on research, recording the effect of landscape change and developing new forest creation techniques which we disseminate to other projects nationwide. A professional, friendly team helps you make the most of your involvement with The National Forest and we include a full evaluation service in your sponsorship package. With climate change and other environmental issues at the forefront of everyone s minds, people are asking but what can we actually do? At The National Forest we provide unusual opportunities for your company to make a really positive impact and meet environmental and social responsibility objectives. Sophie Churchill, CEO, The National Forest Company Choose from a wide range of flexible sponsorship opportunities: creating your own woodland; environmental education or active health projects; supporting wildlife or a mixture tailored to suit your specific business objectives. To Stoke-on-Trent To Derby A50 A511 A38 R. Trent A515 Yoxall Barton under Needwood Burton upon Trent A444 A511 Swadlincote To Nottingham M1 J23 R. Trent To Birmingham A38 Alrewas Ashby de la Zouch Overseal Moira Donisthorpe R. Mease M42 To Coventry Burton upon Trent Swadlincote Ashby de la Zouch Coalville A42 Measham Ibstock A447 Whitwick Coalville A511 M1 J22 Markfield M1 Woodhouse Eaves Above: Pre National Forest woodland cover 1991 Left: The National Forest woodland cover Spring 2009 Leicester J21a Rolls-Royce is delighted to continue our successful collaboration with the National Forest Company. We have worked together over a number of years on a range of exciting projects bringing benefit both to the local community and our own employees. Helen Bishop, Head of Community Relations, Rolls-Royce plc

6 The National Forest Business Case Checklist Meeting corporate social responsibility and environmental objectives. A national project, with internationally recognised green credentials, easily accessible at the heart of the UK. Well designed schemes to support, thoroughly evaluated and demonstrating value for money. Strong PR opportunities and licence to use The National Forest brand identity including logo and extensive library of photographs, in own publications. Wide choice of projects to support including woodland creation, tree planting, environmental education, supporting wildlife, active health and well-being projects, rural regeneration, walking and cycling trails. The project is embedded in local communities and beneficiaries are regularly consulted. Opportunities for staff and stakeholder engagement in activities, events and publications. A visionary project that provides a tangible, enduring result that your employees and others can see, appreciate and visit, free of charge, in years to come. Working together For sponsorship and donations to be most effective they must make business sense for both organisations. From the outset there needs to be a clear understanding of short and medium term objectives and preferred outcomes, and an honest appraisal of whether a partnership between us can deliver mutual benefits. For greatest impact we discuss the long term vision of our organisations, in particular looking for a match of ethical company values, and a genuine desire to create positive and enduring change. Contact: Lynne Richards Head of Fundraising The National Forest Company T: E: lrichards@nationalforest.org W: Front cover, main picture Walton Wood, Catton Estate. Inside cover, main picture Bluebell Woods of Yoxall Lodge. Photographs by Christopher Beech, Gordon Hudson and the National Forest Company library. Printed on Revive 100 Offset, which is produced using 100% de-inked post-consumer recovered fibre at a mill that has been awarded the ISO14001 certificate for environmental management. The pulp is bleached using an elemental chlorine free (ECF) process. Vegetable based inks were used throughout. The National Forest Company was established by Government in The company is limited by guarantee (registered number ) and sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The National Forest Company Bath Yard, Moira, Swadlincote, Derbyshire DE12 6BA