Edward has met with the National Forest Company's Chief Executive, John Everitt, to discuss the National Forest in Charnwood, and the launch of the Forest's ten-year tourism growth plan.
The National Forest covers 200 square miles of the Midlands, including part of the Charnwood constituency. The Forest’s new Tourism Growth Plan (2017 – 2027) builds on 25 years of successful partnership working, and outlines strategies to further strengthen and grow sustainable tourism in the Forest. It's ambition is to increase visitor spending by at least 15% and create and sustain over 700 new jobs. The Plan has been produced by the National Forest Company for the whole Forest, and invites everyone who has an interest in Forest life to share its ambition – this includes tourism businesses, local authorities, landowners and communities.
Following the meeting, Edward said: "The National Forest plays a hugely important role in our region, and in Charnwood, as a place for nature to flourish, for people from our local area and further afield to enjoy the landscape and outdoor leisure activities, and it provides important investment and jobs for our area. The National Forest's Ten-Year Tourism Growth Plan maps out the Forest's ambitions and plans for the future, to continue to develop the Forest's potential.
It was useful to have one of my regular meetings with Mr Everitt at the launch of their plan, to talk about what it means for Charnwood, and to discuss the continued need for local people and councillors to be able to play a full role in the Forest's development of its exciting plans, so that local views, any local concerns, as well as local opportunities, are highlighted."