Discover and explore a forest in the making

Moto, the UK's largest provider of Motorway Service Areas, has again teamed up with The National Forest to create a second gateway to this forest in the making. Visitors to Moto’s Tamworth Service Area at Junction 10 of the M42 can discover more about this bold environmental project that spans 200 square miles of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire.

The new facilities at the service area, which lies just south of The National Forest, complements the information points installed further north on the A42/M1 junction at Moto’s Donington Park Service Area. Both of which are perfect places from which to set off and explore the Forest.

Chris Rogers, Marketing Director from Moto said: “We are again delighted to work with The National Forest Company and create the information points on this amazing environmental project. With the facilities now at both our Donington and Tamworth Service Areas, it gives our customers a better insight into the area whether they are headed north or southbound.”

Millions of drivers travelling up and down the A42 pass the signs for The National Forest and see fields with young woodland but don’t necessarily understand the extent of the Forest. The new facilities at the service areas will help to raise awareness and encourage visitors to explore the area further.

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 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.

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.

Sophie Churchill, Chief Executive of the National Forest Company, said: “We are delighted to work with Moto in raising awareness of the Forest in the service areas. These new information points give visitors a sense of place to the whole destination, help to promote the wider area and link attractions within the Forest.”

Moto already does much work in the community through its charitable arm The Moto in the Community Trust. The Trust grants funds into the communities around Moto sites supporting small charities and local community projects, particularly focusing on schools, road safety and the environment.

In 2005 it formed a partnership with the Woodland Trust by holding a ‘Tree-mendous Tree Challenge’ at Moto sites around the UK. The campaign raised £25,000 for the Woodland Trust in just five days, which has paid to plant and maintain 2,500 saplings in Woodland Trust conservation areas around the UK.

The work across all venues 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 logging on to the website nationalforest.org.