The National Forest

29/08/2026

🌙🦇 As dusk settled over the National Forest, our recent bat walk revealed just how alive the night sky really is. From tiny pipistrelles flickering along woodland edges to noctules soaring high above the treetops, we recorded a brilliant mix of species moving through the evening light.

To celebrate , we’ve brought those sightings together in a short carousel, featuring some of the species you're likely to spot here in the Forest.

👉 Swipe through to meet the Forest’s night‑time flyers and discover the hidden world that wakes up after dark.🌠🌳

27/08/2026

Women Who Make: Forest Bathing & Calligraphy Walk 🌿✨

Step into a restorative morning of forest bathing, mindful creativity and quiet connection with nature.

Derbyshire Makes are hosting an immersive woodland experience as part of Women Who Make, bringing together forest bathing, Japanese calligraphy and wellbeing practices. Join Steph Walsh and South Derbyshire District Council's Environmental Education Project at Rosliston Forestry Centre SDDC for a slow, sensory exploration of the woodland, noticing, creating and grounding yourself in the calm of the trees. 🌳

Date: 17 September 2026
Time: 10am – 1.30pm

Book your place: https://bit.ly/45VjcGC

Derbyshire Makes invites you to an immersive woodland experience exploring forest bathing, calligraphy and wellbeing.

21/08/2026

We think the Forest is kinda chic... 🌿✨

Late summer here has its own kind of magic, getting lost in the woods, learning your trees by their leaves, spotting butterflies drifting through warm air, listening for birdsong and bats at dusk and noticing the wildflowers still holding on. 🌼

It’s kinda chic to care for the places you love. 💚

Find out how you can support the Forest, here: https://bit.ly/3UuoBBT

18/08/2026

✨Celebrating Wild Minds - a National Forest Champion

Last week, our Tourism Development Manager visited Wild Minds Nature Connection CIC, one of the organisations recognised as a Transformative Tourism Champion by the National Forest.

It was fantastic to learn more about the work they do to help people connect with nature, while supporting the wellbeing of both local communities and visitors.

Their work is a great example of how tourism can create positive experiences for people while helping them discover and enjoy the National Forest.

Thank you to Jodi and Becki at Wild Minds for welcoming us and for the inspiring work you do! 🌿💚

Find out more about the National Forest’s Transformative Tourism Framework: https://bit.ly/4idSEaO

10/08/2026

🔥 Don’t risk their home.

With hot temperatures building this week, the Forest is even more vulnerable to wildfire.

Dry ground ignites quickly, and the impact on wildlife can last for years, especially for species that can’t outrun flames. 🦔🌿

Every spark puts wildlife in danger.

🚫 No fires, no BBQs, no disposable grills anywhere in the Forest.

Please take litter home and report any smoke or flames immediately. 📞

07/08/2026

August is still full of colour in the National Forest - painted ladies drifting over thistles, small tortoiseshells sunning on warm paths, ringlets weaving through shady rides and small whites brightening garden edges. 🦋🌻

The ends on Sunday, but the butterflies don’t. Keep spotting, keep enjoying, keep noticing the small things that make summer glow. ✨

06/08/2026

Snake spa day - Albert Village Lake edition! 🐍 A fantastic capture from Meg's wildlife adventures, and a brilliant reminder of how valuable these wetland habitats are right here on our doorstep.🌳

04/08/2026

July Transformation in Action 🌿

Looking back at July, we saw shared learning, creative connection and landscape‑scale progress across the National Forest - from forestry leaders exploring how resilient landscapes take shape, to partnerships delivering impact at Unity Wood, communities discovering wildlife at dusk, and new forest networks strengthening across England. 🌳

These stories show how consistent action is shaping a greener future for the Forest for generations to come. ✨

Read the full update, here: https://bit.ly/4xdY6yH

29/07/2026

Yesterday was - but here in the National Forest, conservation is part of everyday life.

From restored wetlands and young woodlands to the wildlife returning to healthier habitats, the Forest shows what long‑term care can achieve. These landscapes are shaped by people too - walkers, families, volunteers and communities who help nature thrive. 🌿💚

Swipe through to see some of the places, species and moments your support helps protect.

🤝 Support the Forest: https://bit.ly/4fqxt1q

23/07/2026

☀️ A summer wander across the Forest ☀️

Summer has settled beautifully across the National Forest, and our woodlands are at their fullest - canopies deepening into rich greens, ancient trees standing tall in the heat, and sunlight threading through leaves in shifting patterns.

Wildflower edges brighten the trails, insects hum in the warm air, and long evenings cast a golden glow across quiet paths. 🌼

It’s a season when the Forest feels expansive and alive, its oldest giants thriving and its younger plantings stretching confidently into the light. Whether you’re wandering your favourite woodland or pausing beneath a broad, leafy crown, summer reveals the Forest at its most generous. 🌿✨

Read more: https://bit.ly/4w45Xic

📸 Rod Kirkpatrick