For Stewie’s second Christmas, his Grandma Patricia dedicated a tree to him in the National Forest, a new wooded landscape across 200 square miles in the heart of England. 


Stewie’s tree has been planted in a young woodland area called Minorca Woods, which is between the villages of Swepstone and Measham in North West Leicestershire. This area has a proud heritage of mining, but the practices had taken their toll, scarring the landscape and impacting nature.


Prior to the National Forest acquiring the site, it had been partly restored to grassland, with a minimal number of trees. Now, the Minorca site  has been fully restored to connect with established existing woodlands nearby, creating larger habitats where wildlife can thrive.


The developing woodland will help to protect and improve water quality in the River Mease Special Area of Conservation and make new areas of the countryside publicly accessible for local communities to enjoy.


All trees planted are a carefully considered mix of broadleaved trees, some chosen for their ability to take up carbon quickly, others specifically for the benefits they provide for wildlife. They are all British native trees and include Field Maple, Alder, Birch, Hornbeam, Hazel, Aspen, Oak, Wild Cherry, Rowan, and Small Leaved Lime. The young trees have been planted within fencing to help protect the trees from rabbits and hares.


The dedicated trees have helped to complete the landscape design for Minorca, which now has extensive wooded areas, integrated with sheep-grazed parkland and belts of wildflowers which provide a vital food source for bees, butterflies, mammals and birds, including tree sparrows, song thrushes, linnets and yellowhammers. There is also a wetland area to further encourage biodiversity.