A new eight-hectare woodland, Unity Wood, is set to take root in North-West Leicestershire through a landmark collaboration between Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), other freight partners and the National Forest. Planted with around 13,000 native broadleaf trees, and designed with a reflection glade, wetland area and accessible trail links, the woodland will provide a living legacy for people and nature while symbolising what can be achieved when industries work together for the environment.
The National Forest is one of the UK’s most ambitious environmental regeneration projects. Once scarred by decades of coal mining and clay extraction, the landscape of central England has been steadily transformed over the past 30 years. Now covering more than a quarter of the region with woodland and with close to 10 million trees planted, the Forest has created thriving habitats, new green spaces and visitor attractions that support communities, tourism and businesses across 200 square miles of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire. By attracting thousands of visitors each year, the Forest helps sustain local shops, cafes and accommodation providers, creates opportunities for tourism-related jobs and contributes to the wider regional economy while improving wellbeing and quality of life for residents.
Unity Wood represents a new chapter in this story. Between Oakthorpe and Donisthorpe on a land once considered for development, the woodland will offer a protected space for recreation and wellbeing. With benches, a reflection glade, a wetland habitat and fully accessible paths, it will connect walkers and cyclists along the Ashby Woulds Heritage Trail and become a cherished feature of the local landscape.
The project began in December last year when JLR’s supply chain operations team approached the National Forest to celebrate a mutual success by creating a positive environmental legacy. JLR then invited its logistics partners to join by matching contributions to fund the planting. The response has been unprecedented. More than 17 international businesses have come together to support the woodland, creating a symbol of collective action at a scale rarely seen in the sector. Birway saw this initiative as a great opportunity to join forces as an industry and contribute to the growing legacy.
Together, £85,000 has been raised to fund the creation and design of the woodland. Levent Yuksel, freight operations director at JLR, said, “This project shows how collaborative action can create results far beyond what we could have achieved alone. It has been inspiring to work with so many partners on a project that leaves a real legacy. The chosen name ‘Unity’ perfectly captures the essence of this initiative: partnership in action. Each tree planted is a symbol of collaboration and progress, reminding us that lasting success is built not just on innovation and performance, but on shared values and responsibility for our environment.”
Adrian Hammonds, Director at Birway, added, “We wanted to create something that would last and be meaningful, not just a token gesture. Unity Wood shows what is possible when organisations unite with a shared commitment to sustainability.”
The local community has welcomed the project. With concerns that the site could be developed for housing, its future as a woodland safeguards the area’s rural character while opening new opportunities for outdoor activity, relaxation and nature recovery. Thousands of trees will transform the land over the coming years, creating a space that benefits people, wildlife and biodiversity.
A planting event with partners is scheduled for December, with full planting continuing through the 2025 to 2026 season.
Carolyn Sankey, director of development at the National Forest, said, “This project demonstrates the power of collaboration. Working with a world-leading company and its partners has made a real difference here in the heart of the Forest. We are always happy to speak to organisations that want to give back to nature and the community in a meaningful way, and we can offer transparent and practical ways to make a difference.”
Unity Wood stands as a model of how industries can act together to create lasting change. As the woodland grows, it will embody our collective commitment to a sustainable future and serve as a lasting reminder of the positive change collaboration can create.