A new 460-acre (186-hectare) "flagship wood" will be created between Ashby-de-la-Zouch and Coalville, Leicestershire, in a bid to help mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee next year.

The Woodland Trust (WT) is behind proposals for the publicly-accessible woodland and is now looking to raise £3.3m to acquire the site, which is within The National Forest. It is hoped the woodland will establish a "living legacy" from next year's Diamond Jubilee and forms part of the trust's efforts to double native woodland cover by 2050.

Around 10 million people will have "easy" access to the woodland once established, while also attracting wildlife species such as the yellowhammer and marsh tit. WT chief executive Sue Holden said: "We need help to create woodland for the nation, to give everyone access to the beauty of the natural world and create a legacy for The Queen's Jubilee.

"It's a chance to celebrate the reign of one of our best-loved and longest-reigning monarchs while educating people about the need to increase woodland cover in the UK."