Chase visitors' class attraction

The visitors centre – which also has a new cafe and better facilities – has just reopened at the Birches Valley Forest Centre near Rugeley.

The classrooms will be used by visiting school parties and groups and to help people learn about the benefits of open spaces and areas of outstanding natural beauty like the Chase.

These have been partly funded by the Forestry Commission with help from the local quarry near the site, off Penkridge Bank Road.

The Forestry Commission says it has ploughed thousands of pounds into the scheme which has had as little impact on the environment as possible.

All the new buildings have been constructed with cladding made out of local timber and include wood fuel heating and skylights.

Two existing buildings at the Birches Valley Forest Centre have been linked together with the cafe now being managed by new firm Cambridge Coffee Company.

Bosses at the centre say they chose the business because of its green credentials and almost all of the waste and products from the cafe can be recycled or re-used in some form.

The former visitor centre, which was previously an old deer museum, is at least 30-years-old and was closed for the makeover after Christmas.

Director Kevin McIntyre said: "We use all FairTrade and organic products. This is the way to go now and it will become more important in the future."

Jason McLean, from the Forestry Commission, said: "This is something we have wanted to do for many, many years. Birches Valley has now got the visitor centre it deserves.

"This represents a substantial investment by us and the cafe company and it is very exciting to now have a visitor centre of such a high quality."