'This Morning' has bought a forest as part of the show's "biggest-ever project".

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, who co-host the brunch-time programme, announced on today's (08.09.21) instalment that ITV has forked out for a piece of woodland to ensure it will never be built on, and hundreds of trees, bugs and wildlife have been saved as a result.

He said: "COVID has made us all appreciate the natural world all around us, and we thought we would like to continue that newfound appreciation by doing our little bit to help the planet."

Holly said: "Which is why we have bought a forest."

Phil added: "Well the show, not us.

"It's an ancient woodland of several acres, and now that we own it it will never be built on.

"'This Morning' has saved hundreds of trees, shrubs, bugs and wildlife all in our forest."

The presenting pair and the show's crew will head to their forest - which is in a secret location - later this month to present an episode of the programme, and Holly joked they could host the show in costume.

She said: "We'll have to get Maid Marian and Robin Hood outfits."

And Phil and Holly are keen to go up a tree when they visit the forest.

Holly said: "I'd love that. Hug a few tress, I won't let go."

Phil added: "Absolutely, yes. I'm definitely up for that [going in a tree], it's the Robin Hood outfit I'm slightly less keen on, but there you go."

TV presenter Julia Bradbury admitted the forest, which is home to deer, rabbits, and other wildlife, as well as a number of different plants and flowers, is part of the show's plan to "really, really go green".

Presenting a segment from the woodland on today's episode, she said: "It's a pine forest, essentially.

"But the plan over the next few years is to plant more trees and increase the biodiversity here as well.

"We've got foxgloves and we've got bluebells that will be here in season.

"There are muntjac deer around here, there are rabbits, there are field mice, there are all sorts of important creatures.

"This forest is going to help sustain them and protect them for years to come.

"It lies at the heart of the 'This Morning' plans to really, really go green."

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