Sherwood Forest

 

formerly a large royal forest, mainly in Nottinghamshire, central England. Remnants of the forest exist near Mansfield and Hucknall; efforts began in the 1990s to replant and expand it. It is famous as the haunt of Robin Hood and his band.

For alternative meanings, see Sherwood.

Sherwood Forest is a world-famous forest, continuously afforested since the end of the Ice Age,^[1] which is today reduced to a 4.23 square kilometre remnant surrounding the village of Edwinstowe, the site of Thoresby Hall in Nottinghamshire, England, historically associated with the legend of Robin Hood. The forest of today is a remnant of a much larger royal hunting forest, the "shire wood" of Nottinghamshire^[2] that extended into several neighbouring counties.

The forest was opened as a country park to the public in 1969 by Nottinghamshire County Council, which manages the forest under lease from the Thoresby Estate. In 2002, Sherwood Forest was designated a National Nature Reserve by English Nature. In 2007 Natural England officially incorporated the Budby South Forest, Nottinghamshire's largest area of dry lowland heath, into the Sherwood Forest, nearly doubling its size.^[3] Some portions of the forest still retain many very old oaks, especially in the portion known as the Dukeries, south of the town of Worksop, which was so called because it used to contain five ducal residences in proximity to one another. The River Idle, a tributary of the Trent, is formed in Sherwood Forest from the confluence of several minor streams.

Sherwood Forest attracts 500,000 tourists annually, including many from around the world. Visitor numbers have seen a significant increase since the launch of the BBC's Robin Hood TV series in 2006.

The park hosts the annual Robin Hood Festival for a week each summer. This event recreates a medieval atmosphere and features the major characters from the Robin Hood legend. The week's entertainment includes jousters and strolling players, dressed in medieval attire, in addition to a medieval encampment complete with jesters, musicians, rat-catchers, alchemists and fire eaters.

The Major Oak

Main article: Major Oak

Sherwood Forest is home to the famous Major Oak, which, according to local folklore, was Robin Hood's principal hideout. The oak tree is between 800 and 1000 years old and, since the Victorian era, its massive limbs have been partially supported by an elaborate system of scaffolding. In February 1998, a local company took cuttings from the Major Oak and began cultivating clones of the famous tree with the intention of sending saplings to be planted in major cities around the world.

The Major Oak was featured on the 2005 BBC TV programme Seven Natural Wonders as one of the natural wonders of the Midlands.

Plans

In early 2006 it was announced that major plans to transform the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre had been drawn up and now complete.

Nottinghamshire County Council are bidding for £50 million from the Big Lottery Fund's Living Landmarks scheme, which will become the focus of a TV programme be aired on ITV in 2007. In May 2006, officials from the organisation visited the park.

See also

• List of forests in the United Kingdom

References

External links

• Nottinghamshire County Council's Official Sherwood Forest Page

• Sherwood Forest Regeneration Plans

• Sherwood Forest Trust Official Website

• The Living Legend details current plans for the forest.

Coordinates: 53°12′16.09″N, 1°4′21.94″W

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