Sherwood Forest

Sherwood Forest is a Royal Forest in Nottinghamshire, England, that is famous through its historical association with the legend of Robin Hood. Continuously afforested since the end of the Ice Age, [As attested by pollen sampling cores.] Sherwood is today reduced to a 165 square miles (423 square kilometre) remnant surrounding the village of Edwinstowe, the site of Thoresby Hall. The wooded forest of today is a remnant of a much larger royal hunting Forest, named as the "shire wood" of Nottinghamshire, [In Domesday, the forest covered perhaps a quarter of Nottinghamshire, in woodland and heath subject to the forest laws.] which in fact extended into several neighbouring counties (shires), bordered on the west along the River Erewash and the Forest of East Derbyshire. The Forestry Commission manages most of the forest and provides [http://www.forestry.gov.uk/Website/recreation.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/EnglandNottinghamshireNoForestSherwoodPinesForestParkSherwoodPinesForestParkVisitorCentre walks and trails and a host of other activities] . Part of the forest was opened as a country park to the public in 1969 by Nottinghamshire County Council, which manages a small part the forest under lease from the Thoresby Estate. In 2002, part of 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 Nature Reserve, nearly doubling its size. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/6475887.stm Sherwood Forest to double in size] ] 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

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 are now complete.

Nottinghamshire County Council led a partnership which put in an unsuccessful bid for £50 million from the Big Lottery Fund's Living Landmarks competition. The project was selected by Big Lottery Fund assessors as one of four finalists.

ee also

*List of forests in the United Kingdom

Notes

Further reading

*Bankes, Richard. "Sherwood Forest in 1609: A Crown Survey" (Thoroton Society record series)
*Conduit, Brian. "Exploring Sherwood Forest"
*Fletcher, John. "Ornament of Sherwood Forest From Ducal Estate to Public Park"
*Gray, Adrian. "Sherwood Forest and the Dukeries" (Phillimore) 2008
*"Sherwood Forest and the East Midlands Walks" (Jarrold Pathfinder Guides)
*Innes-Smith, Robert. "The Dukeries & Sherwood Forest"
*Ottewell, David. "Sherwood Forest in Old Photographs" (Britain in Old Photographs)

External links

* [http://www.forestry.gov.uk/ Forestry Commission]
* [http://www.sherwoodforest.info/ The News, History, and Archaeology of The Real Sherwood Forest]
* [http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/home/leisure/countryparks/sherwoodforestcp.htm Nottinghamshire County Council's Official Sherwood Forest Page]
* [http://www.robinhood.co.uk/ Sherwood Forest Regeneration Plans] and includes how to sign up to support the project in the People's Millions £50 million Lottery fund contest.
* [http://www.sherwoodforest.org.uk/ Sherwood Forest Trust Official Website]
* [http://www.thelivinglegend.co.uk The Living Legend] details current plans for the forest.