Sherwood Forest
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- For alternative meanings, see Sherwood.
Sherwood Forest is a world famous country park surrounding the village of Edwinstowe in Nottinghamshire, England, historically associated with the legend of Robin Hood. In popular legend Robin Hood roamed these parts during the years of 1191 until 1234. The 1000-acre country park of today is a remnant of a much larger royal hunting forest which extended into several neighboring counties. The country park was opened to the public in 1969 by Nottinghamshire County Council which manages the park under lease from the Thoresby Estate. In 2002, the park was designated a National Nature Reserve by English Nature and covered an area of 460 acres. In 2007 Natural England has officially incorporated the Budby South Forest, Nottinghamshire's largest area of dry lowland heath, into the Sherwood Forest, nearly doubling its size. [1]
Sherwood Forest is a popular tourist attraction and attracts 500,000 tourists annually, including many from around the world. Visitor numbers have seen a significant increase, as previously predicted, since the launch of the BBC's new Robin Hood TV series.
The park hosts the annual Robin Hood Festival for a week each summer. This event recreates a truly mediæval atmosphere and features all of the major characters from the Robin Hood legend. The week's entertainment includes jousters and strolling players, dressed in authentic mediæval attire in addition to an authentic mediæval encampment complete with jesters, musicians, rat-catchers, alchemists and fire eaters.
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[edit] The Major Oak
Sherwood Forest is home to the famous Major Oak which, according to local folklore, was Robin Hood's principal hideout. The ancient 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.
[edit] Plans for the Future
In early 2006 it was announced that major plans to transform the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre had been drawn up. 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 ITV1 in 2007. In May 2006, officials from the organization visited the park.
You can find out more about the ambitious plans for Sherwood Forest at The Living Legend.
[edit] Trivia
- Sherwood Forest is often incorrectly considered to be the inspiration behind the name for Nottingham Forest.
- Birch tree seeds, harvested from Sherwood forest, are much sought-after and can be bought from several different websites.
[edit] References
[edit] External Links
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