Robin Hood's Sherwood Forest

22nd May 2010
 An interview with Jayne Pugh of the Sherwood Forest Trust
Can you tell readers a bit about the Sherwood Forest?

Sherwood Forest, is known world-wide as the greenwood home of legends. Robin Hood and Sherwood are an essential part of our nation’s heritage and for millions of people, the name conjures visions of mighty oaks and wild forest glades.

Sherwood’s famous landscapes were created by geology and shaped by animals and man. After the ice ages, oak and birch woodland thrived here on the dry, acidic soil created by Sherwood’s underlying sandstone geology. Over centuries, woodland clearance by people, along with free ranging and domestic animal grazing, created airy clearings of heathland in the original ‘wild wood’.

Sherwood was first recorded in 958 AD as ‘Sciryuda’, ‘the woodland belonging to the shire’. In these medieval times, 26,000 hectares of oak woods and heathland was enclosed as Royal Hunting Forest, whilst monastic orders were given large areas of land for monasteries and sheep grazing

After the ‘Dissolution’, the Crown gave monastic land to 18th century Lords and Dukes who enclosed ground to construct magnificent houses. Sherwood timber was used for building and natural habitats were turned into formal landscapes, some of which are visible today.
 
What are the flora and fauna highlights of the area?
 
A rich and diverse range of flora and fauna can be seen in Sherwood, dependent on the time of year. Apart from the deer traditionally associated with the forest, there are many other mammals such as the stoat, often spotted on heathland, along with the mice and voles that are its prey.

Two declining bird species you may see here are the Skylark and Tree Pippit. Other birds are Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Green Woodpecker and Yellowhammer. Some nationally scarce birds found in Sherwood are the Nightjar, Woodlark and Hobby.

The most important species here are invertebrates. These small creatures without skeletons, like insects, spiders, snails and worms, are linked in a web of interaction - losing one can have far reaching effects on many others and perhaps ultimately on people! One of the most attractive and easily recognised is the Green Tiger Beetle. You may also find the Nationally Notable Longhorn Beetle, hiding in fallen logs. The Hornet is also found in Sherwood and often uses bird and bat boxes to build its nest.

Heather is an important characteristic heathland species, along with the abundance of fine acid loving grasses including wavy hair grass, sheep’s fescue, and matt grass, and herbs such as harebell, heath bedstraw and tormentil. Lichens and mosses are also important.
What facilities are there for visitors and what would you reccommend visitors do on a visit to the forest?
 
What would the forest have been like in Robin Hoods day?

Robin Hood stories began at a time of inequality between privileged and poor, when Sherwood Forest was designated a Royal Hunting Forest by Norman King ‘William the Conqueror’.

Harsh ‘Forest Laws’ were passed to protect the ‘venison and vert’ for privileged Royals and dukes to hunt. Ordinary peoples’ livelihoods were affected and anyone caught ‘red-handed’ with poaching blood on their hands was severely punished and branded an ‘outlaw’ i.e. outside the law.

‘Forest’ is a medieval legal term for land and animals under such Crown protection. Rather than being all woodland, the landscape at this time was actually a patchwork of woodland, heathland, wetland, farmland and settlements.

Are there any parts of the forest today that feature in the folklore and legend of Robin Hood and his merry men?
 
Some of the most famous Robin Hood related places are: Edwinstowe, where Robin & Maid Marian are said to have married at St Mary’s church; Blidworth, where a strange stone monument in of St. Lawrence’s churchyard is said to mark the grave of Will Scarlett, and tradition also tells that Maid Marian was born in this village; The Major Oak, said to be the hollow tree where Robin and his men hid from the Sheriff of Nottingham, is short walk through Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve.

There are other points of interest to be found on the Trust’s website, like Fountaindale in Harlow Wood, said to be where Robin first met Little John.

Has the forest suffered much environmental damage in recent decades, if so what?

In the 19th & 20th Centuries, people moved from countryside to live in towns using more materials for housing and road building. Sherwood landscape was dominated by coal mining, with its collieries, tips and expanding villages. Along with the development of commercial forestry and intensive agriculture, this once great forest continued to be fragmented and eroded.

Tragically much of the ancient forest has been lost in the relentless march of human activity and modern development. Happily, many important fragments of ancient woodland and rare lowland heathland still remain, which is where the Sherwood Forest Trust comes in.

How is the Sherwood Forest Trust conserving the forest?

The Sherwood Forest Trust, the only charity working exclusively for Sherwood – over 181 sq. miles from Worksop to Nottingham - has been protecting and restoring our historic landscapes for future generations of people and wildlife to enjoy since 1995.

The Trust links fragments of habitats to re-create the ancient forest tapestry and enables essential management of our most important areas of relic woodland, heathland and wetland. Our famous oak-birch woodlands and the rich variety of wildlife they support, along with rivers, streams and wetland habitats are UK Biodiversity Action Plan priorities and high priority locally. Our heathlands, though seriously fragmented are also nationally significant.

Last year, our work culminated in a major tree planting event during ‘National Tree Week’ to re-create vital woodland in the heart of Sherwood. Over 100 people from local communities planted trees, joined by volunteers and supporters from across the country.
 
What are the future plans for the forest?

Whilst the Trust continues its important work to support all Sherwood’s natural areas, This year, we are highlighting the significance of Sherwood’s characteristic lowland heathland. This historic landscape, which Robin Hood would have recognised, is a habitat that supports some of our rarest plants and animals - but it is seriously under threat!

90% of Notts. Heathland has been lost since 1922, mostly due to agriculture, conifer plantation, mining and urban development. In the 1980’s we were down to just 250 hectares. Now, thanks to the work of The Sherwood Forest Trust, this has increased to 1,000 hectares.

With the new Russell Crowe, Robin Hood movie out Sherwood Forest will be certainly getting plenty of attention. How can people unable to visit the forest help with your work?
 
Find out more about the significance of heathland and how you can play a vital part in the Trust’s campaign to protect, restore and link together fragments of this vital habitat at www.sherwoodforest.org.uk.

As a UK registered charity we rely on financial support from individual donations through to major funders.
People can help protect our historic landscapes – from parks and nature reserves to hedgerows and ponds for wildlife – by visiting the Trust’s website www.sherwoodforest.org.uk and making a donation, becoming a ‘Sherwood Supporter’ or buying something from our range of merchandise.

We’re also launching an exciting new club for 5 - 11yr olds. Our ‘Robin Hood & Maid Marian Rangers’ will get a membership pack with fact sheets; a members passport; a pin badge; an interactive poster; postcards; collectable cards and stickers, plus a password for their own exclusive area of our website with downloadable worksheets, activities, competitions and information.

Are there any volunteer opportunities for modern day Robin Hoods and Maid Marions to help preserve this iconic landscape of England?

We have an active programme of practical landscape tasks for volunteers to get involved in. Activities include planting trees and hedges and creating habitat boxes for birds, bats and owls. Instructions and tools are provided.
We particularly need help to plant trees during tree planting season (November to March) This year, we aim to restore 2 ha. (equivalent to 2 professional football pitches) of woodland in an area called Lindley’s Wood. If you are interested in getting involved, look out on our website for details of the next project day, or contact Ian Major Tel. 01623 821490, ian.major@sherwoodforesttrust.org.uk