Sherwood Forest

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Sherwood Forest
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Map
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Geography
Location Nottinghamshire,England
Coordinates 53°12′16.09″N1°4′21.94″W / 53.2044694°N 1.0727611°W / 53.2044694; -1.0727611

Sherwood Forest is the remnants of an ancient royal forest in Nottinghamshire, England, having a historic association with the legend of Robin Hood.

Contents

The area has been wooded since the end of the Last Glacial Period (as attested by pollen sampling cores). Today, Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve encompasses 424.75 hectares (1,049.6 acres), [1] surrounding the village of Edwinstowe and the site of Thoresby Hall. Its name is derived from its status as the shire (or sher) wood of Nottinghamshire, which extended into several neighbouring counties (shires), bordered to the west by the River Erewash and the Forest of East Derbyshire.

When the Domesday Book was compiled in 1086, the forest covered perhaps a quarter of Nottinghamshire (approximately 19,000 acres or 7,800 hectares) in woodland and heath subject to the forest laws. The forest gives its name to the Parliamentary constituency of Sherwood Forest (formerly Sherwood before the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies). [2]

Mansfield anciently became the pre-eminent in importance among the towns of the Forest. [3]

Robin Hood Statue, Sherwood Forest Robin Hood Statue, Sherwood Forest.jpg
Robin Hood Statue, Sherwood Forest

History

In 1066, in the invasion of England, King William the Conqueror made Sherwood Forest a Royal Hunting Forest. [4] [5] Sherwood Forest was frequently visited by the Mercian Kings. [3]

The forest became popular with John, King of England and King Edward I of England. The remains of a hunting lodge can be found at Kings Clipstone named King John's Palace. [6] [5]

After the dissolution of the monasteries by King Henry VIII of England in 1536, the land of Sherwood was sold and granted into private ownership which was converted into house estates. King James VI and I in the 1600s visited the forest, as did King Charles I of England. King Charles II of England brought back under control the management of Sherwood Forest. [6] [3]

In the 1700s large areas of Sherwood crown land were sold to private owners who built the estates of Thoresby Hall, Rufford Abbey, the former Clumber House Clumber Park, Welbeck Abbey and Worksop Manor. These estates became known as the Dukeries. Newstead Abbey was also built whilst in private ownership. [6]

King John's Palace KJPSE.jpg
King John's Palace

Geology

Sherwood Forest is established over an area underlain by the Permian and Triassic age New Red Sandstone. [7] The larger part of the Forest is found across the outcrop of pebbly sandstones known as the Chester Formation. The regional dip is a gentle one to the east, hence younger rocks are found in that direction and older ones exposed to the west. The local stratigraphy is (uppermost/youngest at top):

The sandstone is an aquifer providing a local water supply. Quaternary deposits include river sands and gravels, river terrace deposits and some scattered mid-Pleistocene glacial till. There are 41 local geodiversity sites within the Sherwood NCA; these are largely quarries and river sections. [9]

Management and conservation

View of the Forest looking northeast Sherwood forest park.JPG
View of the Forest looking northeast

The Sherwood Forest Trust is a small charity that covers the ancient royal boundary and current national character area of Sherwood Forest. [10] Its aims are based on conservation, heritage and communities but also include tourism and the economy.

A glade in Sherwood at winter time. WinterSherwoodGlade.png
A glade in Sherwood at winter time.

Nottinghamshire County Council and Forestry England jointly manage the ancient remnant of forest north of the village of Edwinstowe, providing walks, footpaths and a host of other activities. [11]

This central core of ancient Sherwood is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), [12] NNR [13] and Special Area of Conservation (SAC). [14] It is a very important site for ancient oaks, wood pasture, invertebrates and fungi, as well as being linked to the legends of Robin Hood.

During the Second World War parts of Sherwood Forest were used extensively by the military for ammunition stores, POW camps and training areas. [15] Oil was produced at Eakring. [16] After the war large ammunition dumps were abandoned in the forest and were not cleared until 1952, with at least 46,000 tons of ammunition in them. [17]

Birch trees in Sherwood Forest Sherwoodglade.jpg
Birch trees in Sherwood Forest

Part of the forest was opened to the public as a country park in 1969 by Nottinghamshire County Council, which manages a small part of the forest under lease from the Thoresby Estate. In 2002 a portion 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 from 220 to 423 hectares (540 to 1,050 acres). [18]

A new Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre was authorised in 2015. In August 2018 the RSPB opened the new development with a shop and café, having been granted permission to manage the woods in 2015. Part of an agreement with Natural England was that the land where the existing 1970s visitor centre was located would be restored to wood pasture. [19] [20] [21]

Some portions of the forest 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.

The River Idle, a tributary of the Trent, is formed in Sherwood Forest from the confluence of several minor streams.

Tourism

Visitor Centre Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre.jpg
Visitor Centre

Sherwood attracts around 350,000 tourists annually, many from other countries. [22] Each August the nature reserve hosts a week-long Robin Hood Festival. 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. [23]

The Sherwood Forest Art and Craft Centre is in the former coach house and stables of Edwinstowe Hall. [24] The centre contains art studios and a cafe and hosts special events, including craft demonstrations and exhibitions.

Thoresby Hall Thoresby Hall - geograph.org.uk - 1533497.jpg
Thoresby Hall

Other local sites are Thoresby Hall Park [25] and Rufford Abbey country park. Rufford Abbey is owned by English Heritage with the park managed by Parkwood Outdoors. [26] Clumber Park is a former estate of Clumber House. The park is owned by the National Trust.

Rufford Abbey Rufford Abbey.jpg
Rufford Abbey

Major Oak

Major Oak Major Oak (9494).jpg
Major Oak

Sherwood Forest is home to the Major Oak, an oak tree between 800 and 1,000 years old, and since the Victorian era, its limbs have been partially supported by 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.[ citation needed ]

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

Thynghowe

Thynghowe, an important Danelaw meeting place where people came to resolve disputes and settle issues, was lost to history until its rediscovery in 2005–06 by local history enthusiasts [27] amidst the old oaks of an area known as the Birklands. Experts believe it may also yield clues about the boundary of the ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria.

English Heritage inspected the site, confirming that it was known as ‘Thynghowe’ in 1334 and 1609. [28] [29]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nottinghamshire</span> County of England

Nottinghamshire is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. The county borders South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west. The largest settlement is the city of Nottingham (323,632), which is also the county town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Worksop</span> Market town in Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire, England

Worksop is a market town in the Bassetlaw District in Nottinghamshire, England. It is located 15 miles (24 km) south of Doncaster, 15 miles (24 km) south-east of Sheffield and 24 miles (39 km) north of Nottingham. Located close to Nottinghamshire's borders with South Yorkshire and Derbyshire, it is on the River Ryton and not far from the northern edge of Sherwood Forest. Other nearby towns include Chesterfield, Gainsborough, Mansfield and Retford. The population of the town was recorded at 44,733 in the 2021 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edwinstowe</span> Village and civil parish in Nottinghamshire, England

Edwinstowe is a village and civil parish in the Newark and Sherwood district of Nottinghamshire, England, on the edge of Sherwood Forest and the Dukeries. It is associated with the legends of Robin Hood and Maid Marian, and to a lesser extent Edwin of Northumbria, from where the village gets its name. The civil parish population at the 2011 census was 5,188. A 2019 estimate put it at 5,261, and was 5,320 at the 2021 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ollerton</span> Town in Nottinghamshire, England

Ollerton is a town and former civil parish, now in the parish of Ollerton and Boughton, in the Newark and Sherwood district, in the county of Nottinghamshire, England, on the edge of Sherwood Forest in the area known as the Dukeries. The population of Ollerton and Boughton at the 2011 census was 9,840.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Major Oak</span> Tree in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire

The Major Oak is a large English oak near the village of Edwinstowe in the midst of Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, England. According to local folklore, it was Robin Hood's shelter where he and his merry men slept. It weighs an estimated 23 tons, has a girth of 33 feet, a canopy of 92 feet, and is about 800–1,000 years old. In 2014, it was voted 'England's Tree of the Year' by a public poll by the Woodland Trust, receiving 18% of the votes. Its name originates from Major Hayman Rooke's description of it in 1790.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A614 road</span> Road in England

The A614 is a main road in England running through the counties of Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mansfield Woodhouse</span> Human settlement in England

Mansfield Woodhouse is a town and civil parish in the Mansfield district of Nottinghamshire, England. It is about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Mansfield, along the main A60 road in a wide, low valley between the Rivers Maun and Meden. Founded before the Roman Empire, it is noteworthy for its stone-built centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clumber Park</span> Estate in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England

Clumber Park is a country park in The Dukeries near Worksop in the civil parish of Clumber and Hardwick, Nottinghamshire, England. The estate, which was the seat of the Pelham-Clintons, Dukes of Newcastle, was purchased by the National Trust in 1946. It is listed Grade I on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sherwood Forest (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1983 onwards

Sherwood Forest is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Michelle Welsh, of the Labour Party. The constituency's name is shared with Sherwood Forest, which is in the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dukeries</span> Area of Nottinghamshire, England

The Dukeries is an area of the county of Nottinghamshire so called because it contained four ducal seats. It is south of Worksop, which has been called its "gateway". The area was included within the ancient Sherwood Forest. The ducal seats were:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufford Abbey</span> Country estate in Nottinghamshire, England

Rufford Abbey is a country estate in Rufford, Nottinghamshire, England, two miles (4 km) south of Ollerton. Originally a Cistercian abbey, it was converted to a country house in the 16th century after King Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries. Part of the house was demolished in the 20th century, but the remains, standing in 150 acres of park and woodland, are open to the public as Rufford Country Park. Part of the park is a local nature reserve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robin Hood Way</span> Walking route in central midlands

The Robin Hood Way is a waymarked long-distance footpath in the Midlands of England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thynghowe</span> Ancient open-air assembly place

Thynghowe was an important Viking Age open-air assembly place or thing, located at Sherwood Forest, in Nottinghamshire, England. It was lost to history until its rediscovery in 2005 by the husband and wife team of Stuart Reddish and Lynda Mallett, local history enthusiasts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edwinstowe railway station</span> Former railway station in Nottinghamshire, England

Edwinstowe railway station is a former railway station in Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sherwood Pines Forest Park</span>

Sherwood Pines Forest Park is a forest park located near the village of Kings Clipstone, Nottinghamshire, England. Originally called Clipstone Heath, it was acquired by Forestry England in 1925 and planted with trees in response to a wood shortage after World War I. The park offers activities such as walking, bushcraft, mountain biking and there is a visitor centre. It is the largest park in the East Midlands of England. The forest is also home to the average point between the geographical centres and population centres of Great Britain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robin Hood's Larder</span>

Robin Hood's Larder was a veteran tree in Sherwood Forest that measured 24 feet (7.3 m) in circumference. The tree had long been hollow and is reputed to have been used by the legendary outlaw Robin Hood and others as a larder for poached meat. It was badly burnt by fire in the late 19th century and again in 1913. The tree fell in a gale in 1961 and no trace of it remains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perlethorpe cum Budby</span> Civil parish in Newark and Sherwood, Nottinghamshire, England

Perlethorpe cum Budby is a civil parish in the Newark and Sherwood district, within the county of Nottinghamshire, England. The overall area had a population of 172 at the 2021 census. The parish lies in the north west of the county and district. It is 125 mi (201 km) north of London, 8 mi (13 km) north east of Mansfield and 20 mi (32 km) north of the city of Nottingham. The parish and wider area is at the heart of Sherwood Forest, which is associated with the Robin Hood legend. Thoresby Hall, which is a notable ducal country house and estate is also within the boundaries of the parish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kings Clipstone</span> Village in Nottinghamshire, England

Kings Clipstone is a settlement and civil parish, in the Newark and Sherwood district, in the county of Nottinghamshire, England. The parish lies in the west of the county, and north west within the district. It is 122 miles north of London, 15 miles north of the city of Nottingham, and 5 miles north east of the market town of Mansfield. In the 2021 census, the parish had a population of 312. The parish touches Clipstone village, Edwinstowe, Rufford and Warsop. The parish was formerly part of the wider Clipstone parish, on 1 April 2011 it became a separate parish. The area is within Sherwood Forest, well known for the Robin Hood legend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clumber and Hardwick</span> Civil parish in England

Clumber and Hardwick is a civil parish in the Bassetlaw district, in the county of Nottinghamshire, England. The parish includes the settlement of Hardwick Village and Clumber Park, a country park. In the UK census of 2021 the parish had a population of 66. The parish lies in the north west of the county, and south west within the district. It is 125 miles north west of London, 22 miles north of the city of Nottingham, and 3½ miles south east of the market town of Worksop.The parish touches Babworth, Carburton, Elkesley, Perlethorpe cum Budby and Welbeck. The parish was formed on 1 April 1994. The area is within Sherwood Forest and has close historical associations with the Dukes of Newcastle, being part of a wider region known as The Dukeries. There are 26 listed buildings in Clumber and Hardwick.

References

  1. ↑ "Sherwood Forest NNR". Natural England. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  2. ↑ "East Midlands | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 William Horner Groves, The History of Mansfield, (1894) retrieved on the 8th April 2023
  4. ↑ "History of Sherwood - Visit Nottinghamshire". www.visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  5. 1 2 Robert White,The Dukery, and Sherwood Forest, (1875) retrieved in the 8th April 2023
  6. 1 2 3 cite web Nottinghamshire County Council, History of Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood and Major Oak, 2023 retrieved on the 8th April 2023
  7. ↑ Reed, Michael (1990). "The land of Britain". The Landscape of Britain: From the Beginnings to 1914. London: Routledge. p. 11. ISBN   978-0-415-01297-3. OCLC   39848675. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  8. ↑ "GeoIndex Onshore". British Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  9. ↑ "NCA profile 49. Sherwood". Natural England. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  10. ↑ "Home - The Sherwood Forest Trust Nottinghamshire". The Sherwood Forest Trust Nottinghamshire. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "Sherwood Forest". nottinghamshire.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  12. ↑ "Magic Map Application". defra.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  13. ↑ "Nottinghamshire's National Nature Reserve". naturalengland.org.uk. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  14. ↑ "Birklands and Bilhaugh". defra.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  15. ↑ "Sherwood Forest in World War II". mercian-as.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 May 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  16. ↑ Levine, Joshua (2015). The Secret History of the Blitz. London: Simon & Schuster. pp. 117–130. ISBN   978-1-4711-3102-8.
  17. ↑ "Ammunition, Sherwood Forest: 21 Mar 1950: House of Commons debates". TheyWorkForYou. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  18. ↑ "Sherwood Forest to double in size". BBC News. 21 March 2007. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  19. ↑ RSPB chosen to build Nottinghamshire's Sherwood Forest visitor centre Archived 4 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine BBC News Nottingham, 12 August 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2020
  20. ↑ Sherwood Forest project: Plans for £5.3m visitor centre unveiled Archived 15 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine BBC News Nottingham, 19 March 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2020
  21. ↑ "New Sherwood Forest visitor centre opens". BBC News. 27 August 2018. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  22. ↑ "New £5m Sherwood Forest centre opens". BBC News. 27 August 2018. Archived from the original on 10 September 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  23. ↑ Visit Sherwood, Robin Hood Festival, cute web https://www.visitsherwood.co.uk/home/robin-hood-festival-2023/ retrieved on the 10th April 2023
  24. ↑ "Sherwood Forest Art and Craft Centre". Archived from the original on 29 October 2007.
  25. ↑ Thoresby Park web http://whatsonatthoresby.co.uk/ retrieved on the 10th April 2023
  26. ↑ Rufford Abbey Country Park, Parkwood Outdoors, cite web https://www.parkwoodoutdoors.co.uk/centre/rufford-abbey retrieved on the 10th April 2023
  27. ↑ Richard Moss (25 April 2008). "Amateur Archaeologists Find Ancient 'Thyng' In Sherwood Forest". Culture24. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  28. ↑ "Thynhowe". english Heritage. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  29. ↑ New £5m Sherwood Forest visitor centre opens Archived 23 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine BBC News Nottingham, 27 August 2018 Retrieved 3 June 2020

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