Sherwood Forest, with its legendary associations with Robin Hood, is perhaps the most famous forest in the world. The little Nottinghamshire village of Edwinstowe is an ideal location for exploring Sherwood Forest, being only a short walk from the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre and Sherwood Forest itself.

Sherwood was first recorded in 958 AD when it was called Sciryuda, which means 'the woodland belonging to the shire'. After the Norman invasion in 1066 AD it became a royal hunting forest. It was very popular with many Norman kings, especially King John and Edward I.

The ancient forest of Birklands, in the heart of Nottinghamshire, is most of what now remains of the great Sherwood Forest. In Robin Hood's time it covered more than 100,000 acres. This remaining forest, called Birklands, covers more than 200 hectares and is now internationally important as a National Nature Reserve (NNR).

Birklands is an old Viking name for "birch land" and it was first mentioned in documents in 1251. It is therefore probably in excess of 1,000 years old. Birklands was the property of the Crown for almost 600 years and was used for timber, for grazing and as an exclusive hunting ground by successive kings and queens of England.

By the 19th century, Birklands had passed to the Pierrepont family who ensured its survival. This unique part of English natural heritage is now manged by Nottinghamshire County Council, English Nature and the Thoresby Estate.

Large tracts of the ancient Sherwood Forest were once sandy heathland, dominated by heather. Remnants of these open, sandy heaths can still be found within Birklands.

The existing forest is dominated by native oaks (pedunculate and sessile) which occur in great numbers in company with other native trees such as silver birch, rowan, hawthorn and holly. Scattered throughout the bracken-filled glades of Birklands are more than 1,000 large oaks. Most of these are in excess of 500 years old. The most famous and the largest is the Major Oak which may be more than 1,000 years old. The oaks owe their strange shapes to the past, when grazing operations kept the forest much more open in nature.

These giant oaks, each with a distinctive character, act as hosts to an exceptional variety of wildlife, which is found exclusively among the hollow trunks, rotten wood and decaying bark.

More than 1,000 beetle and spider species have been found, many rare, and many totally depending on these old trees for their survival.

In Autumn, Birklands hosts more than 200 species of fungi on its trees and on the forest floor. Animals depending on the old trees include the great-spotted woodpecker, the tawny owl, the redstart and various bats, such as the noctule bat.

The photographs below were taken during our March 2003 visit to Sherwood Forest. I have obviously not been able to cover everything but I nevertheless hope that the following pictures will give you some idea of the fascination of the Sherwood Forest experience. Please click on a small picture to access a larger version.

Walking from the centre of Edwinstowe village towards the trees of Sherwood Forest and the Visitor Centre. The open grassy space in front is part Edwinstowe's ancient cricket pitch.
As an alternative to walking, there are large car parks in Sherwood Forest. This one is near the Visitor Centre.
If you choose to use one of the car parks, you will soon find yourself face to face with a modern-day reminder of Robin Hood and his merry band!
Whether you arrive on foot or by car, the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre is a good place to gather information about the forest and its walks. It has a restaurant, video show, toilets, shops, a picnic area, and this exhibition about Robin Hood and the forests of the world.
A general view of one of the many open glades and heathland within Sherwood Forest.
Another open view within the forest.
Another open view within the forest. At least, with this web site, you can actually see something of the variety of environments to be found within Sherwood Forest!
This view shows a part of the ancient mixed oak/birch forest. One of the ancient oaks (minimum 600 years old) can be seen in the middle distance.
More mixed birch and an ancient oak.
One of the many walks in Sherwood Forest starting from the Visitor Centre. The ancient oaks on either side seem to be playing some sort of a game across the path.
Two more mysterious and fantastically shaped ancient Sherwood oaks.
An attempt to capture one of the large ancient oaks in one picture. It is difficult to convey an adequate image of these trees because they are so large and complex.
The base of an ancient oak. Curiously, this one gets larger as it rises from the base. The whole structure appears to be top-heavy.
The sun came out on our last day in Sherwood Forest. Here is a sunlit open glade.
Another sunny forest scene.
The Major Oak, perhaps the most famous oak tree in the world! Many visitors come to see this tree which is now fenced off. The ground around the tree became compacted as hard as concrete by the feet of tourists, and it was beginning to die of thirst.
A closer view of the Major Oak. This shows the elaborate metal support structures more clearly.
A sunlit ancient oak.
One of the many strange shapes to be seen in Sherwood Forest. Such shapes seem even more strange as dusk comes on.
More strange shapes. The tree on the left looks like Prince John calling for assistance!
Another strange shape showing the fantastic and complex growth pattern of the Stags Horn Oak.
Can you see the face in this picture?
What sort of creature could this be?
The two orators or, "He went that way!"
Could this be Robin Hood shooting an arrow down the path to the left?
Is this Alan-a-Dale playing his lute and singing?
This tree is incredibly complex and is really awe-inspiring. I wouldn't like to be anywhere near it by myself on a moonlight night! It is offically known as "Stumpy."
This is the other side of "Stumpy." This was the last we saw of him as we continued on into the endlessly fascinating Sherwood Forest.
Part of a very old Sherwood Forest oak which fell down long ago. It looks like a fallen warrior. The end of a tree and the end of our Sherwood Forest tour.

The Birklands trees and heaths require careful management if they are to survive as true remnants of the original Sherwood Forest. It is vital that the old oaks continue to survive but, unfortunately, some of them are surrounded by non-native trees such as pine, beech and sycamore. These trees are being gradually replaced with native oaks and birch.

Fallen trees and branches are deliberately left where they fall because many rare animals depend on the decaying wood to survive. For more information, please contact:

English Nature Eastern Area Team, East Midlands Region,
The Maltings, Wharf Road, Grantham UK NG31 6BH
email: east.midlands@english-nature.org.uk

Please refer to my Edwinstowe page for details of where to stay.

Home address of this page: http://www.johnw55.freeuk.com/robin

Page updated 22 July 2008