Sherwood Forest, a National Nature Reserve in the heart of Nottinghamshire, is the home to much wildlife, woodland and Robin Hood’s famous tree.

National Nature Reserves in England are owned by The Wildlife Trusts organisation and there are 47 individual Wildlife Trusts covering the whole of the UK and the Isle of Man and Alderney. The Wildlife Trusts are the UK’s largest people-powered environmental organisation that’s works for nature’s recovery on both land and sea.

Sherwood Forest is one England’s National Nature Reserves that is home to the famous tree from the classic tale of Robin Hood. The Major Oak which is situated in the centre of the forest in Edwinstowe, is where Robin Hood and his merry men lived and plotted their next plans to steal from the rich and give to the poor. This National Nature Reserve is popular amongst tourists wanting to visit the famous tree, and for locals who enjoy the peaceful serenity of wildlife and woodland.

The Wildlife Trust believe that wildlife and natural processes need to have space to thrive, beyond nature reserves and other protected sites. By protecting the richest wildlife sites, nature is able to spread back into wider landscapes according to The Wildlife Trust. They also believe that a healthy natural environment is the basis for everything that is of worth to people such as, food, water, shelter, health, happiness and more.

The Wildlife Trust claim on their website: “The Wildlife Trusts want to help nature to recover from the decline that for decades has been the staple diet of scientific studies and news stories… We want to inspire people about the natural world so that they value it, understand their relationship with it and take action to protect and restore it.”

Each Wildlife Trust can be found within the local communities from which it was formed and most of had been established by the end of the 1990’s. National Nature Reserves were often set up by activists who were determined to save the last remainder of meadows, ancient woods, heaths and more to lessen the chance of devastation to the natural environment.

The historic background of Sherwood Forest makes it today one of the most well-known National Nature Reserves in England. The world famous Major Oak is at least 800 years old and weighs an estimated 23 tonnes. Because of its national importance, conservation measures to protect it have been carried out since 1908.

Sherwood Forest also works with many conservation and ‘green’ agencies such as English Nature, the Countryside Commission and the Nature Conservation Council, committed to its management aims of “sustainable development of its natural resources, heritage and scientific interest, and the enjoyment and education of its visitors”.

For more information on Sherwood Forest click here.