1999 United Kingdom Countryside Exchange
Sherwood Forest – Executive Summary

Introduction

Sherwood Forest is a place rich in its landscapes, in its ecological diversity and in its history. A Royal hunting forest was created here by the Normans. Ancient woodland and heath, full of diverse wildlife, is overlain by designed historic landscapes. Productive farmland is peppered with ancient monuments. Modern settlements are built around traditional villages of distinctive character. All of these aspects are recognised in local, national and in some cases international statutory designations.

The team was impressed by other qualities in the place and in the people: by the variety of transportation routes and modes; by the great pubs and restaurants; and by the commitment and creativity of all the organisations and people they met and their awareness of environmental, community and sustainability issues.

Observations

• There is real potential for developing the area for the benefit of everyone, by focusing attention on Sherwood Forest as one highly recognisable place. However, there is no agreed identity or boundary for the area. Creating a stronger identity for the area, and more co-operative working among those who live in, work in and care for it, could bring wide-ranging tangible benefits.

• The quality of the tourist experience offered varies. There are several distinct visitor groups that are presently using the same sites for their varied activities.

• Sherwood Forest’s historic sites, nature and landscapes are a tremendous educational resource but are not currently packaged for that purpose.

• The transportation system in the Sherwood Forest area is diverse, but it does not meet existing or long-term environmental and social needs.

• Agriculture in the Sherwood area is under severe pressure from a range of external forces making changes likely in the products grown, the techniques used and the people who own and manage farmland.

• The quality and rarity of the natural environment are important enough in themselves to justify special efforts being made to keep it.

• Given the particular nature and economics of agriculture in Sherwood Forest, existing incentives and grant schemes are not adequate.

Key Issues

• Sherwood Forest should be widely recognised and promoted as one area, defined by its geography, environments and cultural history. It should be a brand name and a rallying banner, with a unifying logo representative of the range of interests in the area.

• Work should be done to define the boundaries and to mark them on the ground, particularly at the key entry points.

• The Sherwood Forest brand name and logo should be used on all publications, signs, markers and products, and at sites and communities throughout the area.

• Strategies and objectives that appear now in separate action plans should be integrated into a single, shared programme for the area.

• Low key, minimal impact tourism that conserves a healthy environment for present and future generations needs to be promoted and practiced.

• There is also a need to encourage the understanding and appreciation of the rich ecological, archaeological, and cultural heritage for visitors and to renew the same among local communities.

Recommendations and the Future

Tourism

• A more integrated strategy, with a new partnership of key stakeholders, needs to be developed for the marketing of Sherwood Forest’s tourism opportunities and the management of visitors.

• Construct a welcome/interpretation centre for the whole Sherwood Forest region.

• Facilitate the use of all sites in the region by repeat visitors. Funds should be specifically dedicated for international marketing campaigns.

Funding

• The Partnership should take a co-ordinated approach to seeking and using funding for the area as a whole.

• Funds previously dedicated to individual marketing initiatives should be re-deployed in an integrated strategy.

• Funding agencies and charities should be approached with joint bids for district-wide development.

Visitor Management

• Create opportunities for increased, and more even, distribution of visitors throughout the region, and develop a strategic pricing plan to discourage over-use of sensitive sites.

• Move “Robin Hood” and other entertainment-style events and activities from fragile locations such as Sherwood Forest Country Park to more robust and appropriate sites.

• Develop a contemporary education and interpretive centre at the present Sherwood Forest site.

• Establish a “Friends of Historic Sherwood Forest” group and encourage the integration of communities into the decision-making process.

Employment and Development Opportunities

• Form partnerships with tourist boards to provide training to guides and interpreters.

• Help interested parties explore the possibility of securing grants to restore and convert sites of interest.

Education

• Develop an educational and interpretative program that integrates the land use, cultural and natural stories.

• Ensure that educational strategies are in place that use Sherwood Forest and its historic and natural resource sites to educate people of all ages. Farmers should participate in these strategies.

• Develop written materials about Sherwood Forest that can be used in schools regardless of whether students can make a field trip to sites.

Transport

• Bus transportation should be expanded to include frequent round trip bus rides linking all sites and communities.

• Lower entrance fees could be charged for visitors arriving by sustainable modes of transportation.

• Sherwood Forest should be promoted as an area of leisure cycling. The Sustrans and linking routes should be completed. Bus and rail companies should provide facilities to transport bicycles to, and between sites and villages within, the area. A good map of cycling routes should be available and an integrated system of one way bike rental should be developed.

• Routes should be clearly marked and promoted as predominantly for cycling, walking or horseback riding.

• Non-vehicle access routes should be improved to link Thoresby Hall and Centre Parcs with the surrounding area.

Agriculture

• Create a niche market for “Sherwood Forest” produce.

• Expand processing facilities for local products to diversify market and reconnect local food chains.

• Include sessions on the historic significance of Sherwood in training aimed at farm diversification.

Natural Environment

• Where woodland and heathland areas are targeted on conflicting grounds of historic landscape restoration and wildlife corridor requirements, restoration should take priority in the allocation of funding.

• Establish a local fund to provide incentives and pay the costs of desirable heathland and woodland restoration.

• On-site interpretation at Sherwood Forest Country Park should be designed to inform visitors about the importance of the ancient oaks, the origin of heathland, the value of the habitats and the historical and present use of the landscape.

• Ensure that sufficient local provenance tree stock is available to meet demand from woodland restoration initiatives.

• Management objectives at Sherwood Country Park must recognise its cSAC status.

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©2002 Glynwood Center