Sherwood Forest, Lands End

Welcome to Sherwood Forest - the stuff of legend.

It's not often that a place features as strongly in legend as the main characters. In early mediaeval times, Sherwood Forest covered an area as large as a third of modern-day central London. Today, the last remnant of that ancient woodland is the Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, and the Sherwood Forest Trust prides itself on being the modern-day Robin Hood, protecting the Forest for generations to come. 

Historically, the location was a royal hunting forest and used for the enjoyment not only of English monarchs but visiting nobles as well. Much of the space was actually open land, but the forest was a valuable source of timber both for shipbuilding and construction on land - both St. Paul's and Lincoln cathedrals made use of Sherwood oak.

And what of Robin Hood? Sadly, a construct of popular folklore - created as an ally and supporter of Richard the Lionheart, Robin is variously a yeoman, a noble, and a true outlaw; early ballad 'Robin Hood and the Monk' (1450) makes him out to be a cheat and a casual murderer - a far more bloodthirsty figure, and no ally of any King. The only thing recognisable from later representations is that the Sheriff is still his sworn enemy!