Sherwood Forest

Sherwood Forest is a world-famous forest surrounding the village of Edwinstowe in Nottinghamshire, England, historically associated with the legend of Robin Hood. The 423-hectare forest of today is a remnant of a much larger royal hunting forest that extended into several neighboring counties. The forest was opened as a country park to the public in 1969 by Nottinghamshire County Council, which manages the forest under lease from the Thoresby Estate. In 2002, Sherwood Forest was designated a National Nature Reserve by English Nature and covered an area of. In 2007 Natural England has officially incorporated the Budby South Forest, Nottinghamshire's largest area of dry lowland heath, into the Sherwood Forest, nearly doubling its size.

Sherwood Forest attracts 500,000 tourists annually, including many from around the world. Visitor numbers have seen a significant increase, as predicted, since the launch of the BBC's new Robin Hood TV series.

The park hosts the annual Robin Hood Festival for a week each summer. This event recreates a truly medieval atmosphere and features all of the major characters from the Robin Hood legend. The week's entertainment includes jousters and strolling players, dressed in authentic medieval attire, in addition to an authentic medieval encampment complete with jesters, musicians, rat-catchers, alchemists and fire eaters.