In search of Robin Hood
I do love a legend, and Robin Hood and his Merry Men has to be one of the best. So I set off excitedly for my first visit to Sherwood Forest in search of the man in tights (or the Disney fox, as he was to me as a child).
I was invited by RSPB, who manage Sherwood Forest, to help their brilliant team on the ground with some interpretation planning for the visitor centre and forest. Fortunately, we picked the perfect December day to explore the woods and discuss the challenges of operating a site with an international reputation as both the home of Robin Hood and the Major Oak.
The site is an interesting challenge for RSPB, given their normal role managing nature sites rather than developing visitor attractions, but they are doing a sterling job of welcoming and entertaining local families and international visitors. The events programme is a colourful mix of jousters, jugglers, archers and medieval crafts, alongside a host of themed guided walks and activities.
The challenge is to find a way to meet visitors’ expectations of encountering Robin and his men in the woods, managing and celebrating the astonishing ancient trees that dot the forest, and making wildlife welcome, particularly sustaining the magic of the forest and its stories during the quieter periods between programmed events and activities. I’m looking forward to working with the team to find some exciting and achievable solutions.
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