Sherwood Pines Forest Park


Sherwood Pines Forest Park is a forest park located in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England. Originally called Clipstone Heath it was acquired by The Forestry Commission in 1925 and planted with trees in response to a wood shortage after World War I. The park offers activities such as walking, bushcraft, mountain biking and there is a visitor centre. It is the largest park in the East Midlands of England.

History

The forest was part of ancient Sherwood Forest, originally called Clipstone Heath it was replanted with pine trees by the Forestry Commission and renamed Sherwood Pines. There are the remains of Mansfields 18th century main coach road leading to the Great North Road, and a medieval route from Kings Clipstone to Bilsthorpe, some of the medieval heath land and shroggs survive. Ancient boundary markers remain such as Robin Hood's Whetstone. There are the remains of a First World War pistol range and training trench. In 1630 the area was dominated by rabbit warrens. Feeding by the large number of rabbits had caused the land to become scrubby and in the Victorian era rabbits were killed and sent daily to London by train. The Forestry Commission was set up by the government in 1919 in response to a shortage of wood and in 1925 they obtained a 999 year lease at the park to plant and harvest trees.

Facilities

The forest offers a visitor centre, walking, cycling, mountain biking, jogging, a parkrun, orienteering, bushcraft, a cafe, a children's adventure trail, tree climbing, ranger activities, segway, a Robin Hood hideout and a raised walkway. It is the largest park in the East Midlands of England, with an area of 3,300 acres.