Sherwood Forest

We arrived at the Car-park only to find it was still locked up – hey we weren't that early. There was a second car-park by the side of the St Johns Ambulance station. A bright and wondrous day lays ahead as we head out toward the Major Oak. It was time to boot up and head out.

The Route took us past the YHA and then around the perimeter of Edwinstowe as we followed the path we saw some of the old tree that make up the forest along with the new commercial plantations. This commercialisation of the forest allows conservation to be carried out but where the land is “harvested” the land looks desolate and untidy – hey but it is progress !!

Woodland navigation can be interesting at the best of time and while a GPS will keep you on the straight and narrow its always fun to test your navigation skills with Map and compass. The outdoor lesuire / explore series of maps show field boundaries and in open countryside navigation is easy but in woodland you will see tracks but not a lot else ans with it being a commercial forest you have to remember even if the are no tree it is still forest ( this simple rule can save a lot of time). We nearly miss Hanger Hill because of this.

You see Boundary Plantation wasn't if you get my drift. It was an empty landscape opening up to fields beyond. But Ladysmith Plantation was there and it was after passing this we came upon an even more disturbing sign. It read: Dukeries Training Area. Private Property. Public rights of way to Budby and Edwinstowe. Warning: The public right of way crosses an army training area in which blank firing and troop movements take place. Keep to the right of way. Well we weren't going to run amok here were we !!

A little further along and we came to another sign declaring Welcome to Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve and then going on to explain that Budby South Forest is an area of heathland thats grased by sheep ans cattle to maintain its rich array of plants and animals and is spectular display of purple heather in late summer. In mid auturm its still spectular believe me, even as the clouds start to rolling in and the rain starts.

As we follow the path through Budby South Forest (!) towards the centre of sherward forest and the Major Oak the rain increases in volume. Given this change in weather the scenery still thrills with its array of colours and textured. And then we come upon the Major Oak ( or to give it its correct name “The Major's Oak” see http://thehikingclub.co.uk/node/424 for more info ). We did not stay long the rain was hard, wet and cold so we follow the path to the Visitors Centre which due to the weather was somewhat crowded.

As we left the Visitors Centre the rain clouds started to parts and as week croswsed the car parks and headed back to the cars the sun came back out.

A great end to an interesting day