It’s been a busy and successful year in Sherwood Forest and now is a good time to reflect on the highlights. Our Futurescape work is funded by the EU-LIFE Nature Programme and has involved working with many partners to deliver a shared vision for a Sherwood richer in wildlife.
We have been working in partnership with our friends at Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve to deliver a range of wildlife walks. These have taken the public to areas of the forest they may not normally visit and at times they may not visit, showing them the special birds that call Sherwood Forest home. A dawn chorus walk was an aural adventure in the forest enjoying the burst of birdsong at the start of the day, and the star performer was a showy and vocal cuckoo. Other special species seen were redstarts and tree pipits on the Redstart Ramble; nightjars and woodcocks at dusk on the Nightjar Walk; and on the autumn walk we found barn owl pellets in an old oak, which the children on the walk enjoyed. At nearby Rufford CP, we led two successful hawfinch walks, seeing these elusive finches very well.
Hawfinch by ice house, Rufford Abbey CP, taken on the walk. Photo credit Ian Hurst.
It has been a special year for Sherwood Forest as it has been celebrating its Diamond Jubilee of being declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is fitting that Major Oak was voted England’s Tree of the Year in a public vote organised by the Woodland Trust, showing that this tree is an icon and much appreciated by people. Back in June I wrote a blog about the search for the Midas tree-weaver spider and the exciting news is that it was re-found, so confirming that Sherwood Forest is still home to this nationally rare spider.
Personally, two of my highlights were walks with my 12 year old daughter, Jessica, when we saw the day flying moth Welsh clearwing for the first time on a walk with ranger Claire Watson; and when we went on a walk through the forest on the shortest night of the year hearing nightjars and finding glow worms.
A female glow worm, Sherwood Forest NNR. Photo credit Carl Cornish.
Part two tomorrow.