.Monday 5th August’13 saw the return of the annual 'Robin Hood Festival' in it’s astounding 29th year at ‘Sherwood Forest NNR’, the festival attracted over 50,000 visitors from all over, including many international visitors in there flocks to see the famous Major Oak . An array of miniature 'Maid Marion’s' and 'Robin Hoods' in a sea of Lincoln green, with bow and arrows galore and floral head dresses at the ready flocked to the nationally important forest on the week of the 5th-11th Aug’13. An outstanding 4,500 people took time to visit RSPBRoseanna (Modern day Maid Marion) at the RSPB stall, located at the centre of all the action throughout the seven days in the visitor square. We had a number of nature activities for families to get involved with, all aimed at 'Giving Nature a Home' and helping provide visitors with the simple tips and advice on how they can step up and ‘Give Nature a Home’ in their back garden, or local green space.
The most popular activity amongst visitors was the creation of 'Butterfly Feeders', a simple, creative and colourful, yet effective way of attracting butterflies to gardens, allowing kids to take a simple action to 'Give Nature a Home' centred in a prime area for butterflies in the forest, with colourful sights of brimstone, peacocks, small and large white taking an interest throughout. The recent 'State of Nature' report, highlighted alarming facts and statistics about the decline of biodiversity over the last 50 years, in which the report concluded that 72% of butterfly species had decreased over the last ten years, including common 'garden butterflies' that had declined by 24%. The stall was full of advice and useful information and resources all about the work of the RSPB ‘Sherwood Futurescape’ and the RSPB's new campaign, along with Ross’s (Nott's membership officer) miniature garden biome, complete with real caterpillars and snails, which proved popular amongst the younger generations of Robin Hood’s men.
In addition, an outstanding 65 new members were made throughout the seven day period, thanks to the combined talents of the membership team; membership been an extremely important aspect of our work in order to help fund are vital conservation work and to help raise awareness. But the fun didn't stop there, there was archery, jousting, traditional arts and crafts, street entertainers, drama performers and live music, all with a medieval twist, really bringing the forest back to life, as the myth of Robin Hood suggests. You really felt like you were back in the late twelfth-thirteenth century when the legend of Robin Hood was said to roam the famous forest, with such a flamboyant, lively atmosphere of medieval song and dance and bustling street crowds!
A huge THANK YOU to all that made the event such a success, and took time out to visit or volunteer with the RSPB at the festival. On that note, it gives us great pleasure to confirm that the 30th annual Robin Hood Festival has been confirmed for 2014, despite initial concerns of the festivals future, and is due to take place from Aug 5-10th 2014, in which we hope to see many repeat visitors next year! In the meantime do keep an eye out for regular news and events taking place within the Sherwood and Trent local area, by following RSPBRoseanna or RSPBSherwood, or download your free pack on 'Giving Nature a Home' today here.
Below, 'RSPBRoseanna' (Maid Marion) with regular volunteers Kennith Valentine and Susanne Horwarth.
Local children with their new butterfly feeders, a welcomed addition to local back gardens
Miniature Robin Hood and his Grandad at Sherwood Forest.