Bassetlaw Rural Conference Sherwood Forest Regional Park Dr Patrick Candler, Chair Regional Park Board 25 March 2015

Sherwood Forest Regional Park Historic Timeline Sherwood Forest designated as a Hunting Forest Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Sub-Regional Study Interim report: The Future of Sherwood Forest Sherwood Study: Area of Special Historic and Landscape Significance The Plan for Sherwood Forest Sherwood Study: A Vision for Sherwood Forest Destination East Midlands, the Regional Tourism Strategy Experience Nottinghamshire – mission statement County Council supports the concept of a Regional Park Multi-sector partnership submitted £65m bid to the BIG Lottery Fund Sherwood Forest Regional Park Feasibility Study completed Sherwood Forest Regional Park Board set up

Sherwood Forest Regional Park Board Current membership: Ashfield DC National Trust Edwinstowe PC Natural England English Heritage Newark and Sherwood DC Experience Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire CC Forestry Commission Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Friends of Greenwood RSPB Gedling BC Sherwood Forest Trust Greenwood Community Forest Thoresby Estate Groundwork Greater Nottingham Woodland Trust Mansfield District Council National Farmers Union

Sherwood Forest Regional Park Why and where? The relevance of a Regional Park to the Sherwood Forest Area was recognised in the Regional Spatial Strategy (2005): “in Sherwood ….. the distinctive landscape character and the scale of ecological, historic and woodland interest combine to create areas that are special to the people of the East Midlands ….. the distinctive character …. is threatened by pressure from a range of factors. Co-ordinated action is required to ensure that such distinctiveness is retained”.

Sherwood Forest Regional Park Misconceptions Sherwood Forest Regional Park would NOT: Have planning powers Be another layer of bureaucracy Replace existing authorities Be a theme park, national park or country park

Sherwood Forest Regional Park Our Vision…. “….. is that by 2025, the Sherwood Forest area will be locally, nationally and internationally recognised as an area of outstanding natural significance and cultural heritage – where vibrant communities, economic regeneration and environmental enhancement thrive together in this inspiring natural setting.”

Sherwood Forest Regional Park Our purpose Help bring about transformational change for the better for Sherwood Forest and surrounding areas Provide a strategic context, coordination and added value to the range of work that is already being carried out Stimulate new investment ambitions and aspirations to be achieved for the area Promote better the unique and iconic assets of Sherwood

Sherwood Forest Regional Park Our key themes Community Empowerment (Sustainable Communities) Culture, Heritage and History Economic Development and Regeneration Image, Identify and Profile Natural Habitats and Landscape Recreation Visitor Economy

Securing funding March 2015 Development of the 7 Key Themes April 2015 Completion of Masterplan May 2015 Formal launch of Regional Park September 2015 Implementation of Regional Park September 2015 onwards Sherwood Forest Regional Park Our critical milestones

Sherwood Forest Regional Park Our success criteria Hectares of improved landscape and habitats Increase in visitor numbers to Sherwood area Creation of new jobs Number of new businesses started and sustained Improved visitor offer and increase in tourism spend Increase in funding for Sherwood projects Support for new community events/festivals Better promotion and coordination of the Sherwood Brand Improved health and quality of life for local communities

Comments/views of the Bassetlaw Rural Conference How can we get more people/organisations involved? What do you want to get out of the Regional Park? Sherwood Forest Regional Park So where do we go from here?

From dream to reality, lets make this happen!! Thank you for your support Sherwood Forest Regional Park