The splendour of historic Sherwood Forest will be celebrated as part of the Major Oak Woodland Festival on September 13 and 14.

The country park, managed by Nottinghamshire County Council, is this year celebrating 60 years since it was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It is internationally famous as the home of the Major Oak, is the forest where Robin Hood and his Merry Men used to hide out, and has a rich natural history environment.

The Welsh Clearwing and the Hazel Pot Beetle are among some of the rarer finds which have been found within Sherwood’s natural habitats in recent years.

Families, nature lovers and woodland craft enthusiasts will enjoy the special celebration weekend next month which is being organised by the county council in partnership with The Sherwood Forest Trust.

There will be heritage crafts, tree surgeons, outdoor learning displays, community archaeology, bugs and critters, bee keepers and the old tool store among the attractions during the weekend each day from 11am to 4pm.

There will also be some wonderful examples of how the conservation management of Sherwood Forest has changed over the years, including horse loggers and traditional woodland management practices.

And a wide range of organisations will join in the celebrations including the RSPB, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and Hawks of Steele. The county council’s archaeology team will also be taking part.

Councillor John Knight, Culture Committee Chairman at Nottinghamshire County Council said: “We are rightly proud of Sherwood Forest which is one of the most famous forests in the world. The Major Oak Woodland Festival gives us an opportunity to promote its glorious past and everything that it offers today, as well as celebrate the Diamond Anniversary of Sherwood being designated SSSI status.”

The 450 acre country park is part of Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve. The country park is maintained by the county council’s country park rangers, working to a woodland management plan written by The Sherwood Forest Trust in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council and Natural England, and is supported by other local partnership organisations.

Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve recently took second place in the ‘Best Nature Reserve’ category in the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2013. The wider national nature reserve is managed by Nottinghamshire County Council in partnership with Natural England and the Forestry Commission. It contains some of the oldest oak trees in Europe, has a fascinating ecological and natural environment, and is a popular visitor destination.

For more details about the forthcoming Woodland Festival visit the county council website: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/sherwoodcp or www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/whatson

Or the Sherwood Forest Trust website: www.sherwoodforest.org.uk