The most travelled Green Man in Britain is preparing for his latest visit to Sherwood Forest this weekend.

The Wild Man of the Woods, aka Barry Patterson, is a key performer at the Major Oak Woodland Festival which takes place at the country park this Saturday and Sunday (13 and 14 September).

Bedecked in a colourful outfit with leaves and other natural greenery, he will be popular with families and children as he performs songs and music with wooden flute, bagpipes and bodhràn (a traditional frame drum), promoting the importance and beauty of nature, trees and wildlife.

The festival, being organised by Nottinghamshire County Council in partnership with The Sherwood Forest Trust, celebrates 60 years since Sherwood Forest was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) this year.

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.

And Barry has explained how the Major Oak ‘spoke’ to him when he last spent time in Sherwood Forest a few years ago.

He said: “I was staying in the forest and visited the Major Oak tree and asked it if there was any reason why I could not sleep within the hollow of the tree in the way that Robin Hood and his Merry Men used to do. At that exact moment, a whoosh of bats came from the tree and that was my answer not to disturb the great tree!

“Our trees, local woods and other natural environments need all the friends they can get and we need to care for our environment. Sherwood Forest is such a special place, and it is wonderful that it is celebrating this great occasion and I am looking forward to taking part.”

Families, nature lovers and woodland craft enthusiasts will enjoy the special celebration this weekend. There will 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.

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 exciting past and everything that it offers today, as well as celebrate the Diamond Anniversary of Sherwood being designated SSSI status.”

Meanwhile, Sherwood Forest rangers are taking photographs of some of their favourite insects, trees and other natural habitats which will feature on the county council’s social media channels this week – visit: www.facebook.com/visitsherwood

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