Guest column: Robin Hood festival is set to impress, by Cllr John Knight

Robin Hood will resume his battle with archenemy the Sheriff of Nottingham at historic Sherwood Forest this summer as Nottinghamshire County Council prepares to host the 31st annual Robin Hood Festival which will take place at Sherwood Forest Country Park, near Edwinstowe, from August 3 to 9.

The annual festival is a week-long programme of medieval mayhem and merriment with jousting and falconry displays on selected days and street entertainers transporting people back to medieval times in the heart of our world-famous forest.

A celebration of all things Robin Hood, this year’s will again feature a full cast of medieval characters who are known as the Festival Folk and include characters such as the Medieval Maniax and pig farmer Simple Tom. The battles between The Sheriff and Robin and his Merry Men are compelling as they take place throughout the week.

Other activities including the open air theatre performances, walks through the forest as visitors listen to our Robin Hood storyteller Sir Ralph of Epperstone, and archery sessions including a silver arrow contest during the week.

Visitors can also explore the outlaw’s famous hide out The Major Oak, which is the current holder of the Woodland Trust’s England Tree of the Year public vote.

We are proud to be hosting this annual festival which is a favourite with families in the summer holidays and there will once again be a week of free entertainment and a daily programme packed with education and entertainment for all ages.

The event is free but there is a charge of £5 for car parking. Read more about this year’s festival at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/robinhoodfestival

For more details on some of the other leisure activities and opportunities on offer, please visit Nottinghamshire County Council’s website: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/whatson