A green legacy begins at Community Tree Nursery

Located at FeelGood Gardens, a site near Sherwood Pines, the Nursery enables local tree and plant seeds to be collected by the community and volunteers and then propagated and grown on to healthy young trees and native plants ready for planting. The activity undertaken at the Nursery will protect the remarkable habitat at Sherwood Forest for future generations and aims to plant over 8000 trees by March 2025.

In addition, the Nursery will also provide a hub for the local community, including those across the district, through its volunteering and community engagement programme, facilitating opportunities to bring people together, engage in social action, learn new skills and get active and hands-on with nature. A number of community groups, schools and residents from across the district have already visited and supported the Nursery through dedicated volunteer efforts.

Newark and Sherwood District Council awarded Sherwood Forest Trust grant funding of £93k as part of its UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocation. The two-year funding will provide dedicated resources to develop the programme of works at the Community Tree Nursery and deliver various community engagement events and opportunities.

In addition, capital funding to support the development of the tree nursery was received from the David Cock Foundation, Aviva Insurance, Mansfield Building Society, Natural England and the Forestry Commission. 

Councillor Emma Oldham, Portfolio Holder for Biodiversity and Environmental Services, said: “It was wonderful to attend the opening event and to help formally open the Community Tree Nursery – thank you to the Sherwood Forest Trust for inviting me.

“I am thrilled that through initiatives such as the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Newark and Sherwood District Council are able to support such important projects, such as this. One of our priorities, both as a District Council and through UKSPF, is our commitment to enhancing our green spaces. It is vital that we protect the remarkable habitat at Sherwood Forest for generations to come.”

Dr Patrick Candler, CEO of Sherwood Forest Trust, said: ‘After more than three years in the planning and preparation, it is fantastic that we have now got The Sherwood Seedbank opened for business. In the years to come, we will be able to collect all types of Sherwood tree seeds, grow them on and then plant them out to extend Sherwood Forest. It’s a true circle of life! We are really grateful to all our funders, especially Newark and Sherwood and we really want local people to come and support the work that we do’.

If you are interested in getting involved please contact info@sherwoodforesttrust.org.uk for volunteer opportunities and to visit the Sherwood Seedbank.