The map of Sherwood Forest on the right shows extent of the modern day forest. A surprising amount of the area covered by the ancient forest is still covered by trees. In fact there are more trees in Sherwood now than in the ancient wood.

The fast draining sandlands of of the Forest have always been of low value for agriculture, although where irrigation is available they have become the second most important vegetable growing area in the country.

With an 'important provincial royal palace' used by all the Plantagenet Kings for 200 years, Kings Clipstone was 'the royal heart of ancient Sherwood Forest'. Its position is still crucial as it straddles the shortest gap between the northern and central parts of the forest where the River Maun cuts through the forest. It was the availability water from the River Maun and the Vicar Water brook that sustained the mediaeval village.

Kings Clipstone is a heritage hot-spot but we need action now to save our heritage

The photo shows the remains of King John's Palace - a £106.000 stabilisation scheme funded by English Heritage and Nottinghamshire County Council was completed in 2009.  These ruins, of what a recent English Heritage report called an 'important provincial royal palace', were in danger of complete collapse. The most iconic and important site within Sherwood Forest could have been lost. 

This photo was taken in the 1950s showed the ruins of Beeston Lodge, which is thought to be the gatehouse of the original pele built above the Spar Ponds. Neglect and vandalism destroyed these last standing walls leaving just a pile of stones on the ground.