A first community tree nursery is opening in the area in October to help develop native trees and plants.

It will allow local tree and plant seeds to be collected by the community and volunteers, and then propagated and grown on ready for planting.
Sherwood Seed-Base Community Tree Nursery is at Forestry Holdings, near Sherwood Pines.

It has been created by The Sherwood Forest Trust, with financial support from the David Cock Foundation, Aviva Insurance, Mansfield Building Society, Natural England, the Forestry Commission, and Newark and Sherwood District Council.

The council awarded £95,000 to the trust as part of its UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation. The funding will be used to provide additional resources to help community tree nursery activities, as well providing support to enable community events and volunteering opportunities.

Trust chief executive Dr Patrick Candler said: “We have been wanting for some time to get a tree nursery for Sherwood, so we can collect, grow, and then plant out native tree species when we carry out our winter tree planting events. With the financial assistance we have received, our dream can now become a reality.

“We look forward to welcoming people to help us collect seeds and grow the local provenance trees, ready for planting in community-based schemes.”

Coun Emma Oldham, portfolio holder for Biodiversity and Environmental Services, said: “We are incredibly lucky to have the stunning Sherwood Forest on our doorstep and it is important we protect this habitat for future generations.

“The nursery means residents can learn more about trees local to the area, their importance, and the steps we can take to protect our environment. Through events and volunteering, the nursery will become a thriving hub for the community.”