The recently-opened Sherwood Seedbank, a one-of-a-kind community tree nursery based near Sherwood Pines, invited members of the public to collect 10,000 acorns in the heart of Sherwood Forest, next to the Major Oak in Edwinstowe.

Despite poor weather, more than 100 people joined in the fun (above), including locals, holidaymakers, and school trips.

Community tree nurse officer Alex Gunnell also hosted an acorn-sowing event at Vicar Water Country Park, Clipstone, where, with the help of volunteers, around 1,000 acorns were planted.

Sherwood Seedbank is run by the Sherwood Forest Trust, an independent charity based in Edwinstowe. It carries out planting programmes each year with schools, landowners, and community groups, helping to increase the number of native trees in the Sherwood Forest area.

Sherwood Seedbank collects and sows seeds, which are then propagated and grown on to heathy young trees and native plants, ready for planting out to extend the forest.

One of the trees most associated with Sherwood Forest is the English oak, but it can take two to three years to grow saplings to a size suitable for planting out.

Matt Smith, conservation manager for SFT, said: “It has been a great effort by everyone involved in the collection and sowing of the acorns. We look forward to nurturing them into the next generation of Sherwood oaks before returning them to be planted in the area.”