Sherwood Forest will forever be known as the home of the legendary Robin Hood and his merry men. The huge Major Oak at its centre – recently voted England’s tree of the year – is said to have hidden the band of outlaws from the Sheriff of nearby Nottingham!

What is less known is that the famous forest also supports unusual and internationally important wildlife, such as the hazel pot beetle, Welsh clearwing and Leisler's bat. The nightjar bird flies over to spend the season there along with thousands of people who visit every year.

The area is also a working landscape. The site of several coal mines, now mostly closed, tell their own story of the importance of Sherwood to the industrial development of the area.

Nottinghamshire County Council has successfully applied to HLF for a £3.7million grant to restore 200sq km of the forest and surrounding area. The work is planned to start in 2017 and will restore large areas of heathland and celebrate the forest’s cultural heritage.

John Everitt, Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, said: “This is excellent news, which confirms the national importance of Sherwood Forest and will help us to realise the vision of a Regional Park. Extra funding from HLF will offer great opportunities to restore industrial areas to wildlife-rich heathland and woodland.”