Sherwood Forest Action

The merry friends of Robin Hood were back in Sherwood Forest for the week of Beltane! A group of around 60 people reclaimed the land as outlaws, in Thieves Wood, just south of Mansfield. After long talks with both local police and The Forestry Commission, the occupation continued ‘with their permission’! Tree houses, benders and pine huts were constructed and a forest village sprang up in under three days. Work then went into preparing for Beltane celebrations and a Robin Hood play with a special road protesting theme. Numbers rose during this time to over two hundred. The action raised a lot of local awareness about the proposal for a ten mile trunk road, connecting the M1 to the A1, as well as plans for adjoining industrial areas, a telecommunications centre and two leisure parks. This is only at the planning stages right now, but if it goes ahead it would mean part of the old Oak forest being trashed. Many of the participants, both local and others, have now pledged to come back and fight if planning permission is granted. The site was left as it was found, at the end of the week and all parties concerned were left happy. A quote from the police was published in the local newspaper commenting on the ‘impeccable’ behaviour of the protesters! Watch out for the play this summer as it is planned to take it around festivals and camps, or you can call 0585 620714 for more info.