News - Viking site under threat (Birklands)

AN HISTORIAN who helped find a Viking meeting post in Sherwood Forest has voiced her disapproval at the privatisation of the nation’s woodlands.

For centuries a certain mound in the Birklands, north of Edwinstowe, had archeologists stumped. That was until five years ago, when a group of enthusiasts discovered its true heritage.

Lynda Mallett was part of that team and is now concerned the ancient monument – one of only a handful in Britain – could be lost following the Government’s decision to sell off the land.

She said: “Whatever private owner takes it on will not be interested in finds like this, they will just look at it as something that will get in the way.”

“They will not want people walking around their land, they are not bothered about special trees or archaeology.”

“It is our land, our heritage, and they are stopping us from accessing it – it all belongs to us and there are things still to be discovered.”

Known as Thynghowe, the mound was used during the Viking age as a place where people would come together to resolve disputes.

Bassetlaw MP John Mann labelled the sale as “environmental vandalism”.

But Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said: “We will bring forward amendments to the Public Bodies Bill to create a strengthened framework to safeguard the natural and social capital our forests provide now and for future generations.”

“This would apply to the powers of sale, lease and management of the public forest estate.”

To have your say on the future of Thynghowe, Birklands, Sherwood Pines and the rest of the country’s woodland visit www.defra.gov.uk or email Mr Mann on mannj@parliament.uk

From: http://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/news/local-news/viking_site_under_threat_1_3061632

 

News - Boost for Queens Royal Lancers museum (Thoresby)

Plans for a new museum showcasing the collections of three historic army regiments have been awarded a £50,000 grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). 

A newly-renovated wing at Thoresby Courtyard, Nottinghamshire, will house the attraction, which will feature an education and research room. 

Collections of the Queens Royal Lancers; the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry; and the South Nottinghamshire Hussars will be put on show in the museum's gallery. 

Talks and guided tour events will also take place throughout the year, as well as education programmes linked to the National Curriculum. 

HLF East Midlands head Emma Sayer said: "This project is the culmination of an impressive vision to bring together the fascinating collections of the Queens Royal Lancers, the South Nottinghamshire Hussars and the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry." 

From: http://www.attractionsmanagement.com/detail1.cfm?pagetype=detail&subject=news&codeID=240963&site=AM&dom=N

 

English Forests to be Leased Out (Sherwood Forest)

Around 18 per cent of England's publicly-owned forests - which the Government had planned to sell into private hands - are to be offered on 150-year leases. 

Environmental and countryside campaigners led nationwide protests against the planned sell-off, warning that the future of ancient woodlands could be threatened by developers or timber firms and that public access could be curtailed.

A range of celebrities, from Dame Judi Dench to the Archbishop of Canterbury, urged Ministers to think again about the sale, describing it as "unconscionable". And a poll carried out at the weekend found 75 per cent of those who responded were against a sell-off.

Now the Government's decided that the land won't just be sold off to the highest bidder - and wants charitable trusts, community and other local groups to take a role.

The consultation document calls for heritage and community forests with considerable public benefits to be protected, by asking charities to take them on. Forests with a commercial value will be leased to private operators, but public access and other rights will be preserved under the terms of the lease.

Ministers said they'd listen to all feedback before reporting back in the summer - and today the Evironment Secretary Caroline Spelman said it was time for the Government to "step back and allow those who are most involved with England's woodland to play a much greater role in the future...and we will make sure that public access is maintained, and biodiversity protected."

"We are not going to sell off our heritage forests to the highest bidder, we are not going to remove public access to forests - there will be strict rules in place to prevent that happening." Prime Minister's official spokesman

But the compromise means the Government will raise far less cash than it would have done under its original plans - with the value of leasing woodland estimated at between £140m and £250m.

The chair of the Forestry Commission, Pam Warhurst said the plans would require "a fundamental shift in our thinking and how we work".

The organisation was one of the few quangos to survive the Government's axe last year. Some of its functions are expected to be scaled back - but it will continue as a regulatory body, while providing advice on a range of environmental, social and economic issues.

However it'll lose its estate management role - and more than 80 per cent of its 1,200-strong workforce are currently employed in running the estate.

Staff numbers were set to be cut as part of the Government's efficiency savings - although today Defra said it was too early to say what the impact on jobs at the commission would be.

Downing Street played down fears over the future of the forests.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "We are not going to sell off our heritage forests to the highest bidder, we are not going to remove public access to forests - there will be strict rules in place to prevent that happening.

"There is a consultation. We are going to have that consultation and listen to people's views and then come to some conclusions."

From: http://www.channel4.com/news/english-woodlands-to-be-leased-out

First trailer for “ROBIN HOOD: GHOSTS OF SHERWOOD”

Forget Russell Crowe—we’re more interested in seeing what a Robin Hood movie featuring Tom Savini and Kane Hodder looks like. And now that a teaser trailer for ROBIN HOOD: GHOSTS OF SHERWOOD has hit the web, we have a taste.

Savini is the Sheriff of Nottingham and Kane Hodder is Little John in GHOSTS OF SHERWOOD, a 3D feature directed by Oliver Krekel. The film also stars Tom Paladin Bareck as Robin, Carolina Grigorov as Maid Marian, Kai Borchardt as Friar Tuck and Martin Hentschel as Will Scarlett, in a scenario that has the undead Merry Men haunting the titular forest. Check out some exclusive pics from the movie here and here, and see its Facebook page here.

From: http://www.fangoria.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3289:first-trailer-for-robin-hood-ghosts-of-sherwood&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=167

Good timing with Sherwood Forest being in the news today and the Robin Hood Festival being saved yesterday J.  It actually looks like Sherwood in the trailer too and I’m impressed by the way it goes back to the semi-pagan outlay of the 80’s TV series