Added: 08/12/2005 |
Legendary east midlands - Robin Hood's homeThe East Midlands is a region of contrasts. It is one of the regions of England and consists of most of the eastern half of the tradional region of the Midlands. Its main cities are Derby, Leicester and Nottingham.
Nottingham is a city located in Nottinghamshire. This city lies on the River Trent, which flows from Stoke-on-Trent to the Humber-the only major English river to flow north. Nottingham as well as Nottinghamshire is famous for its involvement with the legendary outlaw Robin Hood. This is also the reason for the amount of tourists who visit places like Sherwood Forest, City of Nottingham and the surrounding villages in Sherwood Forest. There are another places of interest situated in the East Midlands. Among them are Clumber Park, Creswell Crags, Rufford Country Park, Southwell Minster.
For any visitor who may be considering coming to Robin Hood country, the City of Nottingham offers a wide range of attractions to appeal to all ages and interests.
Citizens of Nottingham are proud of their extensive historical connections and their diverse heritage which ranges from literature to lace making. City of Nottingham is also the gateway to a timeless treasure-trove of legend and folklore that has grown up around the county's most famous hero.....Robin Hood.
The legend of Robin Hood first arose in the Middle Ages. Robin Hood is said to have lived in Sherwood Forest, to the north of the city, with the Sheriff of Nottingham as his greatest enemy. While the legends are almost certainly untrue, particularly in their details, they have had a major impact on Nottingham, with Robin Hood imagery a popular choice for local businesses and many modern tourist attractions exploiting the legend.
Sherwood Forest is a country park surrounding the village of Edwinstowe in Nottinghamshire, England, the remnant of a much larger forest historically associated with the legend of Robin Hood.
There is a particular oak tree in Sherwood Forest named the Major Oak which, according to local folklore, was Robin Hood's headquarters. The Major Oak is between 800 and 1000 years old, and since the Victorian era its massive limbs have been partially supported by an elaborate system of scaffolding. In February 1998 a local company took cuttings from the Major Oak and began cultivating clones of the famous tree with the intention of sending saplings to be planted in major cities around the world.
The Major Oak was featured on the 2005 TV programme Seven Natural Wonders as one of the wonders of the East Midlands.
Sherwood Forest is also the location of one of the United Kingdom's Center Parcs holiday villages.
One of the most popular attraction in the East Midlands is Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre. It is the reputed home of Robin Hood and the outlaw band, Sherwood Forest has walks for all abilities which take the visitor past ancient walks and birch groves unchanged since medieval times. The Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre contains exhibitions on the early history of the Forest and its present day importance for ecology and wildlife. The famous Major Oak is its heart.
The Tales of Robin Hood, described as "The World's Greatest Medieval Adventure", is a visitor attraction and medieval banqueting centre based near the Castle in the centre of Nottingham. Visitors have the chance to experience the sights, sounds and even smells of Robin's forest hideout and the evil Sheriff's court.
For people who interested in personality of the main enemy of Robin Hood there is Nottingham Castle and museum. Once a Royal residence and home of the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, the Castle comes complete with multimedia presentations and is the setting for the annual Robin Hood Pageant.
The ducal mansion now occupying the site of the castle is a museum and art gallery containing "The Nottinghma Story" exhibition. Visitors can see the medieval gatehouse of Robin's time and beneath the castle walls stands the famous Robin Hood statue.
The heart of the city of Nottingham is the Old Market Square (the market moved in the 1920s), the largest such surviving in Europe. Most of the main shopping streets are around the square. The council house, whose dome can be seen for miles around, is at the top of the square.
Robin Hood is not the only outstanding person of the East Midlands. When you come there you will have a chance to prove it.
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