Heritage across Mansfield and Sherwood forest receives £3m boost

Heritage across Mansfield and Sherwood Forest has hit the jackpot '“ it is set to be protected thanks to a £3 million lottery boost.
The Major Oak - where Robin Hood use to hide out.The Major Oak - where Robin Hood use to hide out.
The Major Oak - where Robin Hood use to hide out.

Two projects are set to share the Heritage Lottery Fund cash, to celebrate our mining heritage, protect parts of the historic forest and improve key Victorian and Georgian buildings in Mansfield’s town centre.

The country’s most famous forest, where Robin Hood and his bandits used to hide out, is to receive £2.4m for its Miner to Major: The Real Sherwood Forest project, which “aims to reflect the diverse heritage of the area, which encompasses coal mining and internationally important wildlife, as well as the legendary Robin Hood”.

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The bid was developed by Nottinghamshire County Council with the aim of “rebuilding Sherwood Forest’s sense of place, reconnecting its ancient woodlands, heathlands, and cultural heritage”.

Leeming Street, Mansfield one of the places which will benefit from the funding.Leeming Street, Mansfield one of the places which will benefit from the funding.
Leeming Street, Mansfield one of the places which will benefit from the funding.

Jonathan Platt, head of Heritage Lottery Fund East Midlands, said: “At one point in history, Britain led the way when it came to industry and manufacturing.

“It’s so important we remember and celebrate the people and places in Nottinghamshire that played a pivotal role in this success.

“People are at the heart of all of the projects we fund, and not only will these projects regenerate key historic sites in Nottinghamshire, but also provide more opportunities for local people to enjoy local heritage and develop their skills.”

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A £850,000 grant has also been awarded to the Mansfield Townscape Heritage Project, which focuses on parts of Leeming Street and the Market Place conservation area.

The project aims to help local businesses and property owners carry out repairs and refurbishments to enhance the architectural quality of the Victorian and Georgian buildings.

The Mansfield District Council-led project, to be delivered in collaboration with Vision West Nottinghamshire College, Mansfield business improvement district, Mansfield Museum and Nottinghamshire County Council, will provide a five-year programme of conservation, community engagement, and educational events.

There will be work experience opportunities for students and volunteers to learn about conservation and restoration skills as well as opportunities to be involved in film, story-telling, street theatre, art and photography activities.

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Property owners, meanwhile, will be able to apply for match-funded grants of up to 75 per cent to help with the cost of making improvements, which are in sympathy with their heritage.

The project is part of a wider vision by the council to “improve the appearance and vibrancy of the town centre and to put Mansfield on the map as a good place in which to live, work, invest and visit”.

The funding was given as part of a project to restore preserve UK’s industrial heritage.

Sir Peter Luff, HLF chairman, said: “British industry, manufacturing and engineering changed the world. Communities such as those in Nottinghamshire were pivotal in this important moment in our history.

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“That’s why we’re investing millions of pounds to help local communities reconnect with their heritage and to explore and celebrate our

industrial past.”

‘Project will preserve character of unique buildings’

Councillor Dave Saunders, Mansfield District Council portfolio holder for regeneration and growth, said: “This is great news for Mansfield town centre, our businesses and residents.

“The conservation area around Mansfield’s Market Place contains some of our most unique and historic buildings.

“The townscape project will preserve the character and use of these important architectural assets for future generations and improve the appearance and vitality of the town centre, which is part of our long-term vision.

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“There will be plenty of opportunities for residents to get involved, for example, by taking advantage of future training sessions to develop their skills in conservation and restoration.”

‘Fantastic for forest’

Councillor John Cottee, Nottingamhshire County Council communities and place committee chairman, said: “This is fantastic news. It reflects the national importance of the forest area as well as all the years of hard work put in by colleagues and partners to secure this vital funding. “We can now make our plans a reality.

“These are exciting times.

“The project will also help boost the local economy, by linking in with other investment and projects in the area, including the new visitor centre at Sherwood Forest Country Park, which is due to open next month.

“This will further celebrate Sherwood Forest’s heroes and villains, including the most famous legend of them all, Robin Hood.

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“It is pleasing local young people, via youth forums and workshops, have been involved in our bid.

“We have listened carefully to what they have had to say. After all, this project is about the future of the forest area and making sure it remains a special place for many generations to come.”

'Delighted'

Nikki Rolls, chief executive, Mansfield BID said: "This is great news for Mansfield town centre and the BID is delighted to be playing a lead part, with Mansfield District Council, from concept to delivery. As lead partner, the BID will sit on the funding panel, the operational panel and the strategic panel. The funding will be able to help support up 35 units in restoring the building to external original features. Landlords will be entitled to apply for funding up to 75 per cent of the restoration works, which will have to be approved by the funding panel. Mansfield town centre has some wonderful buildings, and this project will help improve the landscape for the future.

'This will connect local communities to the forest’

Rob Fitzsimons, chief executive of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, the county’s largest locally based conservation charity which helps care for the forest said: “We have been working to help secure the future of Sherwood Forest for more than 40 years and over the past decade we have been working closely with partners to secure the additional investment needed to safeguard Sherwood’s habitats and to ensure local people can access more of the forest to discover its ecology and history.

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“We would like to thank the HLF for seeing the potential of this bid to link the conservation and celebration of industrial heritage with securing the future of the county’s most iconic natural asset. This project will protect and restore habitats and species and, just as importantly, it will connect local communities to the forest.

“We’ve been championing the Sherwood Forest cause ever since by protecting fragile habitats from development; securing better habitat management and restoring key habitats such as heathland to re-connect what remains of this magnificent forest so that future generations can continue to enjoy it.”

Cash delight

Roddie MacLean, architect director at Buxton-based Creative Heritage which helped secure funding for the Townscape project said: “We were encouraged by the positive response we got from people in Mansfield.

“I am delighted they have got the money. The funding was exactly what we asked for – hopefully we set ground works for the project to be successful.”

'Fantastic for the area'

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Michael Copleston, regional development manager for the RSPB, said: "This is fantastic news for the area, and these are truly exciting times for Sherwood. It's great to see the success of a partnership approach in supporting local skills and building new opportunities for enhancing our special places in the landscape.

"We can’t wait to open our new visitor centre next month, providing a modern gateway to the forest and to continue to support and grow the Miner2Major scheme, which will make great contributions to the next chapter for Sherwood - together, we're creating something even Robin Hood would be proud of.”