That this House has considered tourism in Sherwood Forest.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr Murrison. It is an absolute honour to represent the constituency of Sherwood Forest, the home of beautiful countryside, communities, villages, towns and farms. No matter where in the world we go, people know about the wonder of Sherwood Forest. It is one of the most recognisable places in the world. Sherwood Forest has often been associated with Robin Hood, a legendary heroic outlaw known for his highly skilled archery.
On Robin Hood, would my hon. Friend join me in celebrating the legacy of former Mansfield Woodhouse resident Major Hayman Rooke, who discovered and is associated with the Major Oak tree in Sherwood Forest? I am sure my hon. Friend is also aware that the tree, which was named in Major Hayman Rooke’s honour, is believed to have been the legendary hiding place of Robin Hood and his merry men.
I welcome my hon. Friend’s contribution. I know he will be involved in Sherwood Forest Day on 20 February, which, actually, is on that day exactly because of that. Without showing my age too much, I remember a time when we could climb on the Major Oak—now you cannot get within 20 feet of it.
The magic of Sherwood Forest is not lost on Hollywood. From Disney to Kevin Costner, many blockbuster films have been made about the legendary figure of Robin Hood and the historic forest he lives in. Yet this magic has been lost somehow in Nottinghamshire, or at least partly forgotten.
Children growing up in Nottinghamshire are surrounded by the magic, the tales and the powerful stories of courage, fairness and community that have been growing there for centuries. I remember distinctively going as a family, on school trips and with youth clubs to areas across Nottinghamshire, including Sherwood Forest. From Robin Hood to today’s volunteers, Sherwood Forest has always stood up for what is right, yet I fear we are beginning to lose exactly what it is we stand for. Over the last 14 years, communities in Sherwood Forest have been left behind. Communities that once served their country and contributed to the industrial strength of the UK have been left with deteriorating health and economic outcomes. It is time to say: no more.
In just over a week’s time, on 20 February, we will celebrate the second truly special Sherwood Forest Day. This is a day to honour our world-famous historic forest, its ancient oaks and the legacy of courage, fairness and community. Across Nottinghamshire, a number of events will take place to celebrate the day, including a business breakfast in the heart of Sherwood Forest to bring together the fantastic businesses across Sherwood Forest, numerous plaque unveilings to mark key areas, and tree planting to continue the legacy of the ancient forest.
This is an opportunity to celebrate our great history and local culture. It is about taking pride in our communities and working together to build a better future. I have heard that some of the trees being planted are even descended from ancient oaks themselves.
I am probably the oldest person in this Chamber; I can well remember seeing “The Adventures of Robin Hood” on TV in black and white—that was not yesterday. I am impressed by the hon. Lady’s discussion of her beautiful constituency; I hail from Strangford, which I think has unparalleled beauty. Does the hon. Lady agree that for tourism to take off, funding is needed for promotion? The Minister—who is a very sympathetic Minister, by the way—and the Government can and must do more to put money into getting visitors across the threshold of the United Kingdom, knowing that if they come once, they will come back again. Surely that has to be a good policy to follow.
Sherwood Forest Day is an opportunity for communities across Nottinghamshire to reflect on our heritage and celebrate what brings us together. I want to give a huge thank you to the Sherwood Forest Trust and Richard Townsley, the medieval sheriff of Nottingham, for all the work they are doing for Sherwood Forest Day and for our community as a whole. At the heart of all we are doing for Sherwood Forest Day are communities such as Ollerton, Edwinstowe, Blidworth, Rainworth and Clipstone—putting them back on the map and encouraging those from all over the world to visit and marvel at what we have to offer. We cannot do it alone, however. Celebrating our culture and history should not be left to only one day of the year; they should be honoured every single day.
I thank my hon. Friend for securing this debate. As she knows, the Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, has put the visitor economy at the heart of her vision for the east midlands region. My hon. Friend may be aware that the Centre of it All marketing campaign was launched last week. Does she agree that Sherwood Forest and the Trent sports quarter, which would be based in my constituency of Rushcliffe, have the opportunity to grow our visitor economy to the £1 billion target that Claire Ward has set?
My hon. Friend is right: the Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, is forever supportive of our tourism. Like us, she knows that there is still a lot more work to be done.
Many factors contribute to supporting a thriving tourism economy. Most notable for rural areas such as Sherwood Forest are adequate transport, support for business and community investment. Transport in rural areas such as parts of Sherwood Forest, including the more historic parts, is inadequate. Often, public transport is inconsistent: buses do not run in the evening or sometimes not at all. There is even a railway line named after Robin Hood that does not serve the majority of historic Sherwood Forest. How can we expect people to visit that historic land if they cannot access it—not only people coming from far and wide, but those who have it on their doorstep?
Our green space is vital, not just for our environment and mental health but for the economic benefits that it brings to our communities. Having rail access to our communities is very important.
My constituency of North West Leicestershire is not far away from Sherwood Forest. It is home to the national forest. It is easily accessible, like Sherwood, to about 10 million people. Does my hon. Friend agree that the east midlands must capitalise on the tourism potential of all its forests, including in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire?
Yes, exactly. I thank my hon. Friend for her contribution. That is, of course, very important, and it is important that as MPs across the east midlands, we continue to work together on that. I am interested in hearing from the Minister what work has been done in partnership with the Department for Transport and the East Midlands combined authority to ensure that places of heritage and importance are connected and accessible.
When talking about the community of Sherwood Forest, it is important to mention the bond of coalmining that for so long was the lifeblood of our economy. From Hucknall colliery in the south to Ollerton colliery in the north, the roots of mining are deep in Sherwood Forest. That is why I am so proud that this Government stuck to their promise to release funds from the mineworkers’ pension scheme to its members, and that they went further and did the same for the British Coal staff superannuation scheme. That rightful release of funds means a combined additional £11 million a year that is being spent in our towns and villages, in our local shops and pubs.
The current magic of Sherwood Forest is being wielded by local businesses such as Robin’s Den in Edwinstowe, which fight day in, day out to keep the stories alive while facing the challenges of being a small business. I believe that if we can shine a light on the history of Sherwood Forest and encourage more young people to learn about the stories, they will be inspired to add their own twists. If we invest in our local businesses for tourism, young people across Sherwood Forest will benefit by believing in the magic and having access to more work opportunities in their own communities.
Finally, with regard to community investment, I am proud that the Government are investing in communities that were neglected by the previous Conservative Government. We are making real changes to people’s lives by funding more breakfast clubs and new schools, and expanding healthcare into communities. The Government, in partnership with the Labour mayor, Claire Ward, have provided more than £31 million to fund the A614 improvements project, to create a corridor of hope where our past meets our future. That is as well as £30 million for the regeneration of Ollerton town centre, which has been achieved through working with Labour councillors and the Labour-run Newark and Sherwood district council.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Murrison. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood Forest (Michelle Welsh) on securing this important debate and the phenomenal leadership that she has shown in establishing Sherwood Forest Day. It is a brilliant initiative that celebrates not just a place but a shared history that continues to shape our communities.
Sherwood Forest is rightly famous around the world but it is sometimes forgotten how many of our towns and villages once formed part of the great forest. In Gedling, communities such as Arnold and Carlton, and those beyond, were historically within the bounds of Sherwood Forest. They are places with deep roots in that story, and places where history is not locked in the past but woven into everyday life. From medieval woodland rights to the enduring legend of Robin Hood, such communities help to shape the folklore and identity of our great county of Nottinghamshire.
The tales of Robin Hood and his band are not just stories for tourists; they speak to ideas of fairness, justice and standing up for the common good. Those are values that still resonate strongly with the people who I represent in Gedling. That is why I am delighted that on Sherwood Forest Day I will join the Mayor of Gedling—my husband, Councillor Kyle Robinson-Payne—to unveil plaques to recognise the communities that were once part of the historic forest.
I am especially pleased that two such plaques will be erected on excellent local pubs owned by the Lincoln Green brewery: the Brickyard in Carlton and one of my own locals, the much loved and aptly named Robin Hood and Little John, which is in Arnold. I place on record my thanks to Anthony Hughes, the founder and owner of Lincoln Green brewery—which is in the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood Forest—for his generous support of the Sherwood Forest Day initiative, and his commitment to celebrating local heritage.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Murrison. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood Forest (Michelle Welsh) on securing this debate and on the powerful way in which she spoke about her constituency, its history and its people.
The fact that this debate has been so well attended by local Members shows what strong representation the area is blessed with. My hon. Friend the Member for Mansfield (Steve Yemm) mentioned the well-known Major Oak, which my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham North and Kimberley (Alex Norris) mentioned to me on the way to the debate. We have also had contributions from my hon. Friends the Members for Rushcliffe (James Naish) and for North West Leicestershire (Amanda Hack) and from my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Michael Payne), who mentioned so many of his outstanding local groups. The hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon), who is no longer in his place, made a good point about attracting more international visitors, a subject that I will touch on.
Before I come to the substance of the debate, I want to acknowledge the comments from my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood Forest about the mineworkers’ pension scheme and the British Coal staff superannuation scheme. As the MP for Barnsley East and then for Barnsley South, I was proud to lead that campaign in Parliament over a number of years. It means that our constituents are between £30 and £100 a week better off, thanks to this Labour Government. It is not just a transformational figure for local areas; it is absolutely the right thing to do. It means that many of our constituents can spend money in the local economy, taking part in day trips and so on.
The debate has underlined a point that the Government are very clear about: tourism is not a peripheral issue. It is a major economic sector, a significant employer and a powerful driver of growth across every nation and region of the UK. Nationally, tourism supports 1.3 million jobs and contributes more than £64 billion in gross value added to the economy. Beyond the numbers, the visitor economy plays a vital role in shaping how the UK is seen around the world, through our landscapes, our heritage, our creativity and our culture. It supports town centres, sustains rural economies, creates opportunities for young people and builds pride in place.
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Pride in where people live is not always guaranteed; it comes when everyone is investing their time and money into improving their community. I hope that what we do on Sherwood Forest Day will be an opportunity for people in Nottinghamshire to be really proud. I would also like to see more investment into the parts of communities that are often seen as a nice to have, and not as key infrastructure or central to people living happy lives. Sherwood Forest would not be what it is today if it were not for our local small businesses—the village pubs and farms that are a key part of our rural economy, providing opportunities and enjoyment to our people.
Sherwood Forest is the home not only of Robin Hood but of numerous historic sites such as Whyburn farm, which once inspired Lord Byron’s work; Thoresby park, a beautiful country estate; and Rufford abbey country park, which recently reopened following a conservation project. I was honoured to visit the site on Saturday and learn more about the work to preserve that park, which was so important to me growing up in Nottinghamshire.
Investment into landmarks such as those is an investment into the whole community, as it creates more job opportunities, supports local shops and restaurants, and helps us to conserve our heritage assets. With cultural heritage sites such as Newstead abbey and Clumber park, and modern attractions such as Center Parcs, Sherwood Pines and—who could forget my son’s favourite place to go—Wheelgate and White Post farm, Sherwood Forest really is the place to visit.
I know that I do not have to tell the Minister about the importance of culture and heritage to communities, but could she expand on what the Government are doing to protect and invest in our cultural assets, particularly in Sherwood Forest? As we approach Sherwood Forest Day, I would like to take this opportunity to urge everyone, whether they live locally or are visiting for the first time, to join us in Nottinghamshire—a jewel in our nation’s crown—to celebrate our history, help us to protect our future and be part of Sherwood Forest Day or every day after. The people of Sherwood Forest have a proud history of standing up for what is right and for each other. Despite the attempts of some to divide us, it is truer now than it has ever been: we have more in common than what divides us.
Remembering and preserving our local history and heritage is vital. In Gedling, we are blessed to have brilliant local history groups that do just that. My thanks go to the Lambley historical society, the Burton Joyce and Bulcote local history society, the Gedling Village local history and preservation society, and the Arnold local history group for their outstanding work in preserving our rich and interesting local history. I give a special thanks to my good friend Bob Massey for all he does to champion and celebrate our proud history in and around Arnold.
Tourism rooted in history and heritage strengthens local pride, supports local businesses and tells the world that Gedling’s story is inseparable from the story of Sherwood Forest. I look forward to seeing Sherwood Forest Day go from strength to strength and to playing my part in ensuring that Gedling’s place in that story is rightly recognised.
My hon. Friend asked what the Government are doing to protect cultural assets. The Government have announced a £1.5 billion package to restore national pride, investing in cultural organisations over a five-year period and turning the corner on a decade of underfunding. That long-term commitment recognises that culture and heritage are not simply nice to have; they are essential infrastructure for thriving communities and a strong visitor economy. That is why the Government are committed to providing long-term strategic support for the visitor economy.
Our ambition is for the UK to remain a world-class destination, attracting 50 million international visitors annually by 2030. Crucially, we are encouraging those visitors to travel more widely, stay longer and contribute to local economies across the country. That ambition will be set out in our forthcoming visitor economy growth strategy, which will focus on unlocking investment, supporting jobs and ensuring that tourism growth is competitive, sustainable and inclusive.
I turn to the regional picture. The east midlands is a strong example of how tourism is being placed at the heart of growth and regeneration. The visitor economy is recognised as a core growth sector within the east midlands local growth plan. This reflects robust regional evidence showing that the visitor economy has the potential to generate at least £1 billion in additional economic growth. To drive delivery, partners across the region have established Visit East Midlands, providing strategic leadership and co-ordination across the local visitor economy partnerships and destination management organisations.
I recognise the leadership of Mayor Claire Ward, who is championing the visitor economy as a central pillar of the region’s growth ambitions and ensuring that it receives the focus and visibility it deserves, as my hon. Friend the Member for Rushcliffe rightly outlined. That regional leadership is already translating into action. The East Midlands combined county authority recently launched the Centre of it All campaign, showcasing the region’s diverse visitor offer and reinforcing its position at the heart of the country. The campaign is being delivered in close co-operation with local visitor economy partnerships and destination organisations, ensuring a coherent and compelling offer to both domestic and international audiences. Those regional connections and that work, which my hon. Friend the Member for North West Leicestershire spoke about, are so important.
The region is also strengthening its position through major events and sports tourism. Nottingham will host the European archery championships in 2028, an event that will not only bring significant economic benefits but connect powerfully to the Robin Hood story that defines Sherwood Forest. Through that work, the region is realising the full potential of the Robin Hood brand, developing regional and pan-regional itineraries and targeting key international markets, particularly the United States.
Against that backdrop, Sherwood Forest stands out as a place of extraordinary national and international significance. Centuries in the making, the legend of Sherwood Forest continues to grow, with every generation adding to its legacy. Today, it is a remarkable destination, home to ancient woodland, rich biodiversity and one of the most enduring cultural narratives in the world.
Some 350,000 people visit Sherwood Forest each year, drawn by its natural beauty, heritage and cultural power. Within the national nature reserve, 375 hectares of ancient woodland support hundreds of species—birds, insects, mammals and plants. Protecting this precious environment while ensuring it is accessible is exactly the balance that this Government want to support.
I pay tribute to the Sherwood Forest Trust for its stewardship of this unique landscape, demonstrating how conservation, community engagement and tourism can reinforce one another. Its work closely aligns with VisitEngland’s regenerative tourism framework, which focuses on protecting natural assets while delivering lasting benefits for local communities.
I am also very pleased to recognise Sherwood Forest Day on 20 February, which celebrates this world-famous historic forest and its global cultural significance. Moments like this strengthen local pride while shining a light on places of international importance, as my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood Forest outlined, particularly with the business breakfast and the events on 20 February. I wish those involved the very best of luck.
As my hon. Friend highlighted, Sherwood’s story also contributes to the UK’s soft power. The legend of Robin Hood remains one of our most recognisable cultural exports, resonating through literature, film and television. Through VisitBritain’s “Starring GREAT Britain” campaign, we are using screen tourism to encourage visitors to explore more of the UK, and Sherwood Forest is a natural fit for that approach.
My hon. Friend rightly raised the practical challenges facing the area and made a particular point about connectivity. Access matters for visitors, local residents and businesses. On her point about transport, the Government are introducing our integrated national transport strategy, which will place strong emphasis on connecting people to places of opportunity, heritage and culture, ensuring that transport investment supports regional growth, rural access and the visitor economy alongside commuting needs.
We are working closely with the Department for Transport, the East Midlands combined authority and local partners to improve connectivity so that destinations such as Sherwood Forest are accessible both for those travelling further afield and for the communities on its doorstep. Supporting local businesses is equally critical. Tourism works best when it creates opportunities for people to live, work and build futures in their own communities. That is why we are addressing skills shortages, promoting apprenticeships and improving recruitment and retention across the sector, ensuring that young people can see tourism as a viable and rewarding career.
Sherwood Forest is not just a place of extraordinary heritage. It is a living, evolving destination that contributes to regional growth, national identity and Britain’s global story. With continued partnership, investment and strategic support, it can continue to thrive for generations to come.