£5m Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre nears unveiling

The finishing touches are currently being added to the new £5m Sherwood Forest visitor centre, in preparation for opening later on this month.

The new centre will aim to give a big boost for the local economy once open, and is already making its mark. Contractors, Woodhead Construction, are based in Edwinstowe, just a stone’s throw from the new centre, and have revealed that more than 90% of the spend has been within a 40-mile radius of the site.

Ross Frazer, RSPB project manager, said he was delighted that so many local workers and resources have been used whenever possible in the project, which is costing more than £5 million.

“I’m sure everyone connected to this area will be delighted to see these figures, and we’ll hope to continue in this vein going forwards when we open.”

Andy Stamford, Woodhead’s site manager, said a lot of time and effort went into ensuring that so much of the build was resourced locally.

“Woodheads is a local family firm, committed to this area, so I think everyone who has been involved in this project has a great deal to be proud of. It’s not just a wonderful looking building but a great asset for this area.”

Nottinghamshire County Councillor, John Cottee, chairman of the community and place committee, said he was delighted by the news.

“After many years of work trying to establish a new Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre, I am thrilled that this has finally come to fruition and is almost ready to open.

“Working with our new partners, the RSPB and their consortium, I believe this facility will help Nottinghamshire to realise the true potential of the Legend of Robin Hood, in terms of increasing tourism and promoting the County on an international stage.”

The centre will be ready in time for August 27 – which is the start of the Robin Hood Festival, when the new consortium will officially welcome the public to the new centre and the popular week-long event.