Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, the county’s largest locally based conservation charity, has today welcomed news that the Heritage Lottery Fund has backed the Miner to Major project designed to celebrate the area’s mining heritage, restore Sherwood Forest’s fragile habitats, protect scarce and iconic species and to provide opportunities for local communities to play a role in the Forest’s future. The HLF grant will enable the partner organisations to deliver real habitat gains on the ground and, working with closely with local people, provide better conditions for species such as Leisler’s bats, nightjars and glow worms.

Speaking on behalf of the Trust, Chief Executive Rob Fitzsimons said.    

We would like to thank the Heritage Lottery Fund 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’d also like to congratulate Nottinghamshire County Council and all the partners for their work delivering the bid against stiff competition."

The Wildlife Trust cares for three nature reserves in the Sherwood Forest area – Rainworth Heath, Strawberry Hill Heath and Foxcovert Plantation and advises a number of other landowners on habitat management across the forest area.
Mr Fitzsimons added.

Speaking on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council Councillor John Cottee, Chairman of the Communities and Place Committee, said: “This is fantastic news.  It reflects the national importance of the Sherwood Forest area as well as all the years of hard work that has been put in by colleagues and partners to secure this vital funding. We can now make our plans a reality.”