Thieves Wood

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Thieves Wood consists of 200 Hectares of mainly Pine forests.
There is ample car parking.
In addition to walking,the site is also suitable for cycling and horse riding,although cycling must be kept to the hard tracks and forest roads,whilst horse riding requires a permit,details of which can be obtained by ringing the Forestry Commission on 01623 822447.
Hundreds of years ago,trees from these woods provided timber for the construction of Nottingham Castle.Since that time they have virtually remained untouched until 1976 when violent storms destroyed thousands of mature trees.A large scale replanting followed this disaster in subsequent years and acres of woodlands were gradually replenished.
Thieves Wood is managed by the Forestry Commission and is part of the Royal Forest of Sherwood.It was once part of the Royal Wood of Lyndhurst owned by the King.The main route north from Nottingham,called Kings Way,used to run through Thieves Wood,and it is thought that the fate of the unfortunate travellers upon it gave the wood its name.
It is said that Robin Hood met Friar Tuck at Fountain Dale on the east side of the wood.
Later legends tell that Robin Hood and his men drove a particularly nasty band of robbers from these woods who were harassing the people of the Ravenshead area.Friar Tuck sent for Robin's help after they kidnapped a young girl from Mansfield and robbed her father.The girl was eventually rescued of course,and her father's money returned.