What is the name of the ancient forest associated with Robin Hood in English legend?
Answer
Sherwood Forest
Sherwood Forest is the ancient forest associated with Robin Hood in English legend.
Located in Nottinghamshire, England, Sherwood became famous through medieval and later stories about Robin Hood, his companions, and the Sheriff of Nottingham. The legends helped turn the forest into one of Britain’s best-known cultural landscapes.
The name refers to a historic royal forest rather than one continuous expanse of untouched woodland. Medieval royal forests were areas subject to special laws governing hunting and the use of natural resources. Sherwood’s landscape has changed over time through agriculture, industry, roads, and settlement.
One celebrated tree in the forest is the Major Oak, a very old English oak traditionally linked with Robin Hood stories. The Major Oak is a named individual tree, whereas Sherwood Forest is the broader historic and natural area.