Parliament Oak saved by £35,000 scheme

A CENTURIES-old Sherwood Forest tree has been saved thanks to a £35,000 rescue project.

The 1,200-year-old Parliament Oak on the edge of Clipstone Forest had been under threat due to visitors' fly-tipping.

The county council and Sherwood Forest Trust removed the illegally-dumped waste from the site and created a timber post and rail fencing around the tree.

It was funded by contributions of £17,500 from the trust and the county council's Building Better Communities scheme.

Saplings and scrub were cleared to allow more sunlight to reach the tree, and oak wood from the Thoresby Estate was used to improve the soil.

Two parking spaces were created near the tree to allow for safe parking off the busy A6075 and Farm Drive.

An information board was also set-up to provide visitors with historic information about the oak.

County councillor John Allin said: "Many people know about the Major Oak but not many know about Parliament Oak.

"This is just as much a Sherwood Forest historic landmark and it is very important that we preserve it for future generations to see."

The tree will now be legally transferred to The Sherwood Forest Trust, as part of the charity's Support Sherwood initiative.

Building Better Communities is an eight year investment of £39 million to make Notts a better place to live and work.