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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Gomphus" data-source="post: 3265001" data-attributes="member: 44185">If we are concentrating on the Visitor Center, it is not all about birds and RSPB, if its to replace the current one (which has to go)..its about tourism, Robin Hood.... it will generate much money without a doubt!! Tons and tons of people with no interest in wildlife (or just a passing interest, or just going to see the views and have a nice day out) go to the forest for the Robin Hood connection from all over the world! Its a world renowned site for that. In certain areas the place is heaving with people on nice days! Try buying an Ice Cream in the queues LOL...  You will never stop this, so lets make the most of it and help manage it! The current VC lease is up I think, plus it has to be moved from the area of the SSSIIf the RSPB can help prevent some of the disturbance etc that can be done by tourism, bad management, development etc (as Afeather pointed out earlier) its a very, very good thing and will protect the birds and wildlife as part of the NNR. The larger Sherwood Forest area is much, much more than a few oak trees (however these are extremely important and of course Oak Decline is a threat), its important in the region for Nightjar, Woodlark etc, plus countless other wildlife, flora, inverts etc. The larger whole area is a proposed SPA too. The RSPB is ideal to point the way for the restoration of the area ( note the area of the current VC has to be restored to natural forest as part of SSSI) and improvement of the habitats within the SFCPark therefore  hopefully influencing the management of other areas within the SPA. Its a fantastic area and the idea of the RSPB being involved with the consortium is just the sort of thing they need to be involved with IMO. I reckon the VC will be an ideal opportunity to connect people with the environment and educate alongside the touristy stuff. Latching just onto the VC project is a bit misleading though, the larger area will surely benefit from the RSPB's input on management and habitat restoration. Importantly note the RSPB is part of a "wider consortium" including a company Continuum Attractions, the Thoresby Estate (major Landowner) and the local Sherwood Forest Trust, as a partner in the investment program. We don't actually know how much of the money the RSPB is putting up from any of the sources I can find anyway, I suspect no where near as much as is being suggested on here?Read here <a href="http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/enjoying/countryside/countryparks/sherwood/sherwood-visitor-centre/" target="_blank">http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/enjoying/countryside/countryparks/sherwood/sherwood-visitor-centre/</a></blockquote>

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