Terrifying spirits and terrific tour deals
Some of the most terrifying figures of European folklore will be in the heart of Sherwood Forest later this month.
The Krampus is an evil spirit which reputedly visits naughty children in Alpine countries at Christmas time, alongside Saint Nicholas, or Santa Claus.
But on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th January at RSPB Sherwood Forest, at Edwinstowe, a number of these creatures will have left their continental lairs to take up residence among the ancient oaks of Robin Hood’s Sherwood.
Between the hours of noon and 3pm on Saturday, visitors venturing in the forest may even come face to face with a Krampus. Can they capture the creatures on camera to prove that they exist to sceptical friends and relatives?
Then at 3pm on Sunday, the Green Man, the timeless spirit of rebirth and new growth, will lead a traditional Wassail at Sherwood, toasting the health of the forest for the year ahead.
The Lady Bay Revellers Morris Dancing Group will be at the Visitor Centre amphitheatre to entertain visitors before the Green Man leads out a rough parade to the Major Oak.
Anyone can join the parade and marchers will be encouraged to make as much noise as possible to banish the Krampus from the Forest for good.
Visitors are also asked to bring a torch, lantern or other light source, so that once the toast is made and dusk starts to fall across Sherwood, a torchlit parade of visitors will return to the Visitor Centre.
Both events are free, but bird seed shakers can be made at the Visitor Centre throughout the day on Sunday for just £1 to make plenty of noise on the parade and to feed the birds in your garden when you return home.
We’ve also got a January sale on guided tours of Sherwood.
All of our fascinating tours are half price, at just £5 per person throughout the month (£4 for RSPB members).
Join Miles, the Pedlar and Pilgrim, William De Tankerville, the Sheriff of Nottingham’s Master at Arms, of the Sheriff himself on tours which will entertain and illuminate you about the history of the Forest and, of course, the legend of Robin Hood.
January Sherwood Forest guided tours:
- Miles, Pedlar and Pilgrim, Saturday 8th January, 10.30am – 11.30am
- William De Tankerville, Master At Arms, Saturday 15th January and Saturday 29th January, 11am – 12.30pm
- The Sheriff of Nottingham, Saturday 22nd January, 10.30am – 11.30am
Booking is essential and a booking fee will apply. To book, visit our Events page.
There you can also find details of two of our Robin Robin Storytelling Events, based on the brilliant Aardman Animation musical currently showing on Netflix.
The Robin Robin Storytelling Walk takes place from 11am – 12.30pm on Friday 7th January and you can help Build Magpie’s New Home on Saturday 8th January from 11am – 12pm.
Each of the events costs £5 per person and booking is essential for both. Again, booking fees apply.
The self-led Robin Robin Adventure Trail runs until Monday 10th January. Trail and activity packs cost just £3 and are available from the Visitor Centre between 11am and 3pm each day.