Robin Hood's forest planted

Tree planting begins today on 14 colliery waste tips in Nottinghamshire. The Forestry Commission said the result of planting two million saplings over the next 18 months will be to restore Sherwood Forest to its greatest size since the Middle Ages.

The pounds 10m project involves eight former pits covering around 2,000 acres. In the past, old tips would normally have been restored to farmland, but this time it has been decided that reforestation would bring bigger environmental benefits as well as encouraging investment.

The land has been transferred from British Coal to Nottinghamshire County Council in perpetuity. Six of the old colliery sites will be redeveloped to attract new businesses.