This Trustees’ Week, we shared a very special thank you with two long-standing trustees who’ve shaped the Sherwood Forest Trust for many years. As Carl Cornish and Robert Bealby pass on the baton, we wanted to shine a light on the incredible care, knowledge, and steady guidance they’ve given our charity over the years.

Robert, a local farmer with a deep, practical understanding of land management, has kept our work firmly rooted in the realities of caring for Sherwood’s landscape. His grounded, hands-on approach has helped us make decisions that truly honour the land and the people who depend on it. Robert has been a part of the Sherwood Forest Trust for many years, and has been a great help throughout this time. Robert has given his time and resources every year for the annual Woodland Festival, providing lots of straw bales for us to use, and even volunteering to run our book stall this year – he certainly makes for a great salesman!

Carl, with his remarkable grasp of Sherwood’s history and ecology, has been just as influential. His insight has ensured that the Trust stays true to its story — past, present, and future — helping us protect what makes this place so special. Carl has been a huge help, especially with our community tree nursery, the Sherwood Seedbank, where he worked closely alongside Izzy, our Community Tree Nursery Office, to help guide the important work we do there.

During the week, we were proud to present them both with the very first Sherwood Legacy Award certificate (and thank you to everyone who helped choose the name!). They also received a beautifully written poem from our Chair of Trustees, Andy Jeffcutt, which was a tribute to the wisdom, humour, and dedication they’ve shared with us over the years.

While Carl and Robert are stepping down from their formal roles, they won’t be strangers. They remain firm friends and supporters, and we’re ever so grateful for all they’ve poured into the Trust. They’ve left strong foundations behind them, which will guide us for years to come.