275,000 people (and Friar Tuck) join campaign to save Sherwood Forest

Dressed as Robin Hood, and accompanied by residents of Nottinghamshire, we delivered the sacks of your signatures to the Department of the Environment. The signatures, calling for Sherwood Forest to be saved from planned shale gas, exploration were collected by Friends of the Earth and 38 Degrees.

Friends of the Earth’s investigation earlier this month revealed chemicals giant INEOS, which wants to frack in the UK, to be in close negotiations with landowners to carry out seismic surveys in Sherwood Forest and other public forests in Nottinghamshire.

Seismic surveys are the first stage in shale gas exploration and a first step towards fracking.

The revelations have sparked a huge public outcry, with media coverage spreading around the world from the Sunday Telegraph, Guardian, French newspaper Le Monde and even the South China Morning Post.

The actor Phil Rose, who played the part of Friar Tuck in the cult classic 1980s production Robin of Sherwood, has also joined the campaign to save Sherwood Forest from fracking, saying: 

“The idea of fracking Sherwood Forest is appalling – a great historical forest could be damaged, which could be bad for tourism in this wonderful county.

“As Friar Tuck, I will not stand around and do nothing while these fracking companies plunder our sacred forests. The Sheriff of Nottingham never beat old Tuck, and neither will they.”

Trish Forster, a local resident from Sherwood Forest, who has been a teacher in the area for 30 years, was part of the hand-in event. She voiced her fears about the potential for fracking in Nottinghamshire:

“Fracking could not only increase the risk of earth tremors, but also pollute the planet and put our water supply at risk. If we poison the earth we poison ourselves. Water is life.”

Guy Shrubsole, climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:

“Middle England has spoken. Over a quarter of a million people have now voiced their dismay at Sherwood Forest being threatened by shale gas exploration.

“With Friar Tuck now joining the cause too, it’s clear the Environment Secretary must act swiftly to protect our environment and heritage from fracking – or risk going down in history as the new Sheriff of Nottingham.”

This is just the start of the fight ahead. We’ll be continuing to support the local community in stopping shale gas exploration at Sherwood Forest.

If you want to help take further action against fracking right away, you can swell the ranks of our merry band of activists by signing and sharing our ban fracking petition, below.