The cache is situated slightly away from the public footpath.
The cache container is a lock n lock plastic box that is big
enough for small trackables and swaps.
The path is straight and well maintained, it is ideal for
cycliststs.
The surrounding woodland is full of wildlife, there is a
conservation area on one side and the woods on the other side
appears to be used by Sherwood Pines and cyclists The nearby land
is an excellent habitat for wild birds.
My GPSr did take a long time to find satellites in this area, so
some co-ordinates may be a bit 'soft'.
About Clipstone Forest -
Clipstone Shrogges, which was on the site of Sherwood Pines, was
the common land for the village. In 1609 it covered an area of 972
acres and was still well forested. Most of the trees had been
cleared by 1650 so the land, which was too poor for farming, became
open heath land. This remained the situation until it became a
training ground for troops based at Clipstone army camp during
First World War. Between the Great Pond and the Shrogges were two
areas known as the warrens, 70 acres of poor open heath land with
few trees over which the rabbits had free range. There are plans to
restore some of the area to the original habitat.
The Forestry Commision was created in 1919 to replenish the huge
swathes of woodland that had been felled during the First World
War. The 999 year leases for the 3000 acre Clipstone Forest were
acquired in 1925. The land had to be cleared, not only of the
heath, but also of the 1000’s of rabbits that lived in vast
warrens throughout the site. A twelve acre tree nursery was set up
to provide the young trees and smallholdings were set up between
the forest and the railway line to act as a firebreak. In the age
of steam it was all too easy for track side vegetation to be set
alight. In 1995 a small fire near the visitors centre created an
opportunity for an outstandingly successful heath land regeneration
trial.
During the Second World War a practice bombing range was set up
in the forest. Small bombs were dropped aimed at a 20 ft square
block of concrete. The Forest has a resident population of fallow
deer thanks to another wartime accident when a tank knocked down an
electric fence keeping the deer in Rufford Park.
*** Congratulations to Paneke for FTF - thought it was going to be
a clean sweep for The Marriott Hunters ***