Yana Skakun
Sherwood Forest · Nottinghamshire
Family Photographer
Sherwood Forest
Natural family portraits in Sherwood Forest — ancient oaks, the Major Oak, and England's most legendary woodland. Children love it.
Sherwood Forest Family Photography
The Ancient Oaks of Robin Hood Country
Sherwood Forest's Birklands ancient oaks are some of the oldest trees in England — the Major Oak at their centre with a canopy spreading over 28 metres, the surrounding veteran trees twisted and lichen-draped, the bracken floor turning amber every October. For family photography, the combination of genuine ancient woodland atmosphere, the Robin Hood narrative that every child already knows, and entirely flat accessible paths makes Sherwood Forest one of the most naturally photographable settings in the East Midlands.
Sessions are relaxed and explorer-paced — your family leading, the forest revealing itself at each turn, and real moments of wonder and play captured as they happen.
Packages
Family Session Packages
Mini Session
£150
30 min · 20+ images
A focused Sherwood Forest session — the Major Oak, the Birklands ancient woodland, or Clumber Park.
Standard Session
£250
1 hour · 40+ images
A full hour in the ancient Sherwood Forest or the surrounding Dukeries parkland, at your family's natural pace.
Extended Session
£350
2 hours · 75+ images
Two hours combining Sherwood Forest with Clumber Park (NT) or Rufford Abbey — ancient woodland and estate landscape in the same afternoon.
Locations
Sherwood Forest Family Photography Locations
The Major Oak & Birklands
The ancient 800–1,000 year old oak at the heart of the Sherwood Forest NNR — surrounded by the Birklands ancient oak woodland of twisted veteran trees, open bracken heath, and the particular quality of light that comes only through ancient canopy. The most famous and most distinctive family photography setting in Nottinghamshire.
Sherwood Forest NNR Woodland Paths
The marked paths through the ancient Birklands — accessible to all ages and completely flat. The ancient oaks, the bracken floor, and the play of light through the veteran trees provide a backdrop unlike any managed park. Children respond instinctively to the scale and mystery of the ancient woodland.
Clumber Park (NT)
The National Trust estate in the Dukeries — one of the finest NT parks in the East Midlands, with a Gothic chapel, the serpentine lake, parkland drives, and a walled kitchen garden. Excellent for Extended Sessions wanting lake and parkland alongside or instead of the ancient forest.
Rufford Abbey Country Park
The dramatic Cistercian abbey ruins at Rufford — roofless medieval stonework in a country park setting with a formal ornamental lake, rose garden, and the woodland fringe. Children find the ruins fascinating, and the abbey photography provides a completely different backdrop from the Birklands ancient oaks.
Edwinstowe Village
The medieval sandstone village at the forest's edge — most famous as the supposed marriage place of Robin Hood and Maid Marian at St Mary's Church. For families staying in the area or wanting more variety, the village setting complements the forest.
Welbeck Estate & Parkland
The private Welbeck Estate parkland on the Sherwood Forest western edge — the broader ancient Dukeries landscape connecting Sherwood Forest with Clumber, Rufford, Welbeck, and Thoresby. For Extended Sessions wanting the full character of the Nottinghamshire forest landscape.
Why Families Choose Sherwood Forest
Children love Sherwood Forest
The Robin Hood stories are part of every English child's imagination — visiting the actual ancient forest where the legend is set produces a quality of genuine excitement and engagement in children that entirely artificial or managed park settings cannot replicate. Family photographs made in a place where children are genuinely enthralled capture real joy.
The ancient oaks are unlike any other woodland
Veteran trees of 800–1,000 years old are a completely different visual experience from any plantation or park woodland. Their scale, form, and the way light works through their canopies create portrait photography conditions of natural beauty and genuine depth. Sessions here look singular and distinctive.
Accessible, flat, and family-friendly
The Birklands paths are entirely flat, well-surfaced, and suitable for pushchairs and young children. The walk from the visitor centre to the Major Oak is unhurried in 20 minutes. No steep climbs, no technical terrain — just ancient woodland at an entirely accessible scale.
Exceptional in autumn
October in the Birklands — the bracken turning amber, the oak canopy going gold, the low autumn sun raking through the ancient trees — is genuinely one of the finest family photography seasons anywhere in the East Midlands. The combination of ancient form and autumn colour is unlike anything else in the region.
Sherwood Forest Family Photography FAQs
Is Sherwood Forest suitable for very young children and babies?+
Yes — the paths are flat, well-maintained, and suitable for all pushchair types. The visitor centre has parking immediately adjacent. The Major Oak is a short, entirely flat walk. Sessions with babies and toddlers work very well in the Birklands setting.
When is the best time of year for a Sherwood Forest family session?+
October for autumn colour in the ancient oaks and bracken — the most spectacular season. May for fresh green canopy and woodland wildflowers. Any season at golden hour when the low sun catches the ancient oak trunks and bracken floor. Winter for bare-canopy ancient oak form (dramatic, if cold).
Can we combine Sherwood Forest with Clumber Park in one session?+
Yes — an Extended Session (2 hours) covers the Birklands and Clumber Park (10 minutes apart by car) with time for photographs in both settings. The Clumber lake reflection in autumn is particularly excellent alongside the forest.
Is there parking and visitor facilities at Sherwood Forest?+
Yes — the RSPB Sherwood Forest NNR has a full visitor centre with car parking (paid), café, and toilets. All facilities directly adjacent to the start of the Birklands paths. Very family-friendly.
How far is Sherwood Forest from Cambridge?+
Approximately 115 miles — within my regular Midlands coverage. A travel supplement applies for distances over 60 miles from Cambridge.
Get in Touch
Book Your Sherwood Forest Family Session
The Major Oak, autumn bracken, or Clumber Park in any season — check availability.