Robin Hood’s Hideout, Sherwood Pines

A Forest with a Story to Tell

Sherwood Pines sits at the heart of one of England's most storied landscapes. The ancient forests of North Nottinghamshire are steeped in the legend of Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Over the centuries, they have fired the imagination of generations of visitors with imaginative, natural play. That heritage runs deep, and for us, it became the heartbeat of something new and very much from the Robin Hood play book.

Forestry England's Sherwood Pines were preparing to invest in its outdoor play offer, but more than that, it wanted to add a whole new imaginative layer to the play. The vision wasn't simply to build a standard playground, it was to create something that would connect children to the extraordinary legend woven into the land, spark curiosity, and give families a destination that genuinely encouraged them to visit.

Public consultation was central to shaping the brief. Families, visitors, and the wider community shared their hopes for the space, and what came back was clear: children wanted adventure, challenge, and the chance to step into a story. Sand play, physical challenge, and accessible design for all abilities were top priorities. That community voice became the foundation for everything that followed.

Robin Hood's Hideout

When CAP.CO was brought in to design the centrepiece of this project, the brief was clear: it had to mean something. Inspired by the legend of Robin Hood and the wild, rebellious spirit of Sherwood Forest itself, Robin Hood's Hideout was born.

It is a rebel stronghold, a treehouse command post, and an adventure all rolled into one. A network of rustic timber towers and multi-level structures rise amongst the mature pines, connected by elevated rope bridges, timber crawl tunnels, and a dramatic V-shaped walkway. And crucially, the structures don't feel imposed on the landscape. Built entirely in warm, natural timber, they sit amongst the trees as though they grew there, which is precisely the point.

Climbing walls, scramble nets and a stainless steel slide offer genuine physical challenge, whilst den spaces tucked beneath the decks give children a quiet place to shelter, plan, and hide. The crawl tunnel is a particular highlight, inside, dappled light filters through the slatted timber barrel in long, golden strips, making even the act of crawling through it feel like a discovery.

Arrow fletching post toppers rise above the structure and pierce the treeline. A hand-carved wooden proclamation, fixed to the timbers in the style of a medieval notice, announces that 500 gold pieces are offered for the capture of the villainous outlaw "Robin of the Hood", signed, of course, by the infamous Sheriff of Nottingham. An archery maze activity panel challenges young recruits to track their arrow to the bullseye. These aren't just decorations. They are narrative devices, and they transform the entire experience from play equipment into a living story.

Children can scramble up to the lookout windows and survey the forest below, ring the warning bell to alert their comrades when the Sheriff's men draw near, and make their escape via the stainless steel slide or the parallel bars. Every detail has been considered, every element earns its place.

Robin Hood's Workshop

No rebellion runs on bravery alone, and so alongside the Hideout sits Robin Hood's Workshop, a multi-activity sand play area where the forge is always lit and there are weapons to be made.

A striking central shelter, its steeply pitched timber roof adorned with the lion shield crest of the rebellion, rises above a reimagined sandpit and sets the scene immediately. A wheelchair-accessible ramp sweeps visitors directly into the heart of the action, ensuring every recruit can join the effort from the moment they arrive. Inside, raised forge tables are set with chain-tethered stainless steel sword and arrowhead templates, ready for sand casting. The detail in the sword lying in the sand, for us, captures everything the CAOP.CO team is about in a single image.

Chain and bucket slides deliver sand from above, ensuring cooperation and communication. A clamber ladder offers a more physical route up for those who want the challenge. The Workshop doesn't just invite play, it invites collaboration. Children and adults must work together, taking on roles, solving problems, and contributing to something bigger than themselves.

The Impact

When a play space is rooted in real stories and real landscape, something different happens. Children get far more involved. They play with the history, the characters and live the sense of place. They arrive ready to pick up where yesterday's adventure left off, to defend the hideout, man the forge, and stay one step ahead of the Sheriff one more time.

At Sherwood Pines, Robin Hood's Hideout and Workshop are now open. The adventure is just beginning.