Nottingham is a city with a secret:

[valley ranch]

The City of Caves date back to the 4th Century (Credit: Visit England)

The first reference to the labyrinth beneath Nottingham dates back to the 9th Century, when the area was named Tigguo Cobauc – Welsh Anglo-Saxon for “the place of caves”. The name was given to the town by a travelling monk, who encountered a local population living inside the caves.

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20160114-a-haunted-hidden-world-of-caves

 

[Smart Red]

Strange, then that Robin Hood spent all his time hiding in the forests when he and his merry men could have been more comfortable.

 

[valley ranch]

Forest living is very nice!

 

[Smart Red]

Even England has a winter. Yes, forest living can be good. The Native Americans here in Wisconsin lived in the woods during the winter and moved lakeside during the summer. The forest was warmer, protected from some of the wind, and had food available.

 

[digitS']

If the sheriff had caught Robin in one of those caves we would never have had the stories of his daring-do.

I've related this to Richard before. Here is Montana State government telling us about this critter :

"Dusky Grouse winter at high elevations in conifer stands. In early spring, they descend to lower altitudes, where they prefer forest edges and openings. Broods may be found quite far from timber during summer and early fall. In the Bridger Mountains in early summer, broods were often observed in grass-forb areas (with arrow-leaf balsamroot being dominant) ..."

Then, they flock back to the high altitude spruce for the winter! I wonder how many animals go higher, for the winter months. Richard is something of a rare bird.

Steve

 

[aftermidnight]

@valley ranch , thanks, I had no idea about these caves and found this really interesting. I love these little bits of history, find them fascinating.
I had a grand aunt who lived in Nottingham, when my grandmother told me about her sister and where she lived I got all excited I was only 5 or 6 at the time. Shades of Robin Hood and Sherwood forest were running through my mind, I don't remember but I probably asked her if my aunt knew him LOL.

Annette

 

[so lucky]

There are lots of natural caves in Missouri, but I find the man-made ones more fascinating. I have seen articles about the caves up high in the mountain tops of a Middle Eastern country (Iran? Turkey?) that look like an all day climb just to get to. I think they were monasteries.
St Louis has an extensive natural cave system under the city. Many were used for beer making and storage, and for transporting goods. Lemp Castle's owners had their own cave, complete with swimming pool and theater, back in the 1890s.

 

[Larisa]

I like these caves! We also have a dungeon near Moscow. But there is very dangerous. Labyrinth, other laws of survival. There are boys-only groups of diggers. Illegally.

 

[baymule]

Very interesting. Who knew? Thanks for bringing this piece of history to us!

 

[Nyboy]

Stay out of caves in NJ http://patch.com/new-jersey/manchester-nj/s/fi7dh/bear-attacks-traps-scoutmaster-in-cave