Sherwood: The Living Legend has appointed London-based architects Make to design and build a proposed visitor complex – called The Tree – featuring walkways at Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire.

-The scheme is one of six community projects shortlisted for the Big Lottery Fund’s Living Landmarks initiative, which supports projects aimed at transforming, revitalising and regenerating local communities.

The competition will be televised by ITV this summer and the winning scheme – decided by a televised public vote in September – will receive a grant of up to £50m.

If successful, The Tree will feature a 20m thick timber tree with supporting buildings, which will feature exhibitions, a café, a tourist information point and a shop as well as a tree top walkway.

The ‘roots’ will house a conference space, a cycle hire shop and an education centre, while the top of tree will feature a restaurant and a viewing platform overlooking the forest.

The scheme will also include ramped timber walkways, playgrounds and picnic areas throughout the forest, in addition to outdoor educational and demonstration areas.

The complex will be environmentally sustainable. Renewable energy will power the complex, reed beds will treat all waste, rainwater will be recycled for use within the centre and a Biomass boiler run on sustainable fuel will provide heating.

Ken Shuttleworth of Make said: “The Tree celebrates the spirit of the forest and will provide the public with a fantastic gateway to the UK’s most famous forest, while spearheading the wider regeneration of the Sherwood area.” Details: www.makearchitects.com