II.

Land and Resources

Nottinghamshire is roughly oval in shape, and is approximately 82 km (51 mi) from north to south, and 40 km (25 mi) from east to west. It lies on the eastern slope of the Pennine Hills. In the west are coalfields, to the far north are low-lying areas. The centre of the county lies on sandstone and pebble beds, and is largely infertile land covered by forest and heath. The eastern lowlands of the county, including the valley of the River Trent and the Vale of Belvoir, have clay and marl soils. In the south-west of the county is the main conurbation. The county has comparatively few uplands, and the northern and eastern areas are mostly flat. There are, however, some hills of modest height in the west. Sherwood Forest is situated roughly in the centre of the county. Stretching from Nottingham to Worksop, it formerly covered an area 32 km (20 mi) long and 8 to 14 km (5 to 9 mi) wide. Comparatively little of it is left, although some ancient and massive oaks still stand, and the area proudly retains its name.

The principal river is the Trent, which enters the county in the south-west, flows through Nottingham and on to Newark, and eventually forms part of the north-eastern border with Lincolnshire. The Trent is joined by the Soar, which forms part of the border with Leicestershire, the Erewash, which forms part of the border with Derbyshire, and the Idle. The Trent and Mersey canal runs westward from a short distance south of Nottingham, and is soon joined by the Grand Union Canal. Just north of East Retford is the Wetlands Waterfowl Reserve, with many varieties of ducks, geese, and swans.

The climate of Nottinghamshire is moderate, and comparatively dry. Average annual rainfall over the county is in the region of 635 to 760 mm (25 to 30 in).