The centre is up against five other projects

Sherwood Forest: Living Legend would see forest walks and restored heathland surrounding a visitor centre.

It will compete against five other projects in a televised public vote for �50m of lottery money later this year.

An exhibit has been set up at the festival to show how the centre would look and raise public awareness.

'Massive opportunity'

Austin Brady, Forestry Commission regional director for East Midlands and chair of the Sherwood: the Living Legend Partnership said: "We have a one-off opportunity to secure major investment in Sherwood Forest.

"If we can the secure the �50m lottery funding we will not only be protecting the long-term future of Sherwood Forest, but securing hundreds of jobs and millions of pounds into the local economy.

"It's a massive opportunity and there is so much enthusiasm for it we just need to harness that and turn it into votes in December."

Officials have said the current visitor centre, which opened in 1976, will have to close by 2010, regardless of the outcome of the bid.