This urban space is bounded by the neighbourhoods of Forest Fields to the north, Mapperley Park to the east, Arboretum to the south and Hyson Green to the west.

[citation needed] The site of the Forest was one of the original areas to be protected in perpetuity by the St. Mary's Nottingham Inclosure Act 1845 (8 & 9 Vict.

Other smaller travelling fairs and circuses take place on the recreation ground throughout the year, usually coinciding with local school holidays.

The Forest Recreation Ground boasts floodlit hard surface courts and grass pitches for ball games, and a traditional bowling lawn.

Proposals for a recreation centre, to be built on the eastern fringes of the Forest, were rejected following public opposition to loss of green space.

The project is also backed by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) and by local organisations such as Friends of the Forest.

The project encompassed: the restoration and refurbishment of the lodge (now office space) and the pavilion (which now houses a new café, public toilets and office space); the reparation and improvement of footpaths; replacement of park benches, improvements to access to sporting facilities; the amelioration of lighting and security; the expansion of planting areas; and the creation of higher-quality activity areas for young people.

Additionally, railings were erected, for example the new green-coloured metal fences next to the bus stop near the Forest's Mansfield Road entrance, as well as the custom panelled columns.

[8] Work started on the sports zone in November 2014 and completed on 28 October 2015 with an opening event and the unveiling of a plaque in memory of local community activist Jim Taylor who was a driving force behind the project.

It supports efforts to maintain the Forest as an accessible, open, green space which has historic importance for the City of Nottingham.