Rural Action Derbyshire is based in Matlock and for 15 years has been running a scheme called Wheels to Work. The scheme provides transport solutions for people who struggle to get to work or training because of a lack of suitable public or private transport. This problem can be particularly acute in isolated rural communities. Wheels to Work already offers moped loans, reconditioned bicycles, and help towards transport costs in some circumstances. The addition of six electric bikes will be welcomed by users needing to travel greater distances and in hilly terrain.
We have contributed £52,500 to help fund Wheels to Work this year and some of the money will be used to pay for this initial e-bike pilot. Laura Mitchell, Wheels to Work Project Manager said: “There are many well-known benefits to e-bikes, from environmental to health, but for us, it is the opportunity to offer an affordable transport solution to people in rural Derbyshire.” Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Highways Assets and Transport, Kewal Singh Athwal said: “The introduction of electric bicycles to the Wheels to Work fleet is an excellent addition to their current offer. As well as improving transport options for people in Derbyshire it also helps Derbyshire County Council meet its environmental commitment to cut carbon emissions and encourage the use of more sustainable modes of transport.”
There are a limited number of electric bicycles available now on a first-come first-served basis. There is a small loan charge of £30 a week (£25 for students) and the scheme is open to anyone who is struggling with access to education, training, or employment in Derbyshire.
Rushcliffe Country Park users are being asked to give their views in a bitesize survey, designed to help shape the park’s features and gauge further how they travel to and when they use the site. The short survey, which can be completed online until September 30 https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/RushcliffeCP2021, will help identify more how visitors use the park.
It will also assist Rushcliffe Borough Council’s continued application for annual Green Flag accreditation for the site that regularly requests views and feedback from park users. Surveys are also available to pick up and complete in person at the park’s office, during opening hours from 8am to 4pm each day. Responses could also help develop subsequent new visitor attractions, features and car parking to inform a wider consultation next year.
Whether visitors use the park more than once a week or just once a year, all views are being sought to help shape wider assessments and ongoing improvements in future years. Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Deputy Chief Executive and Director for Neighbourhoods Dave Banks said: “If you use the Country Park please inform us of more details in this short survey that takes no longer than five minutes to complete. “We’re always looking at ways we can improve this much-loved park and receiving customer feedback plays a vital role in helping new and existing generations enjoy it even more.
“It will help inform a wider consultation next year that may suggest possible new features and ways to improve car parking, for example. “Information on when and how you travel to the site and what you do when you arrive here will be greatly received. Thank you in advance if you take the time to help us shape our ideas going forward for an even better park.” The news follows decommissioning of the Park’s wind turbines last month so alternative renewable energy technology can be used for the site’s power. The park’s education centre and separate toilet block and tool store will also soon undergo a wider refurbishment to make use of its green spaces including installation of solar panels to generate over 80% of the energy requirements of the site. This is due to start later this year and will include enhanced toilet facilities and a takeaway café.
A small team of dedicated volunteers have been praised for working tirelessly to create a ‘fantastic’ new community garden in the grounds of a Nottinghamshire church. They have transformed an overgrown area of land at St Paulinus’ Church in New Ollerton into a blooming wonderful green space of nature featuring a variety of plants and flowers, herbs, seating, and a water feature.
Now the fruits of their labour can be enjoyed by the whole community, with the garden a place for people to simply enjoy, meet friends, grow their own produce and hold small events such as fayres and celebrations – a far cry from what it looked like little more than two years ago when community stalwart John Pearson launched the project. Nottinghamshire County Council has contributed £1,700 from its Local Improvement Scheme towards the project, with funding also coming from a variety of individuals and organisations – including the Unite Community Union, Newark & Sherwood District Council, Edwinstowe and the Dukeries Lions Club, the Rotary Club of Sherwood and the Freemasons of Bassetlaw.
To date, £8,000 has been donated to cover the costs of creating the garden – while the group has also received hundreds of plants from kind-hearted residents. Councillor Tom Smith, Vice-Chairman of the County Council’s Communities Committee which approved the LIS funding, attended a special opening event for the garden and paid tribute to John and his team of volunteers for their work to transform the green space.
He said: “Firstly, I am especially proud that funding from our Local Improvement Scheme has helped John Pearson and the volunteers to create such a wonderful community space. “The garden looks absolutely fantastic and the tremendous work carried out by John and his team means residents now have somewhere to go and enjoy, while it also provides a social opportunity to build a sense of community and belonging.
“It is projects like this which the scheme is in place for and I hope the garden will be enjoyed by members of the local community for many years to come.” Students from the town’s Dukeries Academy have also been involved in the project, while schoolchildren from the Parkgate Academy made mosaic tiles for the garden – which was blessed by the Rev Richard Hanford, the new priest-in-charge of the Parish of Ollerton with Boughton, at a special ceremony on Saturday, 4 September.
The garden is also home to the ‘Bassetlaw Birch’ in recognition of the efforts of NHS workers during the pandemic, while the group is working with mental health charity Nottinghamshire MIND to expand the garden and provide a ‘listening ear’ space for anybody who needs professional help. And John revealed how he and the volunteers were not deterred by the difficulties posed by the Covid-19 crisis to create the garden.
He said: “We had grass six-foot high when we first started. It was an abandoned vegetable plot, basically, and it’s taken two-and-a-half years to come to fruition. “We struggled through the restrictions, isolations, lockdowns and it hasn’t been without its costs health-wise, so it’s been a hard task, but we’ve enjoyed every single second and the results are here for everybody to see.
“A lot of people are simply overwhelmed by how it looks from what it was just a month ago because everything had died back, and it’s started to come through again for autumn. “It’s not a big space but it’s a friendly space and it’s quiet and it’s peaceful – and people like that. It’s somewhere where they can come and, as we keep saying, just be yourself. “The other day a lady was sat on one of the arbours, which the LIS funding went towards, and she was reading a book with a flask of tea – and that’s what the garden is all about, to just come in and enjoy it for what it is.” Cllr Mike Pringle, ward member for Ollerton at the county council, said the new community garden was a place for everybody to enjoy and hailed John for his devotion to the cause.
He said: “The community garden, which has been created by John Pearson, is just a fantastic place for people to come and talk. “John has opened it for everybody. It matters not whether you’re churchgoing or not, the garden is open for anybody to come and relax. “It even has an area for people that need to talk outside of the home environment, so that they have a safe place to come and talk with whoever they want to talk to – professional or not – just to offload. “John, himself, is an incredible human being and throughout the pandemic has done brilliantly at bringing this all together for us.”
The Yorkshire Air Museum has burst back to life celebrating the wonder of Aviation, which we proudly proclaim as Yorkshire’s greatest invention! Did you know that the aeroplane was first invented in our own county?
Museum Director Barbara George explains: “Scarborough born nobleman George Cayley was so inspired by the passenger carrying hot air balloons of the Mongolfier brothers in France that he defined the principles for a ‘flying machine’ in 1799, designing the very first outline of a ‘conventional’ aeroplane with fixed wings, a ‘fuselage’ and using the acts of propulsion and lift as individual functions to make it fly.”
This ultimately led to the creation of his full-size glider which, in 1853, made the first man-carrying flight at his family home at Brompton by Sawdon. The Museum is proud to display the unique replica of this amazing craft which now takes take centre place in our huge hangar, strikingly mounted on a plinth, along with other iconic Yorkshire designed aircraft, such as the Blackburn Buccaneer, the last of a long line of aircraft from the company founded by Leeds born Robert Blackburn, and, of course, own unique WWII Halifax Mk. III bomber, “Friday the 13th”. This is so named after the most successful Halifax, flying from its Yorkshire base at RAF Lissett near Bridlington.
We know you will be inspired after visiting our wonderful museum, based on an original WWII Bomber Command base, with all the history and heritage of the period.
Enjoy discovering our amazing aircraft collection amongst our extensive, spacious grounds and take a stroll around our woodland nature area. Discover a tranquil, fragrant spot in our ‘Jardin des Papillons’ or Memorial Rose Gardens and enjoy a family picnic on our lawns.
Open Daily 10:00am to 17:00pm. (Winter 10:00am – 16:00pm) Admission: £12 Adults, £5 Child (4-17). Family £30 (2A + up to 3 Children.) Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award.
The South Ormsby Estate is located in the heart of the Lincolnshire Wolds. Classed as an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’, this region can justifiably boast history and tradition. The Estate spans some 3000 acres, with Jon and Jan Thornes being the current custodians.
Tristan Jorgensen is the Head Distiller at South Ormsby Estate. Tristan gained distillery experiences in Scotland and is now utilising that knowledge and those experiences to great advantage, having created a multi award-winning brand for South Ormsby Estate’s own craft gins, with several of the botanicals used coming from the estate. History dictates that Charles Burrell Massingberd (1749 – 1835) became the squire of South Ormsby Estate during 1802. I found Burrell’s Dry Gin (43% vol) superb.
This elegant, refined production is classic and fresh. Burrell’s Dry Gin has botanicals that include juniper, angelica root, coriander seeds, lemon peel, apple and almonds, plus some more, that make this gin the very worthy and excellent quality production that it is. Fragrant, smooth and crisp is how I would describe this gin. The mouthfeel and palate’s sensation enjoy the fruitiness. I found that with an added tonic, this production came into its own., having delights of citrusy overtones and really great for a G&T mix, garnishing with citrus fruits.
Marie Jeanne Rapigeon of Versailles (1764 – 1863) refurbished and transformed South Ormsby Estate, bringing further elegance and glamour. Marie Jeanne became the second wife of the squire and the gin created by Tristan Jorgensen pays a great tribute to this lady. Red fruit aromas and flavours are evident, in this splendid, pink gin (43% vol) production. Also, fabulous for adding colour, to any occasion.
The botanicals used for this gin include juniper, angelica root, coriander seeds, cassia bark, pink peppercorns, strawberries, raspberries and cranberries. Again, I found this to be another extremely well-balanced production. Certainly, the bouquet is fruity and, with the palate following through, having further highlights of complexity and depth, this much appreciated and respected delectation is a ‘pink gin’ lover’s delight. South Ormsby Estate, South Ormsby, Lincolnshire LN11 8QS. Contact details, information and ordering: www.southormsbyestate.co.uk/gin
Wrap up on walks It may be cosy indoors, but your dog needs regular walks regardless of the weather. When out on walks it’s important to make sure your four-legged friends are wrapped up warm. Put a dog coat on them when you go out, especially if you have a fine-coated dog, such as a Greyhound or Staffie.
Check for snow between their toes Check your dog’s paws and dry them thoroughly after they’ve been outside. This is especially important with long-haired dogs as they are prone to snow compacting between their toes and turning into ice balls which can prove very painful. If they are agreeable, you could trim the long hair between your dog’s toes to help prevent this.
Check for salt and grit between their toes Clean their paws at the end of your walk as salt and grit from roads and pavements can also get lodged between their toes.
Keep them warm and dry Dry off wet and muddy dogs after walks and make sure they have a cosy bed to return to which is away from any cold draughts.
Keep them active indoors Some dogs can be very reluctant to venture out into the cold. If this is the case, do not force them out but make sure you provide them with lots of toys for them to play and keep them occupied while indoors.
Adjust their food if necessary If you do find that your dog is less active in the winter months, make sure you adjust the amount of food you give them accordingly to avoid weight gain.
Make sure they have good recall Cold weather often brings reduced visibility in foggy or snowy weather conditions. If you’re letting them off the lead, make sure your dog has good recall to avoid them getting lost and, as always, make sure their microchip details are up to date with your correct contact information.
Make them visible As the nights draw in earlier and the sun rises later, attach a small light to your dog’s collar so they can be seen when out on walks in reduced visibility.
Never leave your dog in the car unattended Just as cars can become fatally hot in summer months, temperatures can drop very quickly in cold weather. Always take your dog with you rather than leaving them in the car for any length of time.
Stay away from frozen lakes and rivers Keep your dog away from stretches of frozen water as it’s impossible to tell how secure the surface is. Keep them on a lead if you think they’ll be tempted to jump in.
700 trees were planted at Hetley Pearson Recreation Ground. Mayor of the Borough of Broxtowe, Councillor Michael Brown joined children from Trent Vale Infants School to plant a mixture of native trees, including cherry, hazel holly and hawthorn, with another group of children from Beeston Rylands School attending in the afternoon to help complete the task. The event was in partnership with Beeston and District Civic Society, who donated £1,000 towards providing 10 large oak trees and protective fencing around the area and Nottinghamshire County Council’s Greenwood Team, who provided plant material and organised the school involvement. Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee, Councillor Helen Skinner said: “This is a fantastic partnership between Broxtowe Borough Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Beeston and District Civic Society and local young people.”
“It was great to see the enthusiasm of the children planting the trees and I am sure they all went away with a greater appreciation of the importance of looking after our natural world. The tree planting was originally planned for November last year, to coincide with national tree week, but the extremely heavy rain we experienced all through autumn made the ground too wet to work on.”
“Hopefully if we all work together to reduce emissions and plant trees to remove excess carbon from the atmosphere future generations will not have to deal with the extreme consequences of climate change.” Amongst the trees were two saplings from the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest that were donated by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds).
These were collected as acorns and grown on by children in Edwinstowe village. An additional sapling was taken to Gutersloh, Germany last summer and gifted to the local community as part Broxtowe’s twinning links with the town.
In terms of numbers of trees, this is the largest planting event in Broxtowe this year and as the trees grow, they will help capture and store carbon along with providing habitat for many species of birds, insects and small mammals.
The Council’s Green Futures campaign is a programme of projects which will be delivered to help the Borough become carbon neutral by 2027. For more information, visit www.broxtowe.gov.uk/greenfutures
Thinking about marrying abroad but worried that your grandparents won’t be able to make it? Perhaps your close friends and family can’t afford an overseas holiday or maybe you’d rather just get away on your own. Weigh up your options here with our list of pros and cons to help you decide. The biggest issue with getting married abroad tends to be that not everyone on your guest list will be able to make it. So if your grandmother has always dreamed of being at your wedding but is unable to travel, don’t be surprised if she seems upset when you drop the bombshell that you’ve decided to get married abroad. Do reassure anyone who can’t make it that you’ll have a second reception when you’re back in the UK.
Pros You’ll be able to take your vows in the open air and celebrate your special day in an exotic or unusual location, with different food, flowers and music to complement your wedding.
Getting married abroad can often be less expensive than the average British wedding. Many couples buy their own tickets and, while the bride’s family may pay for the wedding package, it’s acceptable for guests to pay their own way.
You can invite just a small handful of family and friends to the wedding, so you’re only with people that you really want to celebrate with. It’s the ideal excuse for not inviting your 20 odd cousins and all their children.
Alternatively, you can jet off alone and get married in a romantic, private ceremony, just the two of you. If you book through a travel operator, they’ll do practically all the organising, leaving you plenty of time for dress shopping and planning your honeymoon!
If you’d rather be totally involved in the planning process, you can opt for a tailor-made wedding.
Cons Friends and family might not be able to afford to travel abroad, or be able take the time to go further afield. You might upset people who’ve been left off your list – but you may be able to ease some disappointment by having a big bash when you get home. You won’t have as much control over the organising as you would at home.
You might end up regretting not inviting family members if you jet off alone. If it’s just the two of you, you’ll need to rope in a stranger to act as witness. Although your wedding abroad may work out cheaper initially, if you put on a second reception in the UK for all those who couldn’t make it, you can end up paying as much or more than you would have done if you’d married in the UK in the first place!
Even if you head for tropical climes, you can’t guarantee sunny weather. And remember, unless you head off for a second week somewhere else, you might be stuck on honeymoon with your friends and family!
Join the party and discover a unique experience that celebrates the best Gin and Rum right now and promises the party of the year. If you’re thirsty for knowledge or just want to party the night away, the Gin and Rum Festival is for you! Discover new favourites with samples from hand-picked guest distillers, treat yourself at the themed Gin and Rum bars, and let your hair down with your friends.
Whether you are a gin-genius or a new convert, expert staff and complimentary masterclasses will help you discover new flavours to savour, while the resident DJ and amazing live entertainment keep the party going. Remember to bring your dancing shoes!
Paying for your drinks is quick and easy – just purchase tokens at the token station and swap them for drinks at one of the themed bars. Premium mixers and tonics are all included, and your Gin and Rum guide includes expertly crafted garnish suggestions so you can take the perfect serve home with you.
Perfect for hen parties, lad’s night out or date night.Friendly staff, tasty street food and buzzing party atmosphere will guarantee a night to remember! Over 18s only, www.drinkaware.co.uk
Skegness is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the UK, with amazing beaches and an abundance of local restaurants, but there is so much more to this amazing destination than meets the eye.
Fantasy Island is one of the most popular attractions for those on holiday in Skegness, providing a great time for all the family! With rides to please the thrill-seekers among us, a shopping market to get all your souvenirs, and a high-class arcade to play with friends and family, there is always something to sink your teeth into.
The Rhombus Rocket One of the most popular rides at Fantasy Island, and for good reason, is The Rhombus Rocket! With twists and turns at every sight, it truly is a ride for the adrenaline junkies, and perfect for those looking to step out of their comfort zone.
The Millennium This is not a ride for the fainthearted! This ride measures 150 ft high, travels a whopping 55.9 mph, features two vertical loops and a sidewinder, and it is guaranteed to make your heart race and your knees go weak!
Log flume No amusement park is complete without a log flume, and Fantasy Island is no exception. Sail your way to the top, and then plummet to the water below at a breathtaking speed. This ride is fun for all the family, as long as you don’t mind getting a bit wet!
The Magic You will also find magic here at Fantasy Island. Maybe not wand-waving, potion brewing magic, but magic of a whole different kind. The Magic ride takes you up on a swirling adventure, leaving you amazed and dazed at the same time!
The Twister The Twister brings the nostalgia of a funfair directly to an amusement park! One of the most popular rides at Fantasy Island, each summer sees families having the time of their lives on The Twister. Give it a go!
With events running throughout the summer season, there is something for everyone to enjoy, so start organising next year’s trip today!
