Event - Bestwood Heritage Day now arranged for Saturday 2nd February

A HERITAGE day to remember Bestwood Village in its colliery heyday was forced to be postponed last Saturday because of the heavy snowfall overnight.

The morning was planned for visitors to Bestwood Country Park to look back at the area’s past helped by special guests.

The event, which is being organised by owners of the country park, Nottinghamshire County Council, will now take place tomorrow, Saturday February 2 from 10am to noon at the Dynamo House.

“We just couldn’t risk running the event last Saturday with the arrival of so much snow from a health and safety point of view,” explained community liaison officer at Bestwood Country Park, Sue McDonald. “The nature of the event meant we would have attracted more elderly people but even the short distance from the car park to the visitors’ centre was trecherous.”

Holly Godward, 20, a BA (Hons) History student at Nottingham Trent University will be interviewing people about their memories of Bestwood as part of her final year dissertation.

And colleagues from Picture the Past, an archive library project managed by Nottinghamshire County Council in partnership with Derbyshire County Council, Nottingham City Council and Derby City Council, will also be at the event to scan images and documents for visitors.

“We hope the British weather will be kinder to us this weekend and enable the event to go-ahead,” added Sue. “We are looking forward to it and hope it will be a real celebration of the country park and Bestwood’s historic past.

“Do you have any memories, stories, old photographs or artefacts of old Bestwood village, the colliery, and the people who lived and worked here? If so, bring them along to the day to share your experiences and take part in this interesting research.”

Members of the Winding Engine House Volunteer Group and Friends of Bestwood Country Park are set to be at the Heritage Day.

Sue added: “And there will be plenty of warm drinks and cakes for a reasonable charge supplied by the WI and the Friends.”

For further details call Sue McDonald on 07500 106567.

From: http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/news/local-news/bestwood-heritage-day-postponed-due-to-snow-now-arranged-for-saturday-2nd-february-1-5362414

News - Mining memorial bid gets cash boost (Hucknall)

A BIG cash boost was given this week for a memorial to miners who died working at pits in Hucknall and the surrounding area.


Hucknall members of Ashfield District Council agreed to make a total grant of £2,400 for the highly-praised project, which has been backed by the Dispatch.

The decision was made at a meeting of Hucknall Area Committee.

The proposal is to record the names of the pitmen who lost their lives. As part of the scheme, memorial stones owuld be placed on the site of the iconic miners’ statue on Station Road, Hucknall.

The campaign was started by former miner Barrie Lewis, of Hucknall, whose father, Lawrence (34), was killed in an accident at the former Hucknall ‘Top Pit’ on Christmas Eve 1960, and has received full backing from the Dispatch.

A suggestion is for the memorial to be backed by a book featuring the names of those killed at the two Hucknall Collieries or Linby, Bestwood, Newstead and Annesley Pits.

On Friday and Saturday, November 9 and 10, Barrie will sit at a table in Hucknall Library to meet members of the public and raise awareness about the campaign.

“I hope people will take advantage of this opportunity to find out more about what the project is all about,” he said.

Area committee chairman Coun Jim Grundy (Lab) said he hoped the grant would act as a catalyst to attract further funds for the scheme.

A total of £9,000 or £10,000 is needed and donations so far received include £500 from the grant-making Nottinghamshire Community Foundation.

Barrie said he hoped the work would be completed in time for the proposed memorial to be unveiled at a ceremony next summer.

A report to the committee stated that publicity in the Dispatch had shown ‘considerable support’ for the project. The work will be carried out by a stonemason and other contractors.

Research into the names of miners to be remembered had been a painstaking task carried out at such locations as libraries and archive offices, the report added.

From: http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/news/local-news/mining-memorial-bid-gets-cash-boost-1-5093317

News - Historic Japanese gardens uncovered at country park (Bestwood)

A PAINSTAKING project has uncovered spectacular Japanese gardens that date back almost a century at Bestwood Country Park.

And for the first time in decades, visitors to the picturesque park this summer will be able to see the gardens, which were planted when the site was the country estate of the Duke Of St Albans.

At the time, it was popular in Britain to reproduce Far Eastern designs in miniature.

The garden at Bestwood includes rock carvings and traditional landscaping. At the top, there is a face on a rock. Water comes out of its mouth and cascades into waterfalls.

It is understood that water once flowed through pipes. But it is still a mystery as to where the water came from.

The scheme to revive the garden has been running for two years. But real progress was made last winter with the help of volunteers.

“We hope people can appreciate it,” said Nottinghamshire community archaeologist Andy Gaunt. “It has been really, really interesting.”

Funding to help uncover the gardens has come from Notts County Council’s Local Improvement Scheme (LIS).

A model is being created in 3D using laser scanners and an appeal has been made for photos of how the gardens looked in their original state.

From: http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/news/local-news/historic_japanese_gardens_uncovered_at_country_park_1_3439587

Cuts Threaten Future of Bestwood Country Park

THE future of Bestwood Country Park could be under threat after shock, cost-cutting plans to axe the jobs of all the rangers who work there.

A friends group fears that the proposals could mean the country park being subjected to fly-tipping, anti-social behaviour, illegal camping, burnt-out cars, off-road motorcycling and arson.

“With power prices rising, the theft of timber from the country park could become a problem too,” warned group secretary Roger Williams.

Concern has also been voiced about the impact on the newly-upgraded winding engine house of the former Bestwood Colliery.

The engine house is an iconic feature of the park but the rangers are thought to play a key role in maintaining it as a top tourist attraction.

The country park’s site manager, Alex Morley, said the senior ranger was supported by five other members of the team and all six had many years’ experience.

“We have worked really hard in partnership with the police and Gedling Borough Council to improve the image of the park,” said Mr Morley. “It has worked — but only because of the vital contribution made by the rangers.”

Notts County Council says the chopping of the rangers’ jobs is necessary as it aims to make savings of £150 million over the next three years.

But Mr Williams claims the county council can maintain a permanent ranger-led team at the country park while still making significant savings.

Now the friends group has launched a petition campaign in opposition to the proposals, which they describe as the “worst possible example of short-termism and expediency”.

The country park is regularly visited by residents of the surrounding area, including Bestwood Village and Hucknall, and from further afield.

The site covers 690 acres and has by far the longest urban-fringe boundary of Nottinghamshire’s parks, with numerous access points.

Mr Williams says the friends group and a volunteers team cannot cope with the security and safety implications without the rangers, whose local knowledge and trained expertise is vital.

He adds: “We believe the county council must recognise its responsibilities to the residents and to the park by maintaining a ranger-presence, even if this is reduced.

“Without that, all the improvements that have been achieved at the country park over the last few years would be wasted and would cost more later to re-establish.

“In these times, when many local people cannot afford expensive breaks, the park offers a healthy, safe and free outing. On a weekend, we see walkers, birdwatchers, horse-riders, joggers and families with children just out for a relaxing stroll and fresh air.

“Running, orienteering and other groups use the park as a venue. But without ranger-service cover, this would not be possible.

“In short, the loss of the wardens would mean a deterioration of this beautiful and historic asset, which forms a green lung for communities across the north side of Nottingham, with 30 nature habitats.”

The winding engine house was officially opened to the public in August after its refurbishment as a £2.4 million visitor and tourist attraction.

Hucknall man Bob Gow, who has been actively involved in the project, said the rangers had done much to make the country park and winding engine house “wonderful” assets. There had been a lot of investment from sources which included the Heritage Lottery Fund, he added.

The county council’s director for cultural services, Patrick Candler, said: “We are looking at new ways of ensuring that our country parks and remain premier visitor-destinations.

“We are already talking to a number of partners about sharing resources to deliver services and are also hoping to attract more volunteers.”

 

From: http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/news/local-news/cuts_threaten_future_of_country_park_1_2892915

Community Archaeology - Bestwood Park - Tuesday 14th December!!!

An opportunity to help excavate the Japanese Gardens at Bestwood Lodge is starting  tomorrow.  

 

Location: Bestwood Lodge Hotel, Bestwood Lodge Drive, Arnold, Notts, NG5 8NE 

Time: 10am