News - Sherwood Forest visitor centre to get £13m 'Robin Hood' revamp (Edwinstowe)

A VISION for a world-class Robin Hood experience in the heart of Sherwood Forest has been revealed.


The £13 million Discover Robin Hood attraction will feature interactive exhibits, an open-air theatre and an adventure playground.

Construction will begin in autumn next year with the project expected to be completed by spring 2015.

The company behind the scheme – Discovery Attractions – said it wanted to give Robin Hood the home he deserves.

Chief executive John Lowther said: “Robin Hood is such a strong pull for tourists and we want to develop an attraction that will be fitting to the legend.

“Our vision is to build a flagship attraction for the county which will give a huge boost to the local economy.”

The plans come after years of uncertainty about the Sherwood Forest centre, with a number of plans shelved in the past due to lack of available funding.

John Cottee, chairman of the culture committee at Notts County Council, said the private investment was necessary to make the attraction a “jewel in the crown” of Notts.

He added: “We want to raise the profile of Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest and we have found a vision for the centre that we agree will be fantastic. We are hoping this new centre will attract visitors from all over the country and the world.”

According to the developers, the plans will create around 100 jobs and benefit the local economy by more than £2 million a year.

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Sherwood-Forest-visitor-centre-13m-Robin-Hood/story-17198421-detail/story.html

News - Join the Smart brigade and protect your war memorial (notts)

COMMUNITIES in Notts can play their part in protecting war memorials from vandalism.

Notts County Council wants groups, parish and town councils to get their memorials marked with SmartWater.

The liquid can be used by police to help trace metal if it is stolen from a memorial.

It is estimated that across the UK, one memorial a week, on average, is targeted by thieves intent on stealing bronze, copper or other metal to sell for scrap.

Councillor Richard Butler, the county council's cabinet member for environment, said: "War memorials are an important focal point in our communities and are a crucial reminder of the sacrifice of those who lost their lives for their country.

"SmartWater is a simple and effective way of helping to protect metal plaques on memorials which mark particular wars or list the names of local people who have lost their lives in war."

The council has spent £364,500 on 23 projects to restore and create war memorials in Notts since 2006.

War memorials in the county may be eligible for free SmartWater marking as part of the In Memoriam 2014 scheme, which is being is offered by the War Memorials Trust working in partnership with the SmartWater Foundation. The partnership is working towards the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War in 2014 and wants to offer greater protection to memorials.

To find out more, visit www.inmemoriam2014.org or call 07990936276.

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Join-Smart-brigade-protect-war-memorial/story-14045165-detail/story.html

News - £400,000 Beckingham Willow Works project finally opens

A PERSONAL triumph for two campaigners was marked with the official opening of the £400,000 Beckingham Willow Works project.

And tributes were paid to the drive and dedication of Brian Suart and Colin Gibson – as they shared the honour of performing the ceremony.

Clerk Mr Gibson and chairman Mr Suart spearheaded a six-year initiative led by Beckingham-cum-Saundby Parish Council to save the derelict unique building from collapse.

But they shared the privilege of seeing the 120-year-old Gales Barn – to give it the correct title – restored to an active role amid the Beckingham Marshes along Old Trent Road on the River Trent flood plain.

And for both men the occasion was both emotional and satisfying as a multi-agency programme reached completion.

But they never imagined that the only remaining building of its type in the country would be transformed into a modern community and heritage facility.

“Without Colin and I’s teamwork this just wouldn’t have happened,” said Mr Suart.

“It looked like it was all going to stall at one stage, but we succeeded in the end.”

And Mr Gibson acknowledged that the end result was a triumph over adversity.

“We were always hopeful, but it’s remarkable that what we wanted to see in the future has actually been achieved,” he said.

Funding for the major project came from a variety of sources such as WREN, the Heritage Lottery Fund, STAR Energy, Environment Agency, Nottinghamshire County Council, Groundwork and Beckingham-cum-Saundby Parish Council.

Willow works’ owners Groundwork Creswell, Ashfield & Mansfield already have tenants – with the £1.6m Heritage Lottery-funded Trent Vale Landscape Partnership moving in.

The venue now houses exhibition and training rooms, a function room, office space and a permanent ‘home’ for the Beckingham Local History Group.

It spokesman Chris du Feu said: “After six years of hard work and many setbacks it is wonderful to see this unique building restored.

“The standard of refurbishment is much higher than originally envisaged and, along with the community garden and adjacent RSPB Beckingham marshes reserve, it presents wonderful opportunities for environmental education and heritage activities.

“Well done to all concerned – this will prove to be a regional treasure.”

RSPB Beckingham Marshes’ site manager Michael Copleston said the charity was excited about the renovation.

“We will be using this building as part of our project to make the marshes a better environment for a wide variety of wildlife,” he said.

Groundwork chairman Jim Mould described Mr Gibson and Mr Suart as ‘pillars of the local community’.

He said: “We are proud that 10 young people were employed through the Future Jobs Fund to carry out the work – and three have gone on to permanent employment.”

From: http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/400-000-Beckingham-Willow-Works-project-finally/story-13572937-detail/story.html

News - Push to preserve Notts' heritage

A WARNING has been made that essential knowledge about some of Notts' oldest buildings could be lost under council cuts.

The concern comes from within Notts County Council itself, as the authority tries to save money by cutting staff in its conservation team.

The team is to be reduced from just under 34 full-time post to six, following budget cuts agreed earlier this year.

But there are fears that the loss of expertise will mean some old buildings and memorials will be forgotten.

At a meeting of the council's communities and the environment committee, chairman councillor Sue Saddington said: "If our heritage falls through the net it will be lost forever."

The committee has been looking at how to cope with the cuts and will make recommendations in September. Some of the suggestions include:

Updating the council's register of heritage buildings in Notts at risk, which was created in 2004 – but it could take up to five years to complete a new version.

Considering how best to continue to apply for heritage funding towards the upkeep of structures – the council has received over £5 million from different bodies in recent years towards preserving assets.

Start charging district councils for background information supplied for planning applications, in order to raise money for the council's conservation and heritage department. The service is currently free of charge.

On the last of these, Ms Saddington added: "In order for us to preserve what we have in our department it could be an advantage that district councils pay for the service."

But Councillor Mike Quigley said: "If we are really convinced that conservation and heritage are important then we need to have a strategy in place into the future."

And vice-chairman Councillor Geoff Merry said: "The most important thing that we have got to do is look at the knowledge of staff that we need to keep.

"That information and knowledge needs to be there for others to pick up."

The review has seen the committee visit a number of the 400-plus historic sites owned by the county council in recent months, including Rufford Abbey and King John's Palace, in King's Clipstone.

After the review findings are finalised at the committee's next meeting in September, recommendations will be presented to the county council's Cabinet for discussion.

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Push-preserve-Notts-heritage/story-12980863-detail/story.html

Event - Get set for 27th outlaw festival (Edwinstowe)

THIS year's Robin Hood Festival, in Sherwood Forest, will run from Wednesday August 10 until Sunday August 14.

It is the 27th time the event has been staged by Notts County Council

Councillor John Cottee said: "The event is the perfect day out for all the family, with costumed characters at every turn, from jugglers and jesters to medieval doctors and rat-catchers, while medieval combat displays and markets stalls recreate the atmosphere of Robin's Sherwood Forest."

Jousting contests between Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham will take place on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons near the Edwinstowe cricket ground.

Visitors can also watch a falconry display on the Wednesday and Sunday.

Activities will run from 11am to 4pm each day.

Admission is free, with car parking at £5 a day. A small charge is made for some events.

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/set-27th-outlaw-festival/story-12877067-detail/story.html

Dig - Budding archaeologists can get their hands dirty (Besthorpe)

PEOPLE can try their hand at digging into the past this summer.


Community archaeologists from Notts County Council have organised a two-week community dig at Besthorpe Quarry near Newark.

It will take place over two weeks from August 8 to 19.

Up to 20 people will be able to take part each day, joining the community archaeologists, professionals from the University of Salford's Archaeology Unit, and volunteers from community groups in Manchester.

The event is part of the Trent Vale Landscape Partnership project, to celebrate the heritage of Trent Valley between Newark and West Stockwith.

Main partner Notts Wildlife Trust is overseeing the creation of new wetland habitat at Besthorpe Nature Reserve, a former gravel extraction site near Besthorpe Quarry.

There will be an open day at the reserve on Saturday, July 23, as part of the Festival of British Archaeology.

For more information about the events email Emily Gillott at emily.gillot@nottscc.gov.uk.

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Budding-archaeologists-hands-dirty/story-12877082-detail/story.html

Website - Notts County Council Community Archaeology

Nottinghamshire County Council have recently updated their Community Archaeology website at http://www3.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/learning/history/archaeology/communityarchaeology/ this is much more accessible than the previous incarnations.  It includes details of their forthcoming work including the dig on the Romano-British site at Besthorpe in August

There is also a new online volunteering form at 

https://secure.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/learningandwork/historyheritage/communityarchaeology/contactcommunityarchaeology/. This will help them to get more volunteers and is a great way to get updates on what's happening in our county.  Please join as the more people willing to help will hopefully mean they will do more projects in the future

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