Summer has arrived in the district of Newark & Sherwood

Tags

Arts & Crafts, Children's activities, events, Heritage, jousting, local nature reserves, Poetry, Rufford Country Park, Sherwood Forest, Tourism

At last summer has arrived here in the district of Newark & Sherwood and there is plenty to occupy us in the longer days ahead.

 

Rufford Country Park is the beautiful setting for the ladies singing group Sempre on Sunday 3^rd July between 2pm and 4pm.  Bring a chair with you to be sure of a seat.

Why not try your hand at ‘Spoon Carving’ at Rufford Country Park on Saturday 9^th July from 10.15am- 4pm, it costs £30 for the day and you walk away with your own creation – tel: 01623 821338 to book.

 

Meet Brother Oswald, Cistercian Lay Brother of Rufford Abbey on Sunday 10^th July and learn about the Abbey buildings and the lives of the monks who lived here 800 years ago. Brother Oswald will be available for answering questions from 12 noon before setting off on a tour of the Abbey at 2.30pm.

 

Hucknall and Linby Mining Community Brass Band will be in full swing in the Coach House Courtyard at Rufford between 2pm – 4pm on Sunday 17^th July, once again to be sure of a seat, bring your own chair and relax!

 

JS Leisure are holding a Family Fun Day at Rufford Park on Saturday 23^rd July between 11am – 3pm where the children can let loose for four hours of unlimited fun on the rides and games – all for £6 per child (inc winning one prize from the stall).

 

Madmogs (Mansfield & District Minors Owners Group) are back at Rufford for their 8^th year on Sunday 24^th July between 10am-4.30pm. This is a firm favourite for many on the annual Morris Minor Rally Calendar!

 

Please note, for all the above events there is a £3.00 car parking fee.

 

A spectacular jousting tournament is being held in the beautiful grounds of Kelham Hall over the weekend of Saturday 9^th & Sunday 10^th July, visit www.kelhamhall.co.uk or tel: 01636 980000 for more details.

 

If you are intrigued by what an earth sheltered home might look like or feel like or wanting an overview of what it is to live sustainably then visit the ‘Tour of Hockerton Housing Project’ on Saturday 16^th July between 2-5pm visit www.hockertonhousingproject.org.uk for details.

 

In Sherwood Forest from Saturday 23^rd July until Sunday 4^th September is ‘The Summer Trail’ – this is a self-guided trail which leads you around the Visitor Centre to the Major Oak it is £1 per trail.

 

On Saturday 23^rd July at Sherwood Forest you can join one of the rangers on the ‘Butterfly Hunt’ and see how many species you can find! You also get the chance to create your own fluttery butterfly on a stick to take home.  This is a family event suitable for 4-12yr olds.  Must book on tel: 01623 823202 – £2.50 per child.

 

Looking slightly further ahead for the school holidays and certainly not to be missed, is the 32^nd annual Robin Hood Festival from Monday 1st -Sunday 7th August.  Please note, car parking for this event will be £5 per car but for all the other events at Sherwood Forest Nature Reserve car parking is £3per car.

 

Newark and Sherwood Guide

Southwell Library are hosting their Poetry Festival from Thursday 14^th – Sunday 17^th July with readings, performances talks and workshops.  Tel: 01636 812148 or visit www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/southwellpoestryfestival for more details.

 

Sherwood Forest Art & Craft Centre are hosting a ‘Have A Go Craft Day’ on Wednesday 27^th July between 11- 3pm where the centre comes alive with special craft events and activities for children.  There is a small charge for each activity.

The school holidays are almost upon us so you may want to call into our office to find out what other exciting events are on offer throughout the 6 weeks ahead.

 

ENJOY SPRING TIME ………..

Tags

Classic cars & bikes, Craft, events, Heritage, Rufford Country Park, Sherwood Forest, Site of Special Scientific Interest, Tourism, Tourist Information

The glimpses of sunshine and longer days are beginning to encourage us to spend more time out and about…..We are starting to think Spring has sprung!

Our Tourist Information Centre is well stocked with inspiration and ideas of places to go and things to do both near and far.  There are lots of events taking place for this coming month here in the district of Newark and Sherwood.

 

The Midland Kite Flyers will be at Rufford  Country Park on Sunday 17th April – 10.30am until 4pm, enjoy an afternoon of kite flying on Long Meadow.  £3 car parking charge applies.  Please note though, in the event of bad weather this event may be cancelled 😦

Rufford will be host to their annual Historical Bazaar  on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th April 11am until 4.30pm.  Come to enjoy the 8th annual “shop till you drop” re-enactors bazaar, and enjoy an ancient to modern era multi-period living history show.  70+ stalls of an “elite” line up of around 30 Classical Greek to 1980s multi-era living history groups, arena displays & more are expected to be here which is set around the picturesque ruins of Rufford Abbey this weekend.  Sell, browse, shop, watch & enjoy!  Free visitor admission, £5 car parking fee applies.

Why not try your hand at ‘Spoon Carving’ at Rufford Country Park on 21^st May between 10.15am to 4pm.  Call 01623 821338 to book your place on this course at £30 per person.

Fancy yourself as Bear Grylls? Then Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve are showing you how to build a Shelter on 14th April at 11am just by using only natural materials.  A ranger will be on hand to give you helpful tips, test your den when you have finished to see if it is waterproof! (suitable for aged 4 and above).   This is a free event but you must book a place. Call 01623 823202.

Fancy joining the Nottinghamshire RSPB at Sherwood Forest on 23rd April  for a gentle stroll through the forest in search of the magnificent Redstart, which is one of the best places to see this summer visitor.  £5 Adults £3 for children under 12.  Places are limited so pre-booking is essential on 01623 823202.

Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre is hosting lots of events for the month of May including a Dog Walk in the morning of Saturday 7^th May and then in the afternoon on the same day a ‘Hedgehog Happenings’ event.  Nottinghamshire Archaeologists will be at Sherwood on Saturday 28^th May and then on Sunday 29^th & Monday 30^th  are hosting  ‘Sherwood Through the Ages’  where you can meet some of the characters who shaped Sherwood’s past and present.

Thoresby Park will be the setting for the 40^th Classic Car, Bike and Mini Show on Sunday 1^st and Monday 2^nd May between 10am and 4pm.  Admission is £7 adults £3 (7-14yrs), under 7’s free.  There will be over 400 cars and motorbikes expected to attend.  This will be a great day out for all!

On Sunday 15^th May the Nottinghamshire Symphonic Wind Orchestra will be playing in the Riding Hall at Thoresby Park.   Tickets for this event are £10, please book through Thoresby Box Office:  01623 822009.

Why not take a visit to Clumber Park on 21st May  at 6pm to learn about the secret life of bats within the park.   This will be a fascinating talk led by a bat expert and will include tea and cake!  For more details telephone:  01909 476592 or take a look at their website:  www.nationaltrust.org.uk/clumberpark

 

 

 

 

It’s that time of year when you start to think of better weather and getting out and about more!

Tags

Arts & Crafts, events, Heritage, Rufford Country Park, Tourism

 

 

January kick starts thoughts of the warmer months ahead and planning. This may be anything from your annual holiday to your favourite destination, possibly staying at a lovely quaint town along the beautiful Pembrokeshire coastline or embarking on a walking holiday taking in the spectacular landscapes of Hadrian’s wall or it could simply be a day out to that popular attraction holding their annual event. Whatever your thoughts are, why not call into your local Tourist Information Centre who can help  and point you in the right direction of brochures and pamphlets.

Up until February half term, we here, at Rufford Country Park are open 10-4pm Mon-Fri and 10.30-4.30pm Sat & Sun then it will be 10.30-4.30pm daily.

We now have in stock a selection of the 2016 new holiday brochures  ranging from Essex to Northumbria or maybe Stay On A Farm with many more due to arrive over the forthcoming weeks

For the walkers amongst you we have saleable books ranging from: a Nottinghamshire Dog Walkers Guide featuring a collection of 20 dog-friendly walks varying in length between 2 and 6 miles which are designed with maximum off lead time and all walks recommend dog-friendly refreshment stops (what more could you ask for!) retailing at £7.95 to the Exploring  Sherwood Forest which has five walks ranging from 3.5 miles to 9 miles retailing at £2.50.  Or for those who want to ‘go it alone’ we stock the new ordnance Survey Maps which incorporate the new digital version which you can download onto your smartphone or tablet for £8.99

 

We stock a whole host of information on up and coming events in the local area including the concerts at Sherwood Pines in Edwinstowe.  This year the Forestry Commission will be hosting Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott on 24th June 2016, tickets on sale here at £35.00 per person and Guy Garvey is performing on 25th June 2016 –  tickets at £38.50 per person

  

Recently opened in the Apsidal Gallery at Rufford Orangery within the historical settings of  Rufford Abbey Country Park is ‘Fragments in Time’ – An Exhibition of found and donated items illustrating the vanished world of the former Country House. This free exhibition is open from 10.30 – 3.30  every day, normal car parking charges apply for entrance to the park.

While little now remains of what once was a huge country mansion, owned by Lord Savile, the exhibition provides an intriguing peek into a vanished world – Not to be missed !

 Don’t miss this event:-  Stargazing at Sherwood Forest on 6th February 6.45pm-9.30pm where you can join the staff from Mansfield Observatory and the Sherwood Rangers for an evening of stargazing and learning about the night sky.  Weather permitting –   you can look for constellations, planets and stars and talk about basic astronomy- £5 per person (including a hot drink)  Booking essential on 01623 823202.

Our staff are equipped with a wealth of information to help you make the most of your stay in our beautiful district.

A NEW YEAR, A NEW YOU!

Tags

Rufford Country Park, Sherwood Forest, Site of Special Scientific Interest, walking

 

 

Now that the festive season is nearly over our thoughts turn to being more healthy, and what better way to achieve this than walking? The Newark & Sherwood area has many country parks, woodlands and green spaces in which to wander and walk off the excesses of Christmas.
Sherwood Forest is probably the most famous forest in the world and is a great place to kick start your new healthy regime.There are over 400 acres of ancient woodland to explore following in the footsteps of Robin Hood. The main path takes you from the Visitor Centre on a 15 minute walk to the mighty Major Oak, the largest tree in this medieval hunting forest. If you want to walk further then there are many paths from which to choose. http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/sherwoodcp

 

Rufford Abbey Country Park is set around the ruins of a medieval monastery on the edge of Sherwood Forest. Here you will find woodland, open spaces and lakeside walks. http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/ruffordcp
If you want to push yourself that little bit further then join the Nordic Walking Group which meets here on Thursdays http://www.holistichealthteam.com

Sherwood Pines Forest Park is the largest public park within the greater Sherwood Forest area. It is full of walking and cycling trails and if you are feeling really energetic you can have a go at Go Ape Tree Top Adventure. http://www.forestry.gov.uk/sherwoodpines

Vicar Water Country Park has been transformed from a former colliery site to a country park with heathland, woodland and grassland offering spectacular views over the surrounding countryside. Here you can explore the many footpaths and cycle ways. To get those thigh muscles working try walking up the reclaimed spoil tip, it has fantastic views from the top! http://www.vicarwaterpark.org

National Trust property Clumber Park is a beautiful expanse of parkland, heath and woods covering more than 3,800 acres. Here you can walk for miles or hire a bike and go even further.www.nationaltrust.org.uk/clumber-park

These are just a few examples of the many green spaces we have to offer. If you want to stay away from the crowds you can explore the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) we have in the area such as Sherwood Heath, Eakring Meadows or Besthorpe Nature Reserve. Or why not explore the industrial archaeological trail around Duke’s Wood, the location of Britain’s first onshore oilfield? With so many places to explore there’s no excuse for staying indoors. http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org

Fed up with the ‘Black Friday’ and ‘Cyber Monday’

Then why not wrap up warm and head off to one of our local country parks, savour the beautiful scenery and sample some events which may be happening whilst you are there!

The children can do the Santa Trail at both Rufford and Sherwood Country Park for a £1.00 – it is a self guided trail where they follow the clues and at the end are rewarded with a treat! The trails run from 10.30am – 3.30pm at Rufford Country Park until 23rd December and 11am – 3pm at Sherwood Country Park until 3rd January. And of course, it wouldn’t be the same without Santa himself being in his Grotto where for £5 your child can receive a gift and tell Santa if they have been naughty or good!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Santa will be at Sherwood Country Park until 20th December and Rufford Mill until 23rd December.  On Sundays whilst waiting to see Santa you could be entertained by  Freddie the Magician on the 13th  or Peter Presto on the 6th or 20th between 2-4pm at Rufford Mill.  In the Coach House Courtyard why not grab a cuppa and relax to the sounds of Steel Pantastic on Sunday the 6th December 2pm to 4pm, Q.M Barbershop Quartet on Sunday 13th or Sempre on Sunday 20th.

This Sunday the 5th December Santa ‘Claws’ will be in his ‘Dog Grotto’ at Sherwood Forest Country Park  11am – 12.30pm and 2pm –  3.30pm, bring along your pooches and show how much they mean to you.  There is a minimum donation of £2 per dog, which includes a gift and all proceeds will be donated to Jerry Green Dog Rescue.

Why not try your hand at ‘Tree Dressing’ at Sherwood Country Park on Sunday 6th  11.30am – 1pm or 2pm – 4pm.  Join in with this ancient custom, and where better to celebrate the wonder of trees than in one of England’s most famous forests.  The Visitor Centre lights switch on will take place at 4.15pm.

Sherwood Forest will also host it’s ‘Sparkling Sherwood’ Evening Event  from Friday 11th to Sunday 13th December tickets being £3 per person.  See Sherwood’s ancient oak trees in a whole new light – a truly magical start to winter and a memorable experience to treasure.  The walk route is approximately one mile.  There are timed entry tickets 6pm, 6.15pm, 6.30pm 6.45pm & 7pm  Tickets are limited and are selling fast, they must be bought in advance.  For information and tickets call 01623 823202.

Enjoy an evening of traditional Hog Roasting and Fine Festive Merriment  at Sherwood Forest’s Ceilidh Night on Saturday 19th December at 7pm.  Dance to the Ceilidh Band until midnight in the heart of Sherwood Forest.  Book early on 01623 822944.

Blow of those cobwebs over Christmas and take some walks in Sherwood Forest ….. escape the Christmas rush, take a stroll led by a Ranger on Christmas Eve 11am – 12.30pm.  Breathe in the fresh air on Boxing Day  11.30am – 1pm or kick start your new year with a leisurely stroll through the forest 10.30am – 1pm on Sunday 3rd January, looking at the woodland and finding out about the history.  Booking is advisable for all walks, call 01623 823202.

Some other great dates for your diary ………………On Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th December at 4pm or 6pm you can take part in ‘A Christmas Tale’ at Rufford Country Park ….Come along and listen to a story told by Father Christmas’ Chief Elf Pog including a walk to Pog’s Workshop.  We ask that you dress appropriately and bring a torch for this seasonal walk.  Tickets are £4 per person and are available from us at the Tourist Information Centre.

A sneak preview of Pog’s workshop, Shh! ………………….

 

If you are looking for that extra special gift for someone or just want to treat yourself,

have a browse around the ‘Craft and Gift shops at Rufford or Sherwood, there are lots of lovely things to choose from 🙂

 

The Sherwood Forest area has lots to offer, if you have not wandered into one of our Country Parks before set some time aside …….you will not be disappointed, it’s magical at this time of year.

Had a great time at Halloween :)

Tags

Children's activities, event, Halloween

Our visitors to Rufford Abbey Country Park took part in the ever popular ‘Halloween Trail’ throughout the School Half Term. The park was awash with excited children looking around for the answers to the clues from the trail.

Not giving too much away, would you know the answer to the first clue?

On a slab in a lab, I was created by my dear old dad.  Put together with a knife, as lightning storm will bring me to life.

Instructions were given within the trail onto which path to follow around the park, taking in the dark, dark woods where more answers to the clues became apparent.

Some scary………………..

  

and some not so scary ………………..

 

If ….. visitors survived the trail, they were rewarded with a chocolate treat from us at the Tourist Information Centre from our ‘Broomstick Cupboard’

On Saturday the 31st October children and adults alike listened to the spooky tales from ‘Tom the tale teller’ at various intervals throughout the day.  This was an additional treat to the spooky Halloween Trail.

This Halloween event throughout the October Half Term proves to be ever popular with new and returning visitors year after year.

Looking forward to next year 🙂 ………………….

We Won – Nottingham is Officially England’s Home of Sport!

We’re officially England’s Home of Sport! Find out why, and learn what you can do in Nottinghamshire here!

Source: We Won – Nottingham is Officially England’s Home of Sport!

Another Successful WWII Event at Rufford Country Park

On the weekend of 26th & 27th September Rufford Country Park hosted their World War II event – ‘On the Home Front’ (1939 – 1945) for the ninth year running! The sun shone on this event over the weekend drawing in 15,000 visitors to the park!

It is a fitting nostalgic event for this Country Park as Rufford was appropriated by the Ministry of Defence in 1939 to be utilised for troop training,  The Leicestershire Yeomanry re-trained here as mechanised artillery units, the 4th Battalion Coldstream Guards as part of the 6th Guards Tank Brigade were based here before moving south, ready for the D-Day Invasion of Europe, and the 1st/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusilliers retrained here as the 108th Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps.  Rufford was later used as a camp for Italian prisoners of war.

Events over the weekend included being able to meet the Prime Minister Churchill and General Montgomery, Land Army girls, wartime sailors, military police, RAF and much more….

On the Saturday visitors enthralled by the WWII flypast of Hurricane, Spitfire and Dakota from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

There was plenty of joyful emotions mixed with glamour and humour together with the sights and sounds of the those wartime years!  Crowds gathered to watch the swing time dancers, the 1940’s wartime music shows, wartime cooking demonstrations, military encampments and exciting air raid scenarios as the National Fire Service battled to save trapped people from fire in the bombed Abbey building! There was even an original ‘Bevin Boy’ giving talks on ‘Britain’s Underground Army’ – a very interesting experience.

In the turning circle with the picturesque backdrop of the Abbey stood military vehicles, Mansfield Fire museum together with military drill demonstrations and wartime tank. For the military enthusiasts and re-enactors alike there was also a 1940’s period market to purchase anything from a fur coat to your army uniform and accessories.

This was a truly amazing nostalgic event for the park and visitors alike!…..

Sherwood Forest saw it’s 2nd Annual Woodland Festival on 12th & 13th September

Tags

Craft, living, local nature reserves, Sherwood Forest, Site of Special Scientific Interest

Wow, it’s a year since the last ‘Major Oak Woodland Festival’!  where has the time gone?  What a great festival this has proved to be provided by both Nottinghamshire County Council and The Sherwood Forest Trust.

We were there with our Tourist Information stand, loaded with local events and literature answering any questions about our local area and where to visit.

There was an array of stalls with a woodland theme lining the forest trail from the Visitor Centre to the Major Oak and back, with a chance to meet and learn about Bodgers, Chair Makers, Wood Turners, Wooden Toy & Furniture Makers, and even how to make charcoal!  You had the chance to chat and learn from Conservation Organisations, Archaeologists and meet some of the Sherwood Forest Rangers.

There were modern day forestry machinery demonstrations and in comparison the gracefulness of the Nornay Shire horses, showing how timber was extracted from a bygone era.

Of course, the Festival wouldn’t have been the same without the ‘Wild Man of The Woods’ or ‘The Green Man’ as many know him by who was telling many a tale amongst the trees! He even asked the Major Oak (England’s tree of the year) questions and believe it or not it replied back with the answers!

There were many displays and demonstrations throughout the day showing how both traditional and modern day techniques have shaped the forest into what it is today.

This was truly a weekend of entertainment and education where visitors were also able to try out some of these traditional country crafts.

We are certainly looking forward to next year to take part in yet another great

‘Major Oak Woodland Festival’  🙂

Take a Sneak Peek :) …………………….

Tags

Accommodation, events, Heritage, Rufford Country Park, Tourist Information

Taking a peek behind the scenes at Rufford Tourist Information Centre

Open around the year, our team at Rufford Tourist Information Centre, based within Rufford Country Park deal with a host of visitor enquiries, from where to find the nearest B&B to identifying varieties of leaf found nearby. We thought it would be nice to tell you what a typical day might look like.

We set about thinking what a typical day entailed, and there became unstuck. There is no typical day except that we open our doors at 10.30am and try to close at 4.30pm. We say try to close because if the sun is shining visitors do not want to go home and who can blame them? Rufford Abbey Country Park is a beautiful place to visit – and to work although we don’t have much opportunity to actually see the park.

We open every day except Christmas Day. Yes, that’s right – we are even open Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. If it’s a sunny day we usually have visitors waiting for the doors to open as the park grounds open about 8.30am. Very often our first customers are requesting to hire out the mobility scooters provided by Rufford for visitor use. This involves us giving a brief lesson on the workings of the scooter with strict instructions to avoid driving into the lake – it hasn’t actually ever happened as the scooters are very slow but a couple of people have come very close.

We try to make sure we tweet first thing in the morning about any local events or anything of general interest. We check emails and answerphone messages and then after this our day can go in any direction. For example, this morning we have been dealing with a film crew who are coming to Rufford whilst also unpacking a delivery of 11 boxes of brochures and planning a day’s itinerary for a couple staying nearby.

We deal with a wide variety of enquiries throughout the day, both in person and over the phone with the odd email thrown in for good measure. A lot of visitors naturally want to know all about the park and the Cistercian Abbey. Our Tourist Information Centre has only been in the park since 2013 and although we knew all about Rufford as a general attraction, we had no detailed knowledge. Suddenly we found ourselves being asked all sorts of questions including some obscure ones about varieties of leaf and what the name of the tree with the broken branch is.

Other questions usually involve the bird life in the park such as when the swallows arrive.  Luckily the park Rangers are often on hand to help out. Other questions about the park may involve types of flower or fungi and we are becoming quite knowledgeable on these subjects.

The Tourist Information Centre is also the lost property collection point and you wouldn’t believe the things people leave behind. We had a car seat handed in that had been left in the car park and we had to wonder how the child had made it home without it! We also get the odd camera, child’s scooter and a variety of clothing.

Many of our customers are staying in local Guest Houses, Hotels or Holiday Parks and they want to take advantage of our knowledge on local attractions, places to eat and even whether or not wellies are needed for walking in certain areas. We can go from giving directions to the nearest farm park to plotting a walking or cycling route. Our other work includes writing articles for local publications and producing a weekly events list which enables visitors and locals to keep up to date with things taking place in the area.

 

Be inspired by the many leaflets and brochures on offer.

Serving people at the counter and answering three telephones does keep us busy but it usually starts to slow down at around 4pm.  After a quick tidy round we re-stock the shelves ready to start all over again the following day.

Our job is a very interesting and varied as the above article demonstrates.