A packed programme of free and affordable activities has been planned for the school summer holidays to keep children and young people occupied and active across Gedling borough.
The fun activities on offer from Gedling Borough Council, who has put together the programme, include roller discos, snorkelling, arts and crafts, a picnic in the park event, and some special movie-related events.
Events take place at venues across the borough, including at Arnold, Calverton, Redhill, and Carlton Forum Leisure Centres, The Bonington Cinema, Gedling Country Park and Arnot Hill Park.
Some activities need to be booked in advance as spaces are limited.
Councillor Viv McCrossen, portfolio holder for Young People and Equalities said: “I’m so pleased that we’ve been able to put together this great range of activities for children of all ages across the borough. A priority for the council is to deliver a programme of community events and youth activities and what better time is there than over the summer holidays?
“Young people across the borough have missed out on so much since the start of the pandemic, so we wanted to make sure that we could offer these fantastic activities to help entertain them over the summer whilst promoting the importance of physical activity and health and wellbeing.”
A new tree-lined trail dedicated to showcasing nearly every British tree has been opened up to visitors at Gedling Country Park.
A new trail, complete with handcrafted wooden sculptures, is thought to be the largest trail of its kind and features 50 native British trees, selected for the site by The Friends of Gedling Country Park group.
The trail, named the ‘near’ route, follows a circular 1.4km (0.87 miles) wheelchair accessible and pushchair friendly footpath.
Work is already underway on the ‘far’ route, which takes a more challenging 2.7km (1.68 miles) trail further into the park and will feature an additional 25 trees, with the route expected to be ready this autumn.
The trails were named ‘near’ and ‘far’ after coal seams in the area dating back to 1630, honouring the mining heritage of the site.
In total, over 50 trees and accompanying signposts were dug-in by Gedling Borough Council park rangers, with help from the Friends of Gedling Country Park, volunteers and students from Brackenhurst College.
Along the trail, each tree has a sign with the tree’s common name, its Latin name and a QR code linking to the Friends of Gedling Country Park’s website for more information.
A leaflet featuring a map and information about each tree, is also available from Café 1899 near to the main entrance of the park.
The two wooden sculptures, which are both over two metres high, have been designed by local artist Peter Leadbeater. He also created the nature trail sculptures that are already situated around the park. One of the sculptures is a large totem and marks the start of the tree trail, the second carving shows the wildlife which can be found on Gedling Country Park and features a barn owl, bees, butterflies, frog, kestrel, moorhen, newt, frog and squirrel.
The Friends of Gedling Country Park developed the idea and Gedling Borough Council jointly commissioned the trail. It is also largely funded using Co-op Local Community Funds, following a successful application process by Sarah Benedek, a community fundraiser who has, over the last five years, successfully applied for over £90k from various bodies for projects on behalf of the Friends within Gedling Country Park.
Helen Aplin, who managed the project on behalf of the Friends of Gedling Country Park said: “We wanted to create something unique for Gedling and Nottinghamshire that focussed on nature. The Friends had various conversations about what might work and this was something we all agreed on. It focusses on the things we hold dear – nature conservation, native species and education.”
Councillor Peter Barnes, portfolio holder for Environment, said: “This British native tree trail is fantastic, we’re so proud to have this on our doorstep. A priority for the council is to enhance our existing parks and open spaces and this latest addition to Gedling Country Park is just one of the many reasons for visitors to come and see what the park has to offer.
“With the trail being the largest of its kind, it will be a draw for people interested in trees and ecology, as well as families who want to educate their children about British nature and wildlife while enjoying some exercise.”
Additional tree planting on the ‘far’ route will happen in autumn, as this is the best time to plant trees in order to ensure a higher chance of survival.
Residents are being invited to see and then have their say on plans to transform a former station building into a new youth and community hub for Gedling Village.
A group of volunteers have been working to raise funding to give the former Gedling Station building on Shearing Hill a new lease of life and benefit the local community.
The Victorian station building, which also housed a youth club in the past, had been under threat of demolition before a successful campaign was launched to save the building. The Friends of Gedling Station now want to turn it into a community facility and have applied for funding from the National Heritage Lottery to help make their dream a reality.
The volunteers have been working over the past year to restore the building and once further funding arrives, final work will begin to transform it into the hub.
Plans have been drawn up by local architect Simon Middlecote and these will be on display at an event on Saturday, July 24 between 10am and 4pm. There will also be a PowerPoint presentation outlining plans.
NOW: The former Gedling Station building as it is todayPICTURED: 3D image of how Gedling Station will look like after being transformed into new community hub
Those attending can also feedback on proposals by completing a questionnaire.
As well as the designs on show, mining, railway and Gedling Youth Club memorabelia will also be on show.
This list contains only the roadworks considered to be most likely to cause delays on key routes as well as those involving road closures and temporary traffic lights.
The list is not exhaustive and does not feature some minor or emergency repairs that come up after publication.
Other roadworks may finish or start before schedule or be cancelled altogether.
All information is from Highways England, local authorities and utility companies.
A popular social club in Colwick has been forced to close its doors for four days – after employees and customers were struck down with coronavirus.
The Vale Social Club has been rocked by the positive Covid tests among its workforce and customers.
The club, based on Vale Road, posted the announcement on their Facebook page.
They posted: “Due to a rise in positive Covid numbers in customers and staff, we have had to make the hard decision to close for a deep clean to protect any further cases.
“The club will reopen again Friday at 11am.
“We have not made this decision easily but with only two staff left not isolating we cannot open safely.
“Sorry and hope to see you all Friday.”
The club added they believed the cases came from people watching the Euro 2020 final on Sunday, July 10.
In the post they said: “We believe [the cases] have come from Sunday’s football final and Track and Trace will be in contact if required.”
Gedling MP Tom Randall MP last week spoke about local residents’ fears over pet theft in a parliamentary debate.
Mr Randall was speaking in the Report Stage of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in the House of Commons as parliament considered several proposed amendments, including one about a new offence of pet theft.
The MP said: “There has been a lot of organised criminality around the reported rise in pet theft, and I have seen videos posted in local community Facebook groups that show groups of suspicious-looking men looking for dogs.
“Constituents have written to me to say how scared or worried they are when they go out to walk their dog during the day.”
Mr Randall said the price of some dog breeds rose by up to 89% in the first lockdown, and Google searches for “buy a puppy” increased by 166% between March and August after the start of the first lockdown.
The Government launched a Pet Theft Taskforce in May, to look into this issue, and Randall believes they should be allowed to complete their work.
He said: “I believe that legislating now would ignore the work of the pet theft taskforce, which was launched in May. It will try to understand the factors behind the perceived rise in pet theft, recommend measures to tackle that and seek to learn the lessons from related specific thefts, including of mobile phones and metal.”
“We have heard some powerful arguments for tackling the issue. There is more to be done and primary legislation might well be necessary, but I would first like to see the outcome of the taskforce’s review and, if measures are necessary, for that to be backed up with appropriate sentencing.”
The Pet Theft Taskforce will report in the autumn.
Three police officers were spat at, abused and threatened as they struggled to arrest a suspect at Colwick Country Park.
Threats were made after they tried to bring a suspect under control shortly after 3.35pm on Saturday afternoon.
Police had been called by concerned members of the public who reported seeing someone in possession of a knife.
During a search of the park the officers located a van they wanted to search and were immediately confronted by a man who made numerous threats to them and their families.
James Robinson, 34, has been charged with three counts of assaulting an emergency worker and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards another person with the intention to cause them harassment, alarm or distress.
Robinson, of Withern Road, Broxtowe, has been remanded into custody and will appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court this morning (July 19).
No knife was recovered at the scene.
Sergeant Janine Barnes, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Police officers and other emergency workers do a difficult and at times dangerous job and should simply not have to deal with this kind of behaviour.
“There is never a justification for abusing and assaulting our officers and we will always take very swift action against people who do.”
A drink-driver who swerved on to the wrong side of the road in a bid to flee from police in Colwick while nearly four times over the limit has been jailed.
Startled motorists sounded their horns as Stephen Dewan headed towards them in a black van during rush-hour.
Pursuing officers also saw him take corners at speed, with other drivers veering out of his way to avoid a crash.
Dewan eventually turned into a residential street and parked up, thinking he had managed to get away from police.
But officers found him and he was arrested.
A breath test was conducted at the roadside, were the driver blew 136 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath – almost four times the legal limit of 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath.
Nottingham Crown Court heard the chase happened in on February 20 last year.
Police were tipped-off that the driver of a black Iveco van appeared to be drunk and quickly located the vehicle.
Officers illuminated their blue lights to signal the vehicle to stop. Dewan pulled over but then swore at officers before driving off at speed.
Due to the amount of traffic and pedestrians, police backed off whilst still following at a distance. They momentarily lost sight of the van before finding it parked up in Douglas Avenue, where the arrest was made.
At court, Dewan, of Hardstaff Road, Sneinton, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop, drink-driving and driving without insurance.
The 52-year-old was sentenced to 10 months in prison and banned from driving for three years and five months.
Following the sentencing, PC Kane Dunker said: “This was an incredibly reckless display of driving that put the lives of other road users at risk.
“He had been drinking throughout the afternoon and so was slurring his words when officers arrested him. He unsteady on his feet and should have known he was in no fit state to get behind the wheel of a car. That offence alone was serious enough, but he then chose to make things even worse for himself by failing to stop for us.
“The driving that followed was truly appalling and could easily have led to someone being seriously injured or killed. Nottinghamshire Police takes offences like this very seriously and we will continue to do all in our power to take people like Dewan off our roads.
“I also hope that this case serves as a warning to others: that if we have reason to believe you are driving under the influence of alcohol we will follow you, we will pull you over, and we will ensure that you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Police have got their paws on a new buddy in the fight against drug crime who will be based at their headquarters in Arnold.
He’s only just 13-weeks-old but PD Buddy has well and truly been finding his feet with his new canine cop friends after he was welcomed to the force at the end of May.
The Labrador pup is at the very beginning of his policing career, where the aim is for him to master the skills to become a passive drugs dog.
Buddy has been funded by Nottinghamshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry who agreed to pick up the £24,775 costs of PD Buddy’s training.
“There’s a very good reason we’re expanding our canine team – they’re absolutely brilliant at what they do,” said Commissioner Henry.
“I’ve no doubt Buddy will serve Nottinghamshire with every bit of passion and dedication as our officers and we cannot wait to see him develop and flourish.
“Passive drugs dogs are a huge asset to the force and are already disrupting the activities of organised criminals and helping to bring more offenders to justice.”
As part of this role, he will have the very important task of detecting a host of illegal substances. This means that, once qualified, he will be out across the county with his handler both responding to incidents and as part of proactive work ongoing by various local teams.
NEW RECRUIT: PD BuddyPICTURED: (l to r) Chief Constable Craig Guildford, Nottinghamshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry and PC James Sills with PD Buddy
This includes pre-planned operations, such as patrols with Operation Guardian officers in the city centre where he’ll scan people, drugs warrants where he’ll need to search houses and gardens, as well as urgent callouts where he could be asked to search a variety of vehicles.
Sergeant Jay Lee of Nottinghamshire Police’s Dog Section said: “We’re really pleased to welcome Buddy to the team and we look forward to seeing him develop and hopefully become a really successful drugs dog.
“The dogs are such a valuable resource and in particular, the ability our drugs dogs have and the efficiency at which they can detect drugs is highly important to our success when it comes to tackling this issue.
“Adding dogs, such as Buddy, to our team and having the opportunity to have more of these dogs out across the county will only increase our effectiveness. It’s fantastic for us to have been given the green light to expand our resources with another drugs dog, and this should also be reassuring to communities across Nottinghamshire as this once again steps up our ability to respond and support neighbourhood teams with reports and concerns around drugs activity wherever this may come to our attention.”
Over the next few months, Buddy will be taking his new career one paw at a time, walking through towns and getting used to people.
Once he turns one, he will be enrolled on a six-week drugs dog course where he’ll be trained to detect a wide range of drugs, scan people and search a variety of different environments that he may be faced with once he is a fully-fledged police dog.
His current handler, PC James Sills, says he’s already showing some promising traits and is looking forward to seeing the Dog Section’s newest recruit progress.
“Buddy is super active and a massively sociable dog. He just seems really keen and interested in everything around him, which to us is a really positive trait when thinking about training a dog to detect drugs.
“We’re really pleased with how he’s doing so far. He’s with us for the moment to get used to various surroundings, people and to get out and about in busy city and town centres, all of which he’ll encounter on a regular basis once he passes his training.
“Then, in a few months’ time he’ll be off on a six-week training course and that will be the moment of truth. He is such a lovely dog, showing great traits, so I have every faith he’ll turn out to be a great drugs dog.
Chief Constable Craig Guildford added: “As a force, we are dedicated to tackling issues with drugs and related crimes.
“Not only is being in possession of certain drugs illegal, but it can also clearly be linked to wider criminal activity, so this is why our ability to proactively search for drugs and act on information we are given around this is incredibly important.
“Drug-related crime has fallen by 13 percent over the past year and this is testament to the proactive work of neighbourhood teams, Operation Reacher teams and supporting, specialist teams such as the Dog Section, and we are committed to seeing this trend continue.
“Passive drugs dogs are an invaluable asset, alerting officers to individuals who may have illegal drugs on them or areas where they may be hidden, doing this quickly and, more importantly, where it would be otherwise hard to detect.
“They are often involved in our successes when seizing drugs and so I’m delighted that we are able to add extra resource into our work tackling illegal drugs and to see the Dog Section bring Buddy on board, who will be learning the ropes to do just that.
“I wish Buddy, PC Sills and the team all the best for their future and I’ll be looking forward to hearing how he does in training, and indeed all being well his future successes out on the job.”
Five generous girls from Salterford House School in Calverton have donated their long-grown locks to The Little Princess Trust to help children suffering with cancer restore their confidence and identity.
KH Hair in Arnold cut a total of 256 inches of hair off the girls, which will now be sent to the charity to use to make wigs.
“We want to give children who do not have hair due to cancer treatment, a chance to feel happy and more confident about the way they look.” said the girls.
“Most of us know a member of our family or a friend who has suffered from cancer and this is our little way of helping them. We are really pleased to help another child feel better at a difficult time.”
These five girls from Salterford House School in Calverton have donated their long-grown locks to The Little Princess TrustPICTURED: After the charity cut
It costs the charity £550 on average to make donated real hair into a new wig for a child and £150 for a wig fitting so, in addition to donating their hair, the girls have raised over £2100 so far to help.
