Made Lifestyle Magazine – issue 37. Nov/Dec 23 by Made Lifestyle Magazine

NEWS & EVENTS HOME & GARDEN FOOD & DRINK FASHION & BEAUTY BUSINESS & LEISURE ART & CULTURE

Discover Six Decades Of

ASTON MARTIN Artist, Georgina Barney

Explore

PLANT DYE STUDIO Farming For Nature’s Recovery

Nottinghamshire’s

WILDLIFE FRIENDLY

FESTIVE EVENTS

Indulge

Meering & Besthorpe

WINTER WALK

Chesterfield Canal

Teresa Bovey’s

WINTER ON THE CUT

BOXING DAY BITES

Issue 37 Nov/Dec 2023

£3.25

Made in Notts

Welcome to the November/December issue. The November/December issue always seems to come around so quickly. The autumn leaves are falling, and there's a wonderfully fresh chill in the air. This issue is always a favourite in the Made office, talk of festive parties, presents and food. The countdown to Christmas is well and truly on.

Made Made lifestyle magazine is designed and created with love by Createinn.

In this issue we find out about how the coming season can be a magical time on the Chesterfield Canal but there is a darker side, by Rod Auton. We discover how wildlife friendly farming is essential to nature’s recovery by Erin McDaid, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Keeping-up with your winter garden, there are tips for the months ahead by Dene Wood, Head Gardener at Clumber Park. Speaking of plants, our creative in this issue is Georgina Barney, an artisan plant dye enthusiast at her Plant Dye Studio in Nottingham. When you're ready for our latest recipes, we have some quick and easy tasty bites for Boxing Day, by food demonstrator and home economist, Teresa Bovey. And, after all the festive food, take a look at the delightful little winter walk exploring the small parish of Meering, in North Nottinghamshire by travel writer and photojournalist Sally Outram.

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So make sure you have your cosiest winter jumpers ready for the season ahead, we wish you a wonderful November and December and look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

Look for the Made TV logo next to stories in the magazine to indicate associated video content on our YouTube Channel - Made Lifestyle. Don't forget to subscribe!

On the Cover:

Canny Black Forest Trifle By Teresa Bovey. See recipes on p59. Photograph by Jon Rogers.

Diamonds speak louder than words www.berrysjewellers.co.uk

Made In Notts

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The Team MD & Executive Editor Jon Rogers • jr@madeinn.co.uk Design Manager

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Nov/Dec 23

Inside This Issue News & Events

Health & Beauty

The Local Roundup & November/December Events The latest news and events from across the region.

Features 26

Wildlife Friendly Farming Wildlife friendly farming is essential to nature’s recovery. Erin McDaid, Head of Communications & Marketing, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.

Christmas In Notts Festive events across Nottinghamshire.

Food & Drink 61

Designing A Shower Space

Winter Gardening Gardening tips for the next few months ahead by Dene Wood, Head Gardener at Clumber Park.

Boxing Day Bites Quick and easy tasty bites for Boxing Day, by food demonstrator & home economist, Teresa Bovey.

Travel & Leisure 44

Plant Dye Studio

Sabeeha Ali, Designer from Ripples newest showroom in Nottingham, talks through the top things to consider when designing a shower space.

Fashion Seasonal fashion including sensational party pieces and winter warmers.

Meering & Besthorpe Winter Walk This delightful little winter walk explores the small parish of Meering, in North Nottinghamshire by travel writer and photojournalist Sally Outram.

Made meets Georgina Barney, an artisan plant dye enthusiast at her Plant Dye Studio in Nottingham.

Home & Garden 10

Winter On The Cut The coming season can be a magical time on the Chesterfield Canal, but there is also a darker side, here Rod Auton tells us more...

Who Doesn’t Love Christmas? As we find ourselves hurtling towards the end of another year we can all at least look forwards to some special times with family and friends right?! By Chris Collins, Life Coach.

Six Decades Of Aston Martin The Aston Martin DB5 at 60 – Celebrating six decades of the world’s most iconic car.

News & Events

News

The local roundup Major Project In Newark Town Centre Work underway on major project in Newark Town Centre. The first phase to transform the empty former M&S building on Stodman Street in Newark into an attractive hub made up of homes and retail units is underway. This ambitious project will breathe new life into the heart of the town when completed. Stepnell, a well-established complete construction partner with over 150 years’ heritage in the industry, is undertaking the initial phase and mobilisation of the project. Plans will see the empty building converted into an exciting hub made up of 29 highquality residential homes in the heart of Newark, which will provide a new town centre housing offer with a sympathetic but eye-catching and vibrant design. There will also be two new retail units which will improve Newark’s retail offer with the aim of attracting more people into the town centre. Councillor Matthew Spoors, Portfolio Holder for Sustain-

able Economic Development at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “It’s exciting to see this project underway. We are showing that initiatives like this can help to develop town centres so that they that offer a vibrant experience which attracts different people at different times. “Without the Council’s intervention, this prominent building could have fallen into disrepair and become an eyesore. We’ve taken action into our own hands and are doing our best for Newark, turning a building that could have been abandoned into a thriving and active area where living, working and shopping come together." Tom Cartledge, Co-Chair of the Newark Town Board, said: “This is an opportunity to transform a large empty building into something that will be hugely beneficial to the health of our high street in the future. “Across the country, retail in towns and cities is in decline

which is why we’ve put this project together to inject new life in the area with the aim to make the heart of Newark a great place to live and shop. “There are many other projects running alongside the development including Newark Cultural Heart which has already brought people to the town centre through creating exciting events and programmes and the Stodman Street work is an extra step in encouraging more to visit, stay longer and take advantage of the activities and hospitality on offer.” Stepnell, a well-established complete construction partner with over 150 years’ heritage in the industry, is undertaking the initial phase and mobilisation of the project. Smaller retail units will complement the rest of the town and will look at enhancing the shopping offer in the centre. The District Council has been successful in the past; although they own very few

buildings in the town centre, since taking over and managing the area of the Buttermarket facing Middlegate, fantastic tenants such as Tambo Lounge, Iguazu, Specsavers and Inspire have collectively created a space for learning, shopping and socialising. With a track record for providing attractive units, the District Council continue to support town centre occupation. The first phase of work is likely to take place until the end of Christmas this year with the construction taking place soon after. Completion is expected to be in summer 2025. The scheme has been procured through the Procure Partnerships Framework, which supports public sector bodies to procure contractor partners, divided regionally to support the values of local delivery with national governance. For the full story visit: www. newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/ latest-news/

Festival Of Food & Drink This year's Festival Of Food & Drink at Thoresby Park celebrated 10 years! The Festival of Food and Drink was back with a bang in mid-September this year, celebrating its tenth anniversary, and it didn’t disappoint. There was a new host of famous faces for visitors to see, new food and drink traders, street food, bars and award-winning producers on offer for festivalgoers, along with gifts, crafts and homewares. The line-up included renowned British chef, TV presenter and food writer, Matt Tebbutt. Matt Pritchard, also known as The Dirty Vegan, returned. Great British Bake Off fan favourite, Sandro joined in the fun. Cherish Finden, The Bake Off Professional Judge and Bake Off Finalist Janusz Domagala appeared with Chris Bavin – Chef, Tv Presenter and Author as the Saturday Host. Chariya – MasterChef Champion 2023 and Joe Hurd – TV Chef and Presenter was the host for Sunday. You can sign up for all the latest from The Festival Of Food & Drink 2024 by visiting:dszx ssz

Home & Garden

Designing A Shower Space

Sabeeha Ali, Designer from Ripples newest showroom in Nottingham, talks through the top things to consider when designing a shower space. ith so many styles and options to choose from, designing a shower space can be overwhelming.

build alcoves for storing shower products, in turn maximising space on the floor.

Firstly, think about whether you want a shower enclosure or a more open space with a shower screen. If you’re opting for an enclosure, consider which shape will work best to utilise the space available. If you go for shower glass, think about which style you like, whether that be Crittall-style, fluted or the emerging trend, etched.

Additionally, it’s important to consider the ways in which you can minimise energy and water consumption. One way to reduce water usage is to choose a shower head fitted with a flow restrictor. Luckily, this option doesn’t mean you end up with a substandard shower as each flow restrictor shower has been carefully designed to reduce water consumption but still offer a pleasurable showering experience. Alternatively, you can opt for a technology-led shower which enriches shower water with air droplets, making for an invigorating shower experience.

Secondly, think about the space. If room is tight within a shower area, concealed fittings are the perfect choice. By hiding the pipes within the wall cavity, the fittings sit flush to the wall, reducing the possibility of bumping into them when showering and creating a sleek finished look. You can create additional in-shower storage by utilising the void in a stud or false wall to

Visit the new Ripples showroom in Nottingham and discover how Sabeeha Ali can assist you in creating your perfect bathroom space.

Ripples Nottingham is open now. 167 Castle Boulevard, Nottingham, NG7 1FJ. Call: 01156 486473 Visit: ripplesbathrooms.com

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News & Events

Date Announced For Opening Of Nottingham Central Library Residents in Nottingham will be able to experience the fantastic new Central Library soon, when it opens at the heart of the Broad Marsh regeneration area on 28 Nov 23. The library, which is part of the new Broad Marsh Car Park and Bus Station complex, puts children, young people and learning at the heart of its design, with a high-quality children’s section, immersive storytelling room, extensive book collection and comfortable areas to sit and read. Spread over three floors with full accessibility via lifts, the library also includes: • Feature-book walls and shelving to display a large collection of titles • Free Wi-Fi and free access to computers, laptops and tablets • A café and ground floor reception area which can be converted into a performance space • Specialist and rare collections room for local study material • Learning lab for special activities and school class visits • Meeting rooms • Exhibition space • Creative design areas • Business Intellectual Property Centre for the city. The new Central Library is a key element in the regenera-

tion of Broad Marsh, which has already seen major transformation including new people-friendly, green public space created on Sussex Street next to Nottingham College. Outside the new Central Library building on the old Collin Street, work is nearing completion on a new child friendly play space while nearby, the wildlife-rich Green Heart will soon begin to take shape. A library with a tree and bookshelf Description automatically generated Nottingham City Council worked with interior fit out and refurbishment specialists Overbury and consultancy firm Pick Everard, acclaimed architects FaulknerBrowns, M&E consultancy Chord, and Morgan Sindall Construction to transform the Central Library building. Along side the new Central Library, work is also progressing to complete a new Library for Sherwood that will also look to open early in 2024. Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture

& Planning at Nottingham City Council, said: "I am delighted that we will be opening the doors of the new Central Library in just a few short weeks. It is looking fantastic, and we can’t wait for people to visit and make use of the modern facility. “The new Central library includes a fantastic children’s library and some great features such as an immersive storytelling room using the latest audio-visual technology to help bring books alive. It will help to bring people into the area and with the wider regeneration work, these pedestrianised streets will give people a place to visit and enjoy, with the library and its cafe at the heart of this.” Hannah Trevarthen, Director of Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature, said: “The vision of the city’s New Central library was a key part of our action plan for the designation as a UNESCO City of Literature. We are delighted that soon Nottingham’s communities will be welcomed into a world class, inspirational space open to all ages and participate in a

range of activities that reflect the needs of library customers in the 21st century. “We are pleased that the library will also be home to the City of Literature team and we look forward to this next stage of our story as an organisation.” Andrew Wood, Managing Director at Overbury, said: “The new Central Library has been designed and fitted out to a high specification and takes into account the evolving use of public spaces, with community-based facilities that can be used for a variety of educational, learning, creative and business activities. “Overbury is proud to be a part of this project, which has been delivered with social value in mind and continues our strong working relationship with Nottingham City Council and wider project partners. We look forward to the library’s opening and its facilities being enjoyed by generations to come.” For further details and updates visit: www.mynottinghamnews.co.uk

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News & Events

Remembrance Events The National Holocaust Centre And Museum

Acre Edge Road, Laxton, Nottinghamshire, NG22 0PA

Special Curatorial Event On Remembrance Sunday 12 Nov 11.30am - 12.30pm 2.30pm - 3.30pm

Remembering the Liberation of Bergen-Belsen by British Troops. 2 minute silence at 11am in the Memorial Gardens. Join us for this unique event to commemorate Remembrance Sunday, which focuses on the liberation of Bergen-Belsen by British Soldiers in April 1945. Our Curator led talk will guide you through our artefacts that were found at liberation, experiences from our survivor community and the British troops who helped them to freedom. Please note this event is not suitable for Primary school aged children. Booking is advised: www.holocaust.org.uk/whats-on

Clumber Park

Worksop, Nottinghamshire

Remembrance Poppy Display 1 - 27 Nov, 10am - 4pm

Remembrance Poppy Display in the Chapel of St Mary the Virgin at Clumber Park. Visit the Chapel and see it decorated with over 3000 poppies, kindly donated by visitors, local community groups and care homes.

Remembrance Service

Royal Legion Service at the Hardwick Calvary 11 Nov, 10.50am - 11.10am

Join the Worksop Royal Legion for their act of Remembrance at the Calvary in Hardwick village on the Clumber Park estate.

12 Nov from 10.45am

On Remembrance Sunday, meet at the Calvary in Hardwick village at Clumber Park where the names of the fallen of the estate will be read and the last post sounded. Followed by Sunday Service at 11.30am in the Chapel of St Mary the Virgin. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Mansfield

Mansfield, Town Centre

Remembrance Parade A parade from Civic Centre to Mansfield Town Centre 12 Nov

Mansfield to pause and remember the fallen at annual parade. The council will observe Armistice Day with a two-minute silence at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day alongside the nation. As well as standing together in Remembrance on 11 November, we also observe a two-minute silence at 11am on Remembrance Sunday.

Remembrance Day Parade Schedule

On 12 Nov, the Remembrance Sunday commemoration will begin at the Civic Centre War Memorial at 10am with a wreathlaying ceremony involving civic dignitaries. The parade will start at about 10.15am from the Civic Centre, heading to St Peter and St Paul’s Church along Rosemary Street, Westfield Lane, West Gate and Market Place and Church Street. The service, which is for parade participants, will start at about 10.40am and include a two-minute silence at 11am. There will also be Mansfield Community Choir performing from 10.45am in the Market Place, followed by a two-minute silence, led by Joe Martin, of the Mansfield branch of the Royal British Legion at 11am. After the service, the parade will regroup and make its way back along Church Street to the Market Place for a salute in front of the Old Town Hall at noon as a final mark of respect. Mansfield Community Choir will return to the stage at approx 11.05am-11.20am for a second performance and will then be dismissed at West Gate at approximately 12.15pm. www.mansfield.gov.uk

Bassetlaw Council Goes Electric Bassetlaw District Council is taking its commitment to be one of the cleanest and greenest districts in the country further by introducing a fleet of new electric vehicles. The Council has recently replaced six diesel vehicles in their fleet with new electric vehicles, which will help to strengthen the Council’s green credentials and make a significant step towards the goal of being net zero by 2030. The new Renault Kangoo E-Tech vans are charged at the Carlton Forest depot, which last year saw the building equipped with a solar PV system equivalent to 146 solar panels and an electric vehicle charge station. Cllr Darrel Pulk, Cabinet member for Environment and Energy said: “The purchase of these new vans bears testament to Bassetlaw's commitment to helping to protect the environment by reducing our carbon footprint. “I am delighted we have been able to replace some of our fleet with these six new vehicles and have received positive feedback from staff who are thrilled to use these new vans. “As part of our Bassetlaw Vision 2040 we are aiming to be the cleanest, greenest district in the country and the purchase of these

vehicles alongside our other carbon reducing efforts will help us to achieve this goal.” With a range of 186 miles on a full charge, the vans are used by lots of different teams across the council including Environmental Health, Parks and Open Spaces, Facilities and the Anti-Social Behaviour Team. Following the successful launch of two electric street sweepers last year, which are being used in Worksop Town Centre, the Council plans to replace its entire diesel fleet with electric vehicles, over the coming of years. This includes refuse vehicles as it makes an ambitious move towards reaching its Net Zero target. As well as moving towards an electric fleet, the Council has also made their offices at Queens Buildings more carbon neutral by installing a new air source heating system, installed new solar panels at its Carlton Forest Depot, and completed a significant carbon reduction project at Kilton Forest Golf Course. For further details visit: www.bassetlaw.gov.uk

News & Events

Middletons Yard Official Opening Bassetlaw District Council has officially opened its thriving new business hub in Worksop town centre that provides facilities and support for up to 30 small and micro businesses.

Party In The Square North Notts BID's Retford Market Square Party Success. Sally Gillborn MBE, chief executive of North Notts BID, said: “It was great to see such a fantastic reception to our annual Party in the Square event. As well as signing off the summer in style with families in full singing voice - it also provided an opportunity to support our local food businesses, that are so vital to our communities.” “Don’t forget to add Party in the Square 2024 to your calendar, taking place on 25 August in Retford. We’re thrilled to announce our 2024 lineup, including BBC Radio 1 presenter and DJ Jordan North, Robbie Williams tribute Dan Budd, Taylor Swift tribute Katy Ellis, Madness tribute One Step Behind and vintage vocal group Blighty Belles.”

Middletons Yard, which saw a number of buildings with historical significance sympathetically regenerated into a modern and contemporary business hub, was officially opened by the Council’s Chair, Cllr Deborah Merryweather, along with other dignitaries and partners who were integral to the project. After welcoming its first tenants in December 2022, it has since become a base for 22 businesses. This includes companies in a diverse number of sectors including finance, transport, green technology and fostering services. In addition to an independent café called Secret Garden. Cllr Deborah Merryweather, Chair of Bassetlaw District Council, said: “It was wonderful to be able to officially open this building and speak with many of the people who now base their businesses here. I would also like to thank all of the partners who were involved in this project and helped to make it all possible."

Images courtesy of North Notts BID.

For details and to enquire about available office spaces, or other opportunities, visit www.middletonsyard.co.uk or call 01909 384 811.

News & Events

Another Glorious Year For Southwell Music Festival Southwell Minster's Space Voyage Luxmuralis: Space Voyage, the incredible light installation at Southwell Minster. Visitors to Southwell Minster this September saw the Minster in a completely new light. The Luxmuralis installation ‘Space Voyage’ immersed visitors in sound and light art as they journeyed through space; saw galaxies emerge and explored humanities ambition to adventure beyond. Artist Peter walker says: “We are all responsible for this small planet that we started to explore in the 1960’s, Climate Change is part of the narrative. The artwork is about reflecting inwards as much as it is about reflecting outwards, and about how we take care of our small piece of the Universe.” For more events at Southwell Minster visit: www.southwellminster.org/whats-on

Local music fans and visitors from the region and beyond were treated to an August Bank Holiday weekend of stand-out music delights courtesy of Southwell Music Festival. Now in its ninth year, the Festival welcomes professional musicians and performers from across the UK, as well as shines a spotlight on the best of Nottinghamshire’s home-grown talent, which this year included acclaimed pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason and award-winning jazz trumpeter Hugh Pascall. As well as a vast programme of choral, chamber and classical concerts in the awe-inspiring Southwell Minster, music also took the streets of Southwell, including pop-up jazz performances in pub beer gardens and an eclectic programme of music in the Market Square, entertaining shoppers and stallholders at the annual Ceramics in Southwell market. The Festival’s first-ever free Musical Picnic, specially programmed with families and younger audiences in mind, was a sell-out success, with almost 400 people coming to Southwell Minster’s Palace Gardens to enjoy performances from Nottingham Samba Collective, the Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra and loImages Chris Maguire Photography.

cal young musicians from the Minster School. On the Monday of the festival, 200 keen singers participated in the Festival’s annual Come and Sing, culminating in a performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria, accompanied by the Festival Baroque Sinfonia and solos from the Festival’s vocal apprentice scheme. Festival Artistic Director Marcus Farnsworth said: “What a fantastic weekend of music in Southwell! It was a pleasure to welcome musicians to our beautiful town and the Minster, and it was especially exciting to see our audiences enjoying great music whilst also exploring Southwell and all it has to offer. The Festival team would like to thank all the volunteers, funders and sponsors whose support of the arts is vital at this time and very much appreciated. We are already planning our tenth anniversary year and hope you can join us in 2024!”

www.southwellmusicfestival.com

News & Events

Events Astronomy In The Forest

Sherwood Pines, Kings Clipstone, Nottingham, NG21 9JL 1 Dec, 7.30pm - 9.45pm

The Harley Café WIN in the Great Food Club Awards The Harley Café has been named Café of the Year in the 2023 Great Food Club Awards. The Great Food Club Awards shine a light on and celebrate the best food and drink independents the East Midlands has to offer, and the small, bustling Café has been crowned the 2023 Café of the Year. The team at the Café are beyond ecstatic to receive this fantastic news. Oliver Stubbins, General Manager at The Harley Café commented, “Being named the Café of the Year in the 2023 Great Food Club awards is a fantastic achievement for the Café team. The awards are a blend of customer votes and industry experts’ opinions, reflecting both service and food quality. The Café chefs source the majority of their ingredients from the Farm Shop. With Head Chef Ricky and his fellow chefs, quality and

taste are never compromised, whilst Darren leads his front-of-house team with the most personal and upbeat service.” Owned by the Harley Foundation and managed by Welbeck Farm Shop, the Harley Café takes pride in serving the best local ingredients, including produce from the Welbeck estate, with bread from Welbeck Bakehouse, meat from our awardwinning butchery, beer from Welbeck Abbey Brewery, vegetables grown in the kitchen garden and the famous blue cheese from Stichelton Dairy.

Join us for a wonderful evening exploring the night sky! We will take a tour of the beautiful seasonal constellations, star clusters and observe planets and moons with our powerful telescopes. This event is suitable for all abilities, however if you are a beginner we will introduce you to stargazing, guide you through how to observe the night sky and give you tips about the best equipment to use. These events are not suitable for young children, all participants must be aged 8 and over. Jupiter is riding high in the sky at and putting on a great display this year. We'll use telescopes to spy its moons and beautiful markings. There'll also be a tour of the Autumn night sky with its stunning star clusters, plus the moon will be rising in the east. And we'll have a colourful beginner's presentation and plenty of tips on equipment. Price: £16.50 per person www.forestryengland.uk

The cafe has just launched a new autumn menu packed with seasonal flavours. For further details visit: www.welbeck.co.uk

Welbeck Events

The Courtyard, Welbeck, Worksop

Festive Wine Tasting With Bert Blaize At The Harley Café 16 Nov, 7pm

As the festive season approaches, discover outstanding wines and food pairings on an enjoyable evening at Harley Café. Led by award-winning Sommelier Bert Blaize, enjoy a carefully curated selection of wine paired with festive favourites, guaranteed to take your hosting to a new level. No need to collect tickets from the shop, just arrive on the evening. Please note that guests may be seated at tables with other guests. All payments are non-transferable and non-refundable. Over 18s only. Please specify any dietary requirements at the time of booking. £35 per person. Duration: 2 hours. www.welbeckfarmshop.co.uk

Bonfire & Fireworks Display 3 Nov

Join us at Welbeck for a spectacular evening of food, fun and fireworks at Lady Margaret Hall on Fri, 3 Nov 2023. Alongside the bonfire and firework display, provided by Gala Fireworks, visitors will be able to enjoy a selection of local food and drink vendors, including Welbeck Farm Shop, The Harley Café and Welbeck Abbey Brewery, with face painting provided by Child First Day Nursery. For further information, please contact us at info@welbeck.co.uk General Admission - £10. Child Admission (ages 3-16) - £5. Under 3s - Free. Group Ticket: 2 adults and 2 children - £25 (limited number available). Advanced ticket access only, strictly no walk-ins.

Tickets are limited and sold on a first-comefirst-served basis. The car park is a 10-minute walk from the event. Please bring a torch for the walk from the car park. Parking spaces must be prebooked. Sparklers are not allowed. This is NOT a silent fireworks display. This event takes place outside. We advise wearing suitable footwear and clothing. Tickets for this event are sold via Eventbrite and can be purchased by clicking here. Arriving by car? Don't forget to book your parking! www.welbeck.co.uk

News & Events

Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance Give Thanks To Nottingham Support Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) celebrated national Air Ambulance Week with a campaign to raise awareness of the charity. So far this year, LNAA’s crews have responded to 1,162 missions, signalling that 2023 will be the busiest year on record. At the same time last year, they were called to 1074 emergencies, the year before 1007 missions and 3 years ago 616.

units of blood products this year), and are constantly developing and using high end pre-hospital interventions such as invasive blood pressure monitoring. All this results in LNAA being able to reach more patients, both day and night, and ultimately we are able to save more lives”.

Head of Operations Chris Bailey said: “The rise in missions that LNAA now respond to is twofold, firstly we have increased our ability to reach incidents and we now fly the air ambulance at night, the only Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) unit in the region to do so. We have also increased the number of highly skilled and qualified doctors and paramedics we have on the LNAA team, and this year we will cover over 900 twelve-hour shifts”.

This increase in life-saving capabilities comes at a cost and with missions on the rise, the charity needs to raise £10m this year.

“Secondly, we have given our teams additional equipment and training to do more for the critically unwell patients they treat. We have provided our crews state of the art patient monitors, increased the amount of blood we can carry (and have so far transfused 90

Imagery courtesy of Electric Egg and Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance.

Across Lincs & Notts the crew is called to the most seriously ill and inured patients, taking the hospital to the scene, whether that is at the roadside, in remote countryside or along the coast.

To encourage people to find out more about LNAA’s work, the charity took over roadside billboards and supermarket billboards across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire at the beginning of September this year. CEO Karen Jobling said: “Our vision to be by the side of more patients delivering world-class care, is underpinned by our values of Teamwork, Respect, Innovation and Compassion. To this end, we strive to continually innovate to make that happen. We hope that this awareness campaign, along with Air Ambulance Week, will encourage people to find out more about our work.

Whether by air or by road, the doctorparamedic team carry state-of-theart equipment to perform a range of procedures, from anaesthetics to surgery – all at the scene of the incident.

“We need to raise £10m this year. It is a daunting figure for anyone, but every donation helps us to get to that target. You don’t have to be a member of the crew to help save lives and we are so thankful to the people who support us.”

All of this is made possible by donations from supporters of all kinds, of all ages and from a range of backgrounds.

For more information on how you can support the work of LNAA visit www.ambucopter.org.uk

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News & Events

AL_ONE, Photographs By Nicola Davison Reed Exhibiton at The Gallery on Bridgegate, Retford. 11 Nov - 23 Dec Nicola Davison Reed is a photographer whose exhibition AL_ONE deals with the themes of aloneness, resilience, love, death, and rising from adversity. With her dark, richly-detailed black and white photographs, she takes us on an exploration through the vulnerable and the valuable avenues of the hu/woman condition with her well-being tool, the camera. Nicola uses a number of different cameras in her work: two Canons, a Fuji, a film camera, and her phone camera for sketching. Nicola Davison Reed is a professional photographer with a natural-light studio on Eldon Street in Tuxford, where she specialises in Family Portraiture. When her professional assignments are done, Nicola uses her studio (with its homemade backdrops, items scored from the local charity shop, and objects chanced upon lying around) to create atmospheric scenes and still lifes in photographic experiments that broaden her knowledge and test the limits of what is possible. With this conceptual work and her ongoing Street Photography project, Nicola has amassed a huge body of work, which can be seen on her Instagram account nicoladavisonreed. These specially selected pieces, seen together in this solo exhibition make for a rare chance to fully immerse oneself in Nicola’s world of dark and light. “Photography is my best friend; my third child; my lover; my therapist; my soul mate; my class A; my habit; obsession; and ultimately Photography is my confidante.” The gallery is open Mon-Sat 10am 5pm (closes at 2pm on Tuesdays). For more information email Cath Ray at raybooks@msn.com Or go to www.nicoladavisonreed.com Imagery courtesy of Nicola Davison Reed.

Events The National Holocaust Centre and Museum Acre Edge Road, Laxton, Nottinghamshire, NG22 0PA.

Curatorial Special Event Remembering The Kindertransport

18 Dec Talks: 11am - 12pm & 2pm - 3pm

After the Night of Broken glass in November 1938, nearly 10,000 unaccompanied children were bravely sent to the UK to escape Nazi persecution. December 2023 marks the 85th anniversary of the Kindertransport. Our Curator led talk will guide you through our survivor experiences of the Kindertransport, precious objects that they brought with them to the UK and the British rescuers, including Nicholas Winton, who helped them to safety. “The whole family came to see me off at the station in Kӧnigsberg and my father travelled with me to Berlin to join the Kindertransport train. I remember one of his cousins racing down the platform as the train was starting, just to say goodbye to me. It was a bit tearful, but I didn’t take it that seriously. I thought I would see them all again.” Ellen Rawson, Holocaust survivor. Booking is advised: www.holocaust. org.uk/whats-on

Future First Careers Expo Newark Showground, Lady Eastwood Centre, Newark. 15 Nov

Over the last five years, the Future First Careers Expo has become the must attend event for students, employers, training and education providers alike. Now in our 6th year Newark and Sherwood District Council in partnership with Newark College are proud to launch this years event. Held in the Lady Eastwood Centre at Newark Showground the Expo starts at 9.30am until 3pm. The Expo enables secondary school students from 7 schools in Years 11-13 from across the district to meet and be inspired by businesses as well as offering the opportunity for them to talk to FE and HE providers. The event attracts over 1000 students across the day allowing for plenty of opportunity for to meet the young people as well as networking with businesses and providers who attend. We expect 2023 to be another busy year with many exhibitors already booked in. www.newarkshowground.com

A Year Of The Country Victualler A message from Alison Mellors, the owner of The Country Victualler, independent family run, quality butchers and bakers. Another busy year here at Country Victualler HQ! I thought you might be interested to know about some of the things that go off here behind the scenes. We work with some other excellent prestigious companies such as Fortnum & Mason, Forman & Field, Donald Russell, British Fine Foods to name but a few. This year we have been involved with products for the fabulous picnics served at Wimbledon, Goodwood and The Oval! Another business we supply entered some of our products into the great taste awards and, of course, they were awarded with gold stars! As you know, we opened our ‘Pod Shop’ this year and it really has been going from strength to strength. Our friendly Pod team have got to know our regular customers really well, and there is such a lovely vibe in there. Again, this year, we have concentrated on our best products,

which also happen to be the classic ones you know and love, the ones we all can’t do without at Christmas. As always our ethos is to provide the absolute best quality for value for money. We continue to look to the future, embracing new ideas, listening to your feedback and... well, just trying to get it right for you all! I personally wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas and a New Year full of promise.

Alis on x

The Country Victualler Pod Ashvale Rd, Tuxford, Newark. NG22 0NH Opening: Tues - Fri, 8am-4pm. Sat, 8am-1.30pm. Order online and collect via the Pod. 10% off for pensioners on Wednesdays. The Christmas Country Victualler brochure is out now and available to download online, to find out more scan the QR code here or visit: thecountryvictualler.co.uk

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The Country Victualler Pod Ashvale Rd, Tuxford, Newark NG22 0NH 01777 874 700 www.thecountryvictualler.co.uk

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News & Events

s t r A e h T Events

Inspire Local Libraries Events

1 Nov Civic Centre, Carlton-in-Lindrick, S81 9AP.

The Big Draw 2023: Time To Connect

Bruegel: The Seasons And The World

Our speaker is Gavin Plumley. In 1565, Pieter Bruegel the Elder was commissioned to create a series of paintings for a dining room in Antwerp. The images, charting the course of a year, changed the way we view the world through art. Landscape had previously been a decorative backdrop to dramas both sacred and profane. But in Bruegel's hands the landscape and our interaction with it became the focus. Looking at paintings such as The Return of the Herd, Hunters in the Snow and The Gloomy Day, this lecture explores how Bruegel pioneered a whole new way of thinking about the environment and our individual places within a shifting cosmos.

300 Years Of Christmas At Covent Garden 6 Dec Civic Centre, Carlton-in-Lindrick, S81 9AP.

Our speaker is Sarah Lenton. Christmas spectacles, slapstick, and beanstalks have been drawing crowds to Covent Garden since 1737. John Rich, the first manager of what is now the Royal Opera House, was a fine dancer, mime, and special effects man and he (and his successors) developed all the well known features of the London Christmas season. Even now principal boys, fairies, and Harlequin are alive and well on the ROH stage. This lecture pulls together the whole performing tradition and brings it up to date with the latest Christmas offerings at the Royal Opera House. Please note, if for any reason we have to cancel/change a speaker at the last minute, full details are given on our website and an email is sent to Members. The Society meet at the Civic Centre, Long Lane, Carlton-in-Lindrick, S81 9AP. Tea/Coffee is available before the Lecture which starts after notices at 10:50, finishing around 12 noon. Free car parking. Members pay an annual subscription and Visitors are welcome paying at the door. For further details on lectures, study/special interest days, theatre trips or the Society in general, please contact Gill on 01909 540506 or Gordon on gordonpmcdougall@gmail.com www.theartssociety.org/Dukeries

Worksop Library, 4 Nov – 21 Dec

FREE. The work on display in The Big Draw 2023: Time to Connect Exhibition shows the story of the project: a mixture of work by visual artists Mandy Keating and Tracey Meek, sculptor Chris Campbell and photographer Alistair Morrison, who have been working with schools, community groups and members of the public to connect with the people and places of Nottinghamshire to inspire the legacy artwork.

Fantastic Festivals - Family Concert Worksop Library - 11 Nov, 1pm

Join us for a fun visit to our Inspire Children’s Festival of Tunes. Take front row seats as we explore some well-known festivals (and great music!) and give children and their families a trip to remember. Relive those summer vibes in the warmth and comfort of your local library with tunes such as Coldplay’s Yellow and Take That’s Shine. Our concert series aims to introduce children to the music we all love and explain the story as we go. Grab a hat and sit back and enjoy. After the performance meet the musicians and try out some of the instruments for yourself. For children aged 5 -11.

The Magical Major Oak: Autumn And The Falling Leaves Retford Library – 13 Nov, 10.30am Worksop Library - 13 Nov, 2pm Mansfield Central Library – 14 Nov, 10.30am Southwell Library – 16 Nov, 10.30am

a romantic ruin and stunning paintings within the "Little Castle".

Jazz Steps Live At The Libraries Presents: Zoe Gilby Quartet - Live Music Worksop Library – 21 Nov, 7.30pm

£12, Zoë Gilby is an exuberant jazz singer and songwriter, winner of Parliamentary Jazz Awards Jazz Vocalist of the Year 2019. Enjoy her evocative storytelling delivery, backed by a superb trio, with her wide repertoire encompassing jazz standards, intelligent original songs and innovative arrangements of pop tunes.

Helen Cooper - Author Talk Worksop Library – 23 Nov, 2pm

£3, Join bestselling author Helen Cooper as she talks about her books and inspirations. Helen writes psychological thrillers and her debut novel The Downstairs Neighbour was a Sunday Times Crime Club pick, a Woman & Home book club recommendation, Heat magazine’s ‘read of the week’ and among Hello magazine’s most anticipated books of 2021.

An Inspired Christmas Concert Live Music

Royal Concert Hall Nottingham – 4 Dec, 7pm

£5 adults/ £3 children and concessions. Join us as we celebrate the start of the festive period with this showcase of amazing performances from a host of talented young singers from Nottinghamshire schools and choirs.

Under 5s - £2. Be transported once again to the legendary land of the Magical Major Oak in this immersive and sensory storytelling experience from Nottingham Playhouse. Join Marian and her friends on an original and super-special autumnal adventure in the forest, with the nurture and wisdom of the Magical Major Oak guiding their way. Featuring inspiring storytelling to spark the imagination and a host of woodland friends to meet, The Magical Major Oak: Autumn and the Falling Leaves is another enchanting interactive adventure that’s perfect for children aged 2-4.

Polar Express (U) Dementia Friendly Film Screening

Top Ten Scandals Of Sherwood Forest Heritage Talk

Worksop – 24 Oct, 7.30pm

Worksop Library – 15 Nov, 2pm

£3, In this fully illustrated talk, local author and historian Adrian Gray takes an unconventional approach to telling the story of Sherwood and the Dukeries: join him as he examines the tale through ten scandalous events – involving money, sex and politics – that define what happened to Sherwood and the great houses that were built there.

Bolsover Castle Heritage Talk

Mansfield Central Library – 21 Nov, 2pm

£3, Ian Morgan tells the story of Bolsover Castle from the humble Norman beginnings to today's beautiful shadow of its former glory. The present 17th century castle stands as a monument to the Cavendish family who lavished money and love on their "Pleasure Palace", leaving as their legacy

Mansfield Central Library - 6 Dec, 1.30pm

£1, On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.

Jazz Steps Live At The Libraries Presents: The Svarc Hanley Longhorn Trio - Live Music £12, Internationally acclaimed, Nottingham-born award-winning saxophonist Tony Kofi pays homage to jazz giants of the tenor saxophone including Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter. Evocative renditions of classic tunes from the legendary Blue Note label, with Tony’s take on their historical context. This vibrant quartet, active since 2015, have terrific musical mastery and empathy.

All Events:

Booking in advance is advised for all events. To book and find out further details of all the events listed here and more visit: www.inspireculture.org.uk Call 01623 677 200 Or pop in to your local library.

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e m i T w o Sh

It's show time! Grab your popcorn, ice creams and treats, and enjoy all the fun of the theatre here in Nottinghamshire. Here's a few of our favourites... Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella

Bassetlaw Museum

Grove Street, Retford.

‘Aspects of Art’

25 Nov 23 - 17 Feb 24

“Aspects of Art” is an exhibition at Bassetlaw Museum by four local artists: Gail Stafford, Sheila Robinson, Alan and Susan Broughton. The exhibition explores the wide variety of materials, styles and techniques that these artists use to convey their ideas, scenes and feelings. The four artists are all members of the Worksop Society of Artists. They use a variety of media from encaustic, watercolour and pastels to print, acrylic, textile and more to take their inspiration through to completed works. The diversity of their artworks promises to captivate a broad audience, offering something to capture the imagination and interest of every visitor. bassetlawmuseum.org.uk

Imagery courtesy of Bassetlaw Museum.

The Palace Theatre, Mansfield. 07 - 11 Nov

Masque Productions proudly present Rodgers and Hammerstein's enchanting adaptation of the timeless fairytale Cinderella. This charming musical features some of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most beloved songs, including In My Own Little Corner, Impossible/ It’s Possible and Ten Minutes Ago. mansfieldpalace.co.uk

Nutcracker

Newark Palace Theatre Newark. 22 Nov

Crown Ballet returns this year to the UK to enchant you with the delightful production of The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker - a charming and kind fairy tale is one of the jewels of Tchaikovsky's repertoire. Prepare to enter a magical new world – the nutcracker in this ballet may be a handsome prince in disguise. palacenewarktickets. com

Jools Holland Theatre Royal, Nottingham. 22 Nov

Musical maestro Jools Holland and his revered Rhythm & Blues Orchestra will be re-

turning to the Royal Concert Hall this year! With a catalogue that reaches through decades, prepare to enjoy the greatest boogiewoogie party in town! trch.co.uk

The Flint Street Nativity By Tim Firth

Robin Hood Theatre Company, Averham. 5 - 9 Dec

Mizzis Horrocks' class of seven year olds is about to perform their nativity play at Flint Street Junior School for the proud mums and dads - and the occasional social worker. Squabbles arise when Gabriel wants to play Mary, the Star grumbles he's not a proper star like they have at NASA, Herod won't stop waving to his mum and dad and the subversive Innkeeper is determined to liven up the traditional script. And then the stick insect escapes... www.rhtc.co.uk

That’ll Be The Day Christmas Show 2023 The Majestic Theatre Retford. 8 Dec

That’ll Be The Day is back with another timeless Rock ‘n’ Roll Christmas Show, so get ready to kick off your festive season in the best possible way. majesticretford.org

News News& &Events Events

At The Movies! The latest cinema releases and live screenings of major exhibitions, famous operas and the best theatre at the Savoy Cinema in Worksop.

SCREENINGS 10 Nov – The Marvels Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. However, unintended consequences see her shouldering the burden of a destabilised universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with two other superheroes to form the Marvels.

26 Dec – Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom After failing to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta wields the power of the mythic Black Trident to unleash an ancient and malevolent force. Hoping to end his reign of terror, Aquaman forges an unlikely alliance with his brother, Orm, the former king of Atlantis.

17 Nov – The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes Years before he becomes the tyrannical president of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow sees a chance for a change in fortunes when he mentors Lucy Gray Baird, the female tribute from District 12.

24 Nov – Wish 17-year-old Asha and her goat Valentino navigate Rosas, the kingdom of wishes, where wishes can literally come true.

From 2 Dec – Andre Rieu’s White Christmas Join André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra for their brand new Christmas concert from the comfort of your local cinema. An unforgettable festive treat for the whole family! Get your tickets now for André Rieu’s White Christmas!

12 & 17 Dec – ROH The Nutcracker 22-23 Season Julia Trevelyan Oman’s period designs bring festive charm to Peter Wright’s beloved Royal Ballet production, as fairytale magic comes together with spectacular dancing in this unforgettable classic ballet.

15 Dec – Wonka Focusing on a young Willy Wonka and how he came to meet the Oompa-Loompas on one of his earliest adventures.

Visit www.savoyworksop.co.uk for full listings of your most awaited movies and live screenings not to miss.

All imagery courtesy of Savoy Cinema.

25 25

Chesterfield Canal Trust

Winter On The Cut The coming season can be a magical time on the Chesterfield Canal, but there is also a darker side, here Rod Auton tells us more.

he Chesterfield Canal Trust has run Santa Special cruises for decades. This year, our tripboat Seth Ellis will be running them from the Chequers Inn at Ranby on 2nd & 3rd, 9th & 10th, 16th & 17th and 23rd December.

Santa will travel with you and will give a present to every child. The adults will get a mince pie (or similar) and a drink. The fare is £10 per person, and you can book online. There are full details on our website, see below. We are also running Santa Specials on our other three tripboats from Shireoaks, Hollingwood Hub and Tapton Lock in Chesterfield. If you are looking for unusual presents, our website shop has lots of interesting books and other canal themed gifts. You can even buy Gift Vouchers for canal cruises or our paddlesports hire. Obviously, these cruises take place on the water. Although it has been much rarer in recent years, there is always the possibility that the canal will freeze. If there is just a thin film of ice, the boat can easily slice through it, but occasionally it can get to be several inches thick. In such an event, the boat cannot move, so we do static cruises, which means everyone gets on board, eats, drinks, receives presents, sings carols etc., but you don’t actually go anywhere. On the few occasions this has happened in the past, most people have still enjoyed themselves, but we do of course give refunds if you decide not to come.

This sort of thing is very frustrating for everyone, but it is not nearly as serious as it would have been for the boatmen in the past when the canal carried cargoes. In those days, if you didn’t work, you didn’t get paid, so they would do everything possible to smash the ice and get moving. After the Second World War, the canals were in a dreadfully dilapidated state because there had been little or no maintenance for many years. The winter of 1947 was terrible with record amounts of snow and very low temperatures. All the canals were frozen for months, so no cargo at all was carried. This was the death knell for many canal carrying companies. On our canal all that remained were a few boats taking coal from Shireoaks Colliery to the canalside brickworks at Walkeringham, near Misterton. This trade ceased in 1949 and the very last commercial cargo carrying ended in 1955. This was warp, a fine, natural silt dredged from the River Trent at the mouth of the River Idle, which was dried in the kilns at Walkeringham and used to polish cutlery in Sheffield. We are very used to seeing beautiful photos of our canal in the summer with lots of wildlife and colourful flowers. In winter it can be just as magical. The snow and ice can sparkle and watching ducks and geese coming in to land and skidding great distances can be incredible. When the ice is really thick, the canal is superb for skating. I was once told by an elderly gentleman, that in the 1930s there were

several very cold winters, and the canal froze solid many times. He said that there was a series of ice-skating races held on the stretch just north of the Drakeholes Tunnel that leads to Gringley Lock, which is pretty straight for nearly two miles. He claimed that there were financial prizes and that professional skaters came over from the Netherlands to take part. I have no idea whether this really happened, but I would be delighted to hear from anyone who remembers these races or, even better, has any photos of them. Of course, enormous care must be taken before venturing onto the frozen canal. In its 250 year history there have been many fatal accidents from drowning, some associated with people falling through the ice. None was more tragic than the deaths of six young people in Killamarsh in the First World War. This account comes from reports made at the time. The weather during most of November 1915 had been very cold and the canal had been frozen over for some days so on Sunday, 28th November there was an unusually large number of young people enjoying being on the ice. Amongst these were Harry Milner (18), Fred Northridge (17), Annie Sedgewick (12) and Mary Elizabeth Watson (6) all from Killamarsh, and Alice Read (21) and Mary Ann Ramskill (18) who were visiting from Chesterfield.

Opposite: Hayton by Graham Barthorpe. From top: Harthill Reservoir in the 1930s. Fire Service training at Tapton by Paul Greenroad. Hollingwood Lock by Steven Hewitt. Santa on Seth Ellis by John Bates.

This group were sliding on the ice in a procession. Leading was Harry Milner linking arms with Mary Ann Ramskill. Following them were Fred Northridge and Alice Read, their clothing held by the two children behind them. At about 2.45 in the afternoon Harry Milner slipped and fell heavily in a sitting position. The others of the party tripped over him, and the combined weight of the whole proved to be more than the ice could bear and they all disappeared into the water. Walking on the canal bank a short distance away was young Wilfred Sargeson, a miner of Long Lane. He immediately crossed the ice but as he neared the scene the ice gave way and he too crashed into the water. Fortunately, two other men, named Watts and Jones, were able to rescue Sargeson, who was in an exhausted state. In the absence of ladders or planks, rescue work was practically impossible, the ice breaking away at every approach. It was only with the tardy supply of a rope that Sargeson was saved but by that time there was no sign of the other six. PC Tinder was called and at once started operations with a dragline through the water. Within an hour the six bodies were found. Dr Adams was present and pronounced life extinct as each was brought to the bank, from where they were taken to the houses of relatives and friends to await the inquest. They are all buried in the graveyard in Killamarsh. My goodness, this has suddenly become very depressing. How to cheer up? I know, book your Santa Special cruise now!

Rod Auton

Rod is the Publicity Officer for the Chesterfield Canal Trust which is campaigning to complete the restoration of the canal by its 250th Anniversary in 2027. For further information go to www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk. All imagery courtesy of The Chesterfield Canal Trust (various photographers).

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

Wildlife Friendly Farming Wildlife friendly farming is essential to nature’s recovery. Erin McDaid, Head of Communications & Marketing, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.

ver the past 60 years, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has worked to protect and enhance some of the most important places for nature in Nottinghamshire. We’re passionate about creating a healthy natural world which benefits us all, by putting nature’s recovery at the heart of everything we do. Sadly, the UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world, with increasingly fragmented remnants of wildlife habitat isolated across our landscapes. To put this right, we have set a goal of securing more space for nature in line with internationally agreed targets. We want to play our role in ensuring that 30% of land in our county is supporting nature’s recovery. This doesn’t necessarily mean creating swathes of new nature reserves but does mean we must change how land is managed - whether through lobbying, influence or partnership. We are proud of the role our nature reserves play in supporting wildlife. Many of our sites represent the best examples of their habitat in the county, from ancient woodlands to traditional wildflower meadows, but our estate represents a tiny fragment of the county’s land – well short of 1%. We have long known that

nature reserves on their own are not enough and we’re committed to achieving landscape-scale improvement. Here in Nottinghamshire, reaching our goal of 30% of land made wilder equates to approximately 65,000 hectares. Given that all the land, including our nature reserves, in some form of positive management, be it the public forestry estate or parks and open spaces, totals around 18,000 hectares that leaves around 47,000 hectares which must be made wilder. Given that the vast majority, around 70%, of our county and country is farmland, the challenge is clear – to truly make our county wilder, we must influence how land is farmed. We can achieve this in many ways, such as through pressure on government for changes in policy and funding, influencing the behaviour of consumers to choose products from more sustainable farms and by rolling our sleeves up and working cheek by jowl with farmers here in Nottinghamshire. Whilst some are keen to promote a narrative that farmers and wildlife conservationists are unlikely bedfellows, we beg to differ. As a locally based charity we have a long history of working with

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

farmers and in recent years we’ve been able to ramp up the provision of advice and practical support for farmers thanks to our partnership with Severn Trent. Promoting nature friendly farming isn’t just a focus here in Nottinghamshire. How land is managed has a big impact on wildlife and agriculture policy shapes our countryside. For decades this has often been at the expense of wildlife and natural habitats, and The Wildlife Trusts are working with farmers and governments to change this. The recovery of wildlife in the UK depends on a farming policy which enables farmers to create and restore a thriving natural environment alongside domestic food production. The Wildlife Trust care for over 100,000 hectares of land across the UK, much of which is farmland. They own 26 working farms ranging from lowland arable as you might find here in Notts, to hill farms. The Wildlife Trusts give advice to around 5,000 farmers and landowners each year and work to improve agriculture policy for wildlife. Whilst we don’t have a farm here in Nottinghamshire, we do manage areas of hay meadow and the area at Idle Valley Nature Reserve which serves as the base for our nature-based conservation grazing programme is the site of a farm that predates the sand and gravel extraction on the site. On our nature reserves we practice sustainable environmental land management using techniques such as conservation grazing. The Wildlife Trusts collectively own more than 7,500 grazing animals, including traditional and rare breed sheep and cattle, native ponies, red deer and even water buffalo. We also work with local farmers to help manage wildlife sites. Grazing is the most natural form of management for certain habitats. Livestock can access areas that machinery can’t, and the impacts of grazing are slower than other methods, such as burning or cutting, which means that less-mobile wildlife can thrive.

Page opposite: Many species-rich habitats on farms have been lost, Geoff Curtis. This page from top: Flying lapwing, Mike Vickers. Lapwing chick, Margaret Holland. Left to right Bryony Harrison of Severn Trent, Mark Speck Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust with Andy Howard in front of his new scrape at Scrooby, Nottinghamshire. Since this photo was taken in early 2023, the scrape was holding water in early May and lapwing are foraging within it. A success so quickly! The Trust uses traditional and rare breeds for grazing inc. Hebridean Sheep, Simon Griffiths.

Here in Nottinghamshire, we work with dozens of farmers, many in the north of the county and in the Sherwood Forest area. Such is the demand for our advice and support that we’re struggling to keep up. Many farmers are keen to welcome wildlife on to their land and increasingly see the benefits of regenerative farming – working with nature with less reliance of chemical pesticides and fertilisers.

Making Space For Nature One of the key ways we’re working with farmers here in Nottinghamshire is through our Nature Recovery Network in Farmed Landscapes project – a partnership with Severn Trent. The aim is to create new and improve existing habitats within the farmed landscape - whilst recognising that farms must be able to operate commercially to survive. The project is a crucial part of our efforts to create a wider Nature Recovery Network across the county to help meet our 30% target by 2030. Even small initiatives will create important stepping stones for wildlife and by the end of the year the project will have delivered changes in management across more than

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

260 hectares of farmland including twelve new farm ponds, over four kilometres of hedgerow creation and enhancement, new habitat for wetland birds including waders such as lapwing. By working closely with farmers, we can create and improve wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity. These projects enable us to demonstrate the benefits of nature friendly farming to other farmers – our farmer partners advocating new approaches. Steering clear of ‘culture wars’ and highlighting where conservationists and farmers are working together is vital and views of fellow farmers have a real resonance within the wider farming community and this is where our partner farmers come into their own.

Lapwing, courtesy John Tidmarsh.

Speaking about our work at Little Morton Farm, outside Retford farmer Andy Howard said: “There are times when relatively simple changes to land management can be made to the benefit of wildlife, in this case by creating a habitat feature that actively encourages wild birds to integrate into the commercial agricultural landscape more readily. Wildlife habitat management and modern farming practices do not have to be seen as mutually exclusive activities. We are pleased to be working with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust on the scrape project, helping to bring these two worlds together in our own small way.” As Andy highlighted, the more we can do to bring the worlds of nature conservation and farm production closer the better. We can all do our bit through choosing to support British farmers who use more sustainable farming methods and through making it clear to politicians of all persuasions that we want to see more wildlife friendly farming. Whilst most of the county is farmed, we mustn’t forget that we can all be part of a people-powered movement for nature’s recovery in other ways too. People all over Nottinghamshire and beyond are already taking action, so why not join them? To map your action – or to support our work with farmers across Nottinghamshire and the UK by becoming a member or making a one-off donation visit nottinghamshirewildlife.org

EVENT 9 Nov 23 An evening with Matt Baker: Want to hear more about how the worlds of farming and nature can work in harmony – if so, why not join us for a special ‘Evening with Matt Baker MBE’ on Thursday 9th November. With decades of experience on his family farm and almost 15 years as presenter on the BBC’s flagship Countryfile programme we’re sure Matt will offer a great insight. For further details or to book tickets visit: nottinghamshirewildlife.org/events

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Tel: 0115 958 8242 E-mail: info@nottswt.co.uk www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org

s a m t s i r Ch Festive events across Nottinghamshire...

Festive Events

Chatsworth

Lakeside Arts

Nottingham

Christmas At Chatsworth Palace Of Advent

Lustre

Winter Wonderland

4 Nov - 7 Jan 24 Chatsworth.

Discover 24 rooms filled with Christmas wonder and the sights, sounds and scents of the season. Travel under archways adorned with candy canes, handmade Christmas stockings and mistletoe. Explore a winter wonderland and glittering Christmas tree brooch forest.

7 Nov - 31 Dec Nottingham.

10- 12 Nov Lakeside Arts (multiple venues).

DH Lawrence Pavilion & Angear Visitor

The Mellors Group and Nottingham City

Centre.

much-

Council have released details today ahead of

anticipated contemporary craft fair returns

the return of Winter Wonderland to Old Market

this autumn with 50 of today’s top designer-

Square.

makers and craft artists from around the

Nottingham’s premier Christmas entertain-

country. All exhibitors are hand-picked to

ment attraction will once again include the Ice

give you the best in covetable, collectable

Rink and Sky Skate ice path, plus the popular

craft,

Ice Bar, Sur La Piste and Altitude ski bars.

Admission

free.

showcasing

Our

jewellery,

textiles,

ceramics, glass, leather, wood and much,

Winter Wonderland runs from 7 Nov until New

Christmas In The Garden

much more. Get a head start on your

Year's Eve. Festive fun seekers can choose

4 Nov - 7 Jan 24

Christmas shopping. Buy or commission

to skate around Old Market Square, metres

unique gifts direct from the makers – and

above the crowd, quench their thirst with a

Entry included with your Christmas at

talk to them about their work and making

festive drink at one of two skate-up bars, or

Chatsworth ticket.

process. If you love handmade, beautiful

for those not so keen on heights, enjoy the

The celebrations continue in the garden with

things, then Lustre is a must.

ground-level ice rink.

an interactive light and sound trail past the

Meet The Makers

Cascade, and through the Rock Garden and

Everything at Lustre is on sale and interest

skates on, there is a themed Ice Bar, kept at

Maze, leading to a spectacular animated light

free loans are available thanks to the Arts

a chilling -10 degrees. Keep warm with the

show that transforms the house into a giant

Council’s Own Art Scheme.

gloves and coats provided and enjoy a drink

advent calendar. Wrap up warm and enjoy

Representative 0% APR*

from an ice glass. This experience is not to

festive food and drink as you explore.

*subject to status and affordability. Terms

be missed, so book early to avoid disappoint-

and conditions apply. Applicants must be at

ment.

least 18 years old. The Djanogly Gallery is a

For younger visitors the much-loved toboggan

licensed broker of Own Art loans. Registered

ride and Frozen Swing will be back, and what

address: Lakeside Arts, University Park,

would Winter Wonderland be without the Hel-

Nottingham NG7 2RD.

ter Skelter bar and slide?

Christmas Market 4 - 26 Nov Entry included with your 'Christmas at Chatsworth' ticket. There is no better way to start your Christmas

For anyone who doesn't feel like putting their

www.lakesidearts.org.uk

The Christmas market stalls have something for everyone, with local and international trad-

shopping than at the Chatsworth Christmas

ers supplying everything from hand-made

market. With over 100 market stalls offering a wide range of Christmas gifts and decorations plus live music, it's a lovely opportunity to welcome in the festive season. For more information and to book, please visit:

www.chatsworth.org/Christmas

gifts and delicious food to mulled wine or a

Dovecot Gallery 3 Nov - 10 Dec The Dovecot Gallery, Styrrup.

Great

Little

Picture

Although we endeavour to ensure that all of the events listed within this issue are correct it is always advisable to check before the event in case of booking requirements, cancellations, alterations or planning changes.

www.madeinn.co.uk

are the perfect place to have some festive fun. Tasty food options will be on offer at Melt & joy whilst taking in the live entertainment programme. To be sure of a seat it is recommended to book tables in advance online. Nottingham’s main Christmas tree will again

with

be the focal point of this year’s event, which

Handmade for Christmas.

looks even more magical from the top of the

Six 3-day weekends of exhibitions - more

observation wheel that will stand in front of

information available on the website.

the Council House, offering views across the

www.dovecotgallery.co.uk

Events & Details

Show

The Sur La Piste and Altitude ski chalet bars

Grill, the in-house kitchen, for visitors to en-

The Great Little Picture Show & Handmade For Christmas The

classic hot toddy.

twinkling lights of the city. Book in advance for fast-track priority access. For the ultimate indulgence, visitors can choose the Sky Skate VIP experience. Winter Wonderland will be open from 7 Nov to 31 Dec. For booking and full details visit:

nottinghamwinterwonderland.co.uk

Festive Events

Doddington Hall. Imagery courtesy of Instinctive Photography.

Doddington Hall & Garden 18 Nov - 22 Dec Doddington, Lincoln, LN6 4RU.

The Twelve Days Of Christmas Journey through ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ with spectacular scenes created by Doddington staff, volunteers, local artists and students from Lincoln College. From partridges in pear trees to drummers drumming, step into the classic carol as it unfolds over three floors of the Elizabethan Hall, with a Doddington twist of course! A chance to see what the present day family and staff have created and to think about how Christmas may have looked and felt through the centuries. Planning

Ye Olde Bell Ye Olde Bell, Barnby Moor.

Victorian Christmas Market

for Christmas at Doddington begins as early as

16 Nov, 10am - 2pm

January and fills a large part of the year. By November

Festive Stalls offering gifts, jewellery,

the Hall is completely transformed and we have the

cakes, clothes, crafts and much more. Why

fantastic opportunity to welcome visitors to explore

not join us for a 2 course festive lunch?

the magic of our imaginative displays.

Available 12 noon or 2pm for just £26

It is within the sustainable aspirations of the estate that

inclusive of your entry to the market. Pre-

our creatives have made sure to use natural, recycled

booking essential. Admission only can be

and upcycled resources wherever possible. This

paid on the day at the door. £5.

includes natural materials such as birch, willow, and bulrushes from our very own gardens and recycled materials from across the estate. Not only does this help us to limit the use of single use plastic and imported materials, it also helps us to celebrate the beauty and value of the resources of the Doddington Estate. Adult: £15, Child 4-16yrs: £8.50 (3 and under free). Family: £40. Doddington Season Ticket Holders: free. Booking essential. Please pre-book tickets online as tickets are limited on arrival. Entry to the Hall is by timed ticket only.

www.doddingtonhall.com

9, 15, 16, 22 Dec

Christmas Party Nights

Twixmas Spa

27, 28, 29, 30, 31 Dec Fancy

celebrating

Christmas

little

differently this year? Unwind from the stress of Christmas and take advantage of our luxury twixmas packages. Available between 27 & 31 Dec with thirteen packages to choose from, were sure there is something perfect for you. From £89.

New Year Ball 31 Dec

Join us for an evening of black tie event and glamour. Welcome 2024 with cocktails,

Our December calendar wouldn't be the

canapes, 5-course gastro dinner, walk

same without our DJ led themed party

around jazz and dancing till late.

nights. Enjoy an arrival glass of Prosecco,

£160 per person.

followed by a festive two course meal and dancing until late! Why not try our 80's themed party night on Fri 8? Friday £45 per person, Saturday £55 per person.

For more events, further information and to book, call: 01777 705121

or visit: yeoldebell-hotel.co.uk

Festive Events

Bassetlaw Museum decorations. All imagery on this page courtesy of Bassetlaw Museum.

Rufford

1 - 5 Nov Rufford Abbey Country Park Ollerton.

Wonderful Wizard Of Oz

Norward Park Retford 22 Nov Norwood Park, Halam Rd, Southwell.

Christmas Market

22 Nov Bassetlaw Museum, Grove Street.

Christmas At The Museum

This Christmas, join us at Norwood Park for

The museum will be beautifully decorated

an afternoon/evening full of festivities with

throughout for Christmas with a Victorian

Discover some of the amazing characters

over 40 stalls, copious amounts of festive

village scene in the drawing room and a

from the wonderful Wizard of Oz. Follow

food and drink. There will be something for

sparkling winter wonderland on the first

Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman

everyone to enjoy. Whether its enjoying a hot

floor. Admission free.

and Cowardly Lion as they travel to the

drink and a bite to eat or buying the perfect

Emerald City! Let the little ones scale the

gift for loved ones.

Abbey walls and enjoy the nighttime wonder

Admission to the Christmas market is free,

of the Adventure Play Area.

however car parking fees do apply.

5pm – 7.30pm

New and Exciting for 2023! Follow the yellow brick road through the spooky woodland, the field of poppies and the curve tunnel of light as you enjoy the illuminated gardens. Eats and treats. Sip delicious, mulled wine and hot chocolate as you walk the trail. Tuck into scrumptious hot food for all the family in the Abbey Courtyard and the Adventure Play Area.

ruffordabbey.co.uk

Santa's Grotto 25 Nov - 23 Dec

Norwood Park Winter Ball 07 Dec

Get into the Festive Spirt and enjoy an evening filled with fun and laughter! You will be welcomed to Norwood Hall via the Main House, giving you the perfect opportunity to take a glimpse at our traditional Georgian decorations and 18" Christmas Tree. You will then be invited into the Long Gallery to enjoy your chosen meal, prepared by our talented chefs. After dinner, it is time to put on your dancing shoes and dance the night away

Santa will return to Rufford this festive

under the twinkling lights.

season with a brand new Grotto!

Tickets £69 per person.

£9.95 per child (this includes a present from Santa). There will be time slots from 10.45am – 4pm on selected dates. Book now to avoid disappointment.

ruffordabbey.co.uk /events/santasgrotto

www.norwoodpark.co.uk

Check Facebook for updates.

bassetlawmuseum.org.uk

SATURDAY 25th NOVEMBER

THE OLD MARKET SQUARE • 12:00PM to 6:30PM

SUNDAY 26th NOVEMBER MARKET SQUARE • 10:00AM to 6:00PM

FRI 1st & SAT 2nd DECEMBER

CIVIC SQUARE • FRI: 3PM to 6PM • SAT: 10AM to 3PM

SUNDAY 3rd DECEMBER TOWN SQUARE • 2:00PM to 6:00PM

Festive Events

Newark

Kelham Hall

26 Nov. 11am - 5pm Newark Town Centre.

Christmas Lights Switch On 11am-5pm.

Similar

format

precious

Traditions & Steampunk Christmas Market

26 Nov, 11am - 4pm The Renaissance At Kelham Hall, Main Street, Newark, NG23 5QX.

Christmas At Kelham

years with 100 seasonal stalls, street food,

10 Dec, 1oam - 6pm

fairground rides, music stage with some

115 seasonal stalls including Christmas crafts

to see and do, including delicious festive

old faces but many new artists from across

and gifts, decorations, seasonal street food,

food and drink stalls, a walkaround LED

Nottinghamshire and beyond, community

steampunk accessories and Book Festival

Angel, live music, spot our special Reindeer

acts, street entertainers and the giant LED

authors and their books. Music stage with local

visitors, kids rides and a handle full of

christmas tree, all under the fantastic canopy

artists and zany street entertainers

festive gift stalls!

of lights that will come alive at the push of a

At 1pm the new “Newark Santa Dash”

Immerse yourself in a festive atmosphere

button by the Town Mayor at the end of the

organised by the Child Bereavement Centre

with dazzling decorations, and twinkling

event, accompanied by a fireworks display

and Newark College which will involve 100

lights. Meet Santa himself and watch your

over the town centre. Bands on stage will

Santa clad participant carrying presents

little one’s eyes light up as they receive a

include Sammy and the Dolphins, The Band

around a town centre circuit - all for the CBC

special gift from the big man himself.

from County Hell, local soloists Alex Jones

fundraising with entrants with sponsorship and

General admittance: £5 per person.

and Jack Brett and the community chorists,

paying an entrance fee.

Children under 16: Free.

Just Sing, and of course, The Business!

At 4.45pm we have the fantastic and unique

Santas Grotto - £10 Per pchild.

Choirs from local schools will again kick off

spectacle of the Steampunk torchlit procession

What's On

the day with carols.

lead by the Nottinghamshire Pipes and Drums

Santa's Grotto, reindeer meet and greet, live

Band.

festive music, led christmas angel, street

In Newark, it’s free parking on weekends

food delights, festive drinks, children's rides

between Sunday 26 Nov to Sunday 31 Dec. It

and festive gift stalls.

Christmas Market 9 Dec, 9am - 4pm

130 stalls, street entertainers, and a music stage with local and not so local acts.

will also include free parking for Bank Holidays for Monday 25 Dec and Tuesday 26 Dec.

The perfect family experience with plenty

www.renaissance-kelham.com/ christmas-at-kelham-hall

Those using the car park on one of the free days will not need a ticket when they park, they simply need to park up and visit Newark. The District Council managed car parks offering free parking include those located on Appletongate, London Road, The Wharf, Riverside, Riverside Arena and Castle House. The offer does not apply to resident and contract car parks. For more information visit:

visitevents.co.uk

Newark Market Place Christmas Lights Switch On. Imagery courtesy of Newark & Sherwood District Council.

Festive Events

Mansfield

26 Nov Westgate and Buttercross, Mansfield. This year the council have partnered with Mansfield BID to make the day even more special! Along Westgate and Buttercross, Mansfield BID will bring food stalls, craft activities, face painting and children’s rides from 12noon. Then from 3pm to 5pm on Mansfield Market Place, the legendary stage show, hosted by Mansfield 103.2’s Ian Watkins and John B Tannen, will wow the crowds. Expect to see live music, crowd karaoke, dancing, giveaways and much more. Santa himself will also be making an appearance!

From 13 Nov

The Big Switch On Our beautiful 25ft Norway Spruce Christmas tree has been responsibly sourced and takes pride of place in Mansfield Market Place from 13 November throughout the festive period until the beginning of January.

Various dates in Nov/Dec

Christmas At Palace Theatre & Mansfield Museum On Friday 1 and Saturday 2 December, Mansfield Museum will be hosting its annual Christmas Market with local crafts, gifts and festive goodies. Along with a collection of activity days throughout November and December. Mansfield Palace Theatre have a sweet treat for you this Christmas as casting is revealed for the role of Fairy Bon Bon in their Beauty and the Beast pantomime. Starting on Saturday 25 November and running until Sunday 31 December 2023 at varying times. To book please visit their website mansfieldpalacetheatre.ticketsolve.com.

Look out for more activities over Nov & Dec in mansfield - visit: www.mansfield. gov.uk

Events & Details Although we endeavour to ensure that all of the events listed within this issue are correct it is always advisable to check before the event in case of booking requirements, cancellations, alterations or planning changes.

www.madeinn.co.uk

Blue’s Simon Webbe to headline Mansfield’s Big Switch On Now, more than 20 years after that success, Blue’s very own Simon Webbe will be recreating his 00s music magic on stage at The Big Switch On, Mansfield’s free Christmas lights switch-on event in the town's Market Place on Sunday 26 Nov. Simon Webbe is best known as a member of the boy band Blue, selling over 15 million records. After the band parted ways in 2005, Webbe released three solo albums in 2005, 2006 and 2017 – Sanctuary, Grace, and Smile - and amassed five UK Top 40 singles.

Executive Mayor Andy Abrahams said: “Building on the success of last year’s festive event, the council is bringing Christmas to Mansfield residents with a showstopper of free activities, stage show entertainment and festive fun for all the family to enjoy.”

He will be the headline act for the Switch On stage show, hosted by local radio station Mansfield 103.2FM from 3pm to 5pm, which also features sounds from a Michael Bublé tribute act and female vocalist Ellie Butler.

Mansfield BID will manage the family fun on West Gate, including various rides, food stalls, face painting, hot drinks including hot chocolates and mulled wine, music from the Moonshiners and festive craft activities. This will begin at 12noon before the main stage show at 3pm.

There will be entertainment around the town centre all day with plenty of festive food vendors, Christmas crafts, roaming live music, giveaways, and a jolly party atmosphere. Mansfield District Council, with event partners Mansfield BID, Canvas, Mansfield 103.2, and Four Seasons Shopping Centre, are thrilled to announce the music line-up for the main stage: Luke Hingley as Michael Bublé, Crowd Karaoke with Jono Edwards, Miss Margo and DJ Lucas Starnes, Ellie Butler and Headline Act: Simon Webbe from BLUE! - As our headlining act, Simon will captivate the audience with his powerful vocals and smash-hit singles from ‘Blue’ before pushing the button to turn on the lights. The fantastic free stage show will be hosted by Mansfield 103.2’s Ian Watkins and John B Tannen, kicking off at 3pm, alongside special guests, including Miss Margo and Jono Edwards. As well as the Moonshiners on West Gate performing live music on the day, the comedy string quartet Graffiti Classics and Princess performer will also be at the event, performing in different locations throughout the day.

Chief Executive of Mansfield BID, Jay Rowlinson, said: “We are thrilled to announce the stage show lineup and also give residents and businesses an insight into some of the fantastic free activities they can expect to see throughout the town centre on the day.” There will also be various festive activities in the Four Seasons Shopping Centre, which opens at 10am, alongside meet and greets with Santa in his grotto. The Big Switch On event is organised and funded by the council with support from Mansfield BID, Mansfield 103.2, Canvas, and Four Seasons Shopping Centre. Sponsorship is also sought from the business community. If your business would like to contribute towards the Christmas celebrations in Mansfield, a range of sponsorship packages is available - from £150 to £3,000. Please contact 01623 463376 or email events@ mansfield.gov.uk. To keep up to date with all activities and events happening through Mansfield in the run up to Christmas, visit www. mansfield.gov.uk/christmas

Festive Events

Harts Hotel & Kitchen 28 Nov, 12pm - 3pm Nottingham.

Wollaton Hall 1 Dec 23 - 1 Jan 24 Wollaton Hall & Deer Park.

Christmas At Wollaton Christmas at Wollaton is back with a brand

Christmas Wreath Making & Afternoon Tea

new trail for 2023 – bringing colour, light and

Enjoy a magical afternoon creating your

new look, expect the unexpected and allow the

own Christmas Wreath guided by the

Christmas spirit to take over as you immerse

hugely talented Gigil & Bloom floristry team

yourself in a world of seasonal sparkle and

followed by Festive Afternoon tea. £65 each,

festive cheer.

this includes all materials, guided tuition, a

Surprises are around every corner, and

glass of festive fizzand Christmas Afternoon

festive food, warming cocktails and picture

Tea at Hart's.

perfect

To book contact:

and unique spectacle that will have you

marketing@hartsnottingham.co.uk or call 0115 988 1900 www.hartsnottingham.co.uk

play to Nottingham this December! With a brand new design team and a whole

moments

add

the

exciting

captivated as you enjoy a magical Christmas with family, friends and loved ones at this seasonal classic with a contemporary twist.

wollatonhall.org.uk/caw-2023

Papplewick Pumping Station

2 - 3 Dec Papplewick Pumping Station, NG15 9AJ.

Christmas Market & Steam Event The pumping station hosts a Christmas Market at its winter steam event on Dec 2nd-3rd (10.30am-4pm) featuring over 30 craft and artisan stalls showcasing some of the finest goods for Christmas. Plus, a mixture of festive tunes and other classics performed by top female vocalist, Lily Taylor-Ward and performances by the Bestwood Male Voice Choir (T.B.C.). All engines in steam plus a display of vintage steam toys and memorabilia. Tours of the underground reservoir also available (extra charge applies), subject to weather conditions.

www.papplewickpumpingstation.org.uk

Weddings

The Magic of Christmas Saturday 16 December, 7.30pm

A fabulous evening of entertainment at Southwell Minster. Festive favourites and plenty of audience participation! The Choir of Southwell Minster ❄ Bold as Brass Octet Tickets £10–£40 available from The Cathedral Shop or southwellminster.org/the-magic-of-christmas A fundraising event for

www.southwellminster.org

SCAN ME FOR TICKETS

Sunday 26th November 2023 Retford Market Square & Town Centre 10am - 6pm Thousands of great gift ideas at great prices. Over 150 stalls and pitches plus our excellent town shops. Live entertainment on stage all day finale from Elton John tribute band, Eltonesque . Craft Market in Retford Town Hall. See Santa in his Town Hall Grotto from 12 noon. Great street food and entertainment. Bigger, and better.....brilliant! Winter Festival of Light late-night shopping Thurs 14th December

202 3 Retford Business Forum (and look for the logo)

Retford Business Forum, in partnership with Bassetlaw District Council and North Notts BID

www.retfordbusinessforum.org.uk Event supported by

RETFORD

Festive Events

Gainsborough

Thoresby

Bawtry

Two Day Festive Market

Thoresby Park Winterfest

Join Marshall's Yard this Christmas for a

We can’t wait to welcome everyone to start

Bawtry Annual Christmas Event

magical Two Day Festive Market.

getting into the Christmas spirit!

Join us for our annual Christmas event

Get warmed up and in the festive spirit

A variety of craft and gift stalls perfect for

and enjoy all the fun of the fair, stalls, live

this

celebrating

your Christmas shopping. Meet Santa’s

music and all the wonderful shops, bars &

and shopping in a magical but traditional

reindeer. Festive food and drink to be

restaurants that Bawtry has to offer.

Christmas atmosphere.

enjoyed by all the family. Sing Christmas

Plenty for all to enjoy to make this festive

carols with Mickey & Minnie and Elsa. A fun

season one to remember!

filled day out for all the family! No tickets

This market will be live 10am - 4pm both

needed and free entry! £3 cash only car

2 Dec and 3rd Dec.

parking applies.

What to expect: Live festive entertainment,

Cash is also advised for our food and market

Live music and performances, brass bands,

stalls due to poor signal for card machines.

a great selection of festive feasting, winter

Get your singing voices ready for the

warming beverages, free face painting,

weekend and join Micky & Minnie for some

festive crafting, food and craft traders.

Christmas carols!

2 - 3 Dec Marshall's Yard.

coming

December

www.marshallsyard.co.uk

2 - 3 Dec Thoresby Park.

thoresby.com

3 Dec Market Place Bawtry.

www.visitbawtry.com

Festive Events

Clumber Park Every weekend from 25 Nov Worksop

All day, every day from 18 Nov

24 Dec, 9am

Add a little magic and some Yuletide cheer

The Elves Craft Workshop

Christmas Eve Trust 10k

to the festive season with a visit to see Father

Head to the Lincoln Stables to make colourful

Dress up and enjoy a free morning run

Christmas in his grotto. Tickets available via

Christmas creations and decorations to

and take in the spectacular winter scenery

the Clumber Park website.

cherish. Free activity, no booking required,

of Clumber Park. No booking required,

admission into the park applies.

includes free entry into the park.

2 December, 3pm

30 & 31 Dec, 6 & 7 Jan and 13 & 14 Jan, 4pm

Meet Father Christmas

25 & 26 Nov, 2 & 3 Dec

Christmas Market Over 50 stalls selling handmade treasures

The New Chamber Choir

and festive delights. Situated throughout

Drawing its members from across Derbyshire

Lantern Walks

the Lincoln Stables, the Turning Yard and

and Yorkshire, the choir will perform a

Wrap up warm for a guided walk around the

the Laundry Yard. Free event, no booking

selection of the best Christmas music for

Pleasure Grounds at dusk. Hear tales about

required, admission into the park applies.

choir, ranging from traditional sacred carols

the lives of the Dukes of Newcastle and see

to jazz arrangements of modern classics.

Clumber in a different light.

16 & 17, 23 & 24 Dec, 26 - 31 Dec

Victorian Christmas Fairground

3 Dec, 3pm - 4pm

Bring back memories and create some new

Organist, Mike Smith will play a variety

ones with a classic Victorian Christmas

of music, both traditional and sacred on

Fairground in the Lincoln Stables at Clumber

the elaborate Gray & Davison organ in the

Park. Charge per ride, no booking required,

Chapel of St Mary the Virgin at Clumber.

Advent to Christmas

admission into the park applies.

For more events, full details and to book tickets for Meet Father Christmas, go to the ‘Things to see and do’ section of the Clumber Park website at www.nationaltrust.org.

uk/clumberpark

Shaun the Sheep is coming to Clumber Park Shaun the Sheep is coming to Clumber Park this Christmas for an ewe-nique art adventure that the whole family can enjoy. The National Trust is collaborating with BAFTA® award-winning production studio, Aardman, and global art producer, Wild in Art, to bring one of Aardman’s best loved characters to Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire this winter. From 18 Nov - 7 Jan, twelve uniquely designed sculptures of Shaun the Sheep will be positioned at iconic locations across Clumber for Shaun the Sheep: Find the Flock at Clumber Park, a free, family-friendly art trail for visitors to follow. Each super-sized sculpture, standing at 160cm tall, has been individually designed by artists from across the region and beyond. Shaun the Sheep: Find the Flock at Clumber Park continues Wild in Art’s mission to take art out of the gallery,

making it free and accessible to all. The trail is a glorious celebration of everything visitors love about Clumber as the wintery season is brought to life with bursts of colour, inspired by the much-loved star of film and television, Shaun the Sheep.

Rob Holder, General Manager at Clumber Park, says: “We are delighted to be hosting this trail, which will highlight some of the best spots we have here at Clumber, as well as introducing visitors to areas of the park they may not have visited before. We all have a soft spot for Shaun the Sheep, it’s going to be a lot of fun!”

s t f i G s a m t Chris

A selection of our favourite gorgeous gifts for your family & friends...

HL-Brown

Pre-owned beautiful ruby and diamond 3 stone ring set in 18ct white gold; ruby 1.01 carats, diamonds 0.34 carats, price £3,150 www.hl-brown.co.uk

Cast And Found

Selection from top: 925 Silver Robin, with laser welded breast, designed to contain ashes or locks of hair, £250. Also available with a rose gold tummy £300. Gold plated Ivy Leaf Pendant, £65. Ivy is said to represent the strongest and most enduring of loves. Also available in 925 polished sterling silver. Solid 9ct Gold Acorn Bangle, bespoke design from the memorial collection available on the website. Cast Ivy Bud hoop earrings starting at £75. 925 silver Cast Buttercup Centre Stud Earrings, £50. 925 Silver Acorn, also part of the cremation collection starting at £250. All available to order or commission via www.castandfound.co.uk and arrive beautifully packed in their signature green moss filled packaging. Cast and Found is an independent jewellery brand based in Nottinghamshire and can be found across social media @castandfound

Selection from top: Daisy Park, genevieve faux suede gloves, £23. www.daisypark.co.uk Radley, Starlight View Small Zip-Around Dark Cherry Grab Bag, £199. www.radley.co.uk H L Brown, pre-owned beautiful ruby and diamond 3 stone ring set in 18ct white gold; ruby 1.01 carats, diamonds 0.34 carats, price £3,150. www.hl-brown.co.uk Oliver Bonas, Black Textured Gold Fireworks Light Weight Scarf £29.50. www.oliverbonas.co.uk Monsoon, Floral beaded envelope clutch, £50. www.monsoon.co.uk

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Sally Outram

Meering & Besthorpe Winter Walk This delightful little winter walk explores the small parish of Meering, in North Nottinghamshire by travel writer and photojournalist Sally Outram.

ituated on the banks of the river Trent, and bordering the parish of Besthorpe, Meering is unique as it is the only parish in Nottinghamshire with a population of zero and is one of only eight parishes in England without a single resident. Historically the parish would have been occupied, but archived records show the population was at any time in single figures. The parish was originally an extra parochial region, and was geographically defined, not within any ecclesiastical or civil parish. The parochial system meant that the area had no church or clergy, so the local authorities stated that they were not obligated to provide adequate relief or church rates. Extra parochial regions were formed as they were usually unpopulated or unsuitable for agricultural farming. Without local governance or religious facilities, there was no relief or help for the poor from the government. Following the introduction of a new poor Law, these regions were made civil parish. In the early 16th century, Poor Relief was essentially a punishment, until the establishment of the welfare state in the 1940s. Along the route you will see Trent Lane, this is the parish boundary between Besthorpe and Meering. From here you can access Besthorpe Nature Reserve, a former industrial site and quarry which has been substantially regenerated to provide a haven for wildlife. The site occupies two areas on either side of Trent Lane. South of Trent Lane is home for a SSSI wildflower meadows, bursting with colour in the summer, and in contrast on the north side you

will find a habitat of rare reed beds and open water known as Mons Pool. If you are lucky, you may see herons, and cormorants nesting in the reed beds. The village of Besthorpe lies just one mile east of the river Trent and boasts the accolade of Conservation Village status which was granted in 2006 as it retains its original layout around the pretty village green. Originally known as Bestorp in 1147, it has seen various name changes throughout the centuries, the place name is believed to mean ‘bent grass village’ which is evident by the layout of the village centre and the green, where five entry points merge to the grassy heart. It is here where you will find Holy Trinity Church, which was built in 1844 as a ‘Chapel of Ease’, an ecclesiastical building built within the parish boundary for those who are unable to visit a main church, making worship more accessible to local parishioners from neighbouring hamlets. The Grade 2 listed building is now used for an array of activities after undergoing refurbishment of the original church and the village hall, which was initially built as a schoolroom. After exploring this quintessentially English village, there’s the fabulous little pub The Lord Nelson Inn, where you can enjoy a tasty treat, cold beer, a fine wine, or something hot to warm you up after your lovely winter walk. Happy rambling! Sally

Sally Outram

Directions 1. We begin this walk at Holy Trinity Church on Low

Street, Besthorpe. Standing in front of the church, you will see the green marker post directing you to the right. 2. Continue along this lane until you reach a stile, cross over here and continue along to cross over a further stile crossing the River Fleet. 3. Once you have crossed over, follow the field edge path where you will see another stile. Follow the track which passes by the river, where you will eventually reach another stile. Cross over following the path to the edge of the field. 4. Turn left here along the field edge track and continue to reach a gravel lane. Turn right along the lane and follow this heading uphill. Continue to the top, passing an industrial site on the right. Shortly after this you will reach some steps, descend here and continue along to a stile. 5. Cross over and turn left through a gate, following the signposted footpath, which routes around the edge of the field, passing through a large metal gate and up on to a raised area. You will soon see a further stile ahead, cross over and up to the flood-bank. 6. Proceed along the river path for approximately 1 mile. Passing by a surfaced track, passing Besthorpe Wharf, you will then see a clapper gate and waymarked path. 7. Continue through the gate and make a left turn following the path, keeping the hedge to your left. Proceed to the end of the field, you will see a gap, go through and turn left, following a hedge lined track, until eventually you will reach Trent Lane*. Turn right here and follow the lane back into Besthorpe Village and the starting point. (*There is an option here to follow the track off from Trent Lane and explore Besthorpe Nature Reserve).

The basics Distance: Severity: Gradient: Approx time:

4 .1 miles/6.5km Easy. Mostly level. 2 hours allowing for a steady pace and time to explore. Stiles: Yes, and Clapper Gates along the route. Maps: OS Explorer 271. Start Point: Holy Trinity Church, Besthorpe. Dog Friendly: Yes, on a lead. Parking: Roadside in the village. Refreshments: Lord Nelson Public House, Main Road, Besthorpe, Newark NG23 7HR.

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Health

Who Doesn’t Love Christmas? By Chris Collins, Life Coach.

s we find ourselves hurtling towards the end of another year we can all at least look forwards to some special times with family and friends right?! However, some of us find ourselves dreading the festive season rather than looking forward to it because we fear being judged on our own personal performance. Whether it’s getting the right presents, sending the right cards, decorating the best home or producing a knockout Christmas Dinner for the extended family on “The Big Day”, our own expectations can be so overwhelming. If this is you then it’s likely that you suffer from a little bit (or a lot) of perfectionism. Perfectionism is often a double edged sword where it can be a strong motivator to perform at a high level but also a cause of anxiety that can make you slow down or even freeze. The tendency to be a perfectionist is rooted in fear and insecurity, a worry that if you are not meticulous about every detail it will hurt your performance and standing in the eyes of others and yourself. I want you all to enjoy the Christmas moments you’re working hard to create without exhaustion, overwhelm and disappointment so here’s 5 top tips to help you have a Happy and Content Christmas rather than a “Perfect” one.

1. Reflect on what really matters: Define what’s important to you, traditions maintained, relaxation, time with loved ones and focus energy here. If it’s not linked to this it’s a distraction so drop it. 2. Decide on ‘Musts’ & ‘Wants’: Prioritise your ‘To Do’ list when it gets too long. What’s a basic, absolute Must be done, shopping, time off, travel etc and what is a nice to have Want, second dessert, more tree decorations. Not all activities were born equal, get clear and stick to it! 3. Get Help: You don’t have to do it all yourself, it’s not lazy it’s necessary. Who can help you with your prioritised list? Relaxing your standards a tiny bit on some of the lesser activities can really help you let go of them. 4. Give yourself permission: It can be about you too, you don’t always have to do the travelling, plans can fit around your needs, you can opt out of things that you don’t enjoy. Don’t feel guilty about setting boundaries that you need. 5. Step Off: Take the time to be fully present and mindful of what you are building and the joy its bringing rather than getting lost in thoughts about the past or what is going to go wrong. Hear the laughter, see the smiles, smell the food. Most of all relax, let go of all the tensions and savour the little moments within it all that make Christmas most meaningful. If you struggle with Perfectionism or any other aspect of your daily life then I’m here to support you in making the changes that you want to see in order to move your life to where you want it to be.

Chris Collins - ICF ACC. For further details and to speak to Chris call: 07973 179982 Email: chris_collins22@hotmail.com You can also find booking details through instagram:  @chriscollinscoach  Chris Collins Life Coach

Georgina Barney

Plant Dye Studio

Georgina Barney is an artisan plant dye enthusiast whose workshops are re-introducing the rich heritage and undeniable natural magic of traditional plant dye into modern craft. Her Plant Dye Studio in Nottingham has become an increasingly popular hub with artists, craftspeople, those who wish to connect creatively with nature, explore sustainability and the just curious. Made went to see her dye garden to find out more…

eorgina is keen to explain that whilst for many this seems like a new, unusual, even ‘wacky’ way to obtain colour, using dye plant is a practice that is thousands of years old.

“Natural dyes have been used by our ancestors for thousands of years to colour fibres, fabrics, and other materials, and fascinatingly the history of natural dyes can be traced back to the earliest civilisations, where plants, insects, and minerals were used to create a variety of colours.” It turns out that archaeological findings from various regions across the globe have provided insights into the early use of natural dyes. In ancient Egypt, evidence of dyed textiles has been found in tombs and burial sites, including fragments of linen and wool dyed with plant-based dyes such as indigo, madder, and safflower. Similarly, in ancient China, dyed silk textiles have been discovered in tombs dating back to the Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD), with evidence of the use of plantbased dyes such as indigo and woad. We learn that in Europe, the use of natural dyes can be traced back to ancient civilisations such as the Greeks, Romans, and Celts. Plant-based dyes were commonly used, with sources such as madder for reds, woad for blues, and weld for yellows.

Georgina with her work, a naturally dyed fabric quilt. Below: Natural dyes are created using plants and flowers. The flowers used here are rudbeckia, perfect for yellow tones.

It's these traditional plants such as madder, woad and weld that Georgina has used to form the base of her plant dye garden at the visual arts organisation Primary in Nottingham. “These are wonderfully abundant and traditional plants that can offer us great depth of colour and tones. I first focused on planting and cultivating these but have since added other plants to the garden, and of course I’ll be out foraging also for other pigment sources, too – things like tree bark, oak galls and alder cones can also bring rich colour.”

Georgina Barney

Left: Dried flowers stored for use in the dying process. This image: In Georgina's latest workshop a series of test pieces of silk and wool were created in varying colours depending on the process used, showing the range of colours achievable. Right: Georgina shows the workshop examples of testing and labelling different materials and dye tests.

Lauren in the studio.

Despite the historical close connection between humans and nature, the art of dyeing has had to evolve. It has inevitably transformed to reflect changes in culture, technology and our environment, and so in many respects has sadly disappeared. If we look at the industrial revolution, in particular, significant changes were brought about in the textile industry. Synthetic dyes, which were cheaper and more easily produced than natural dyes, rapidly gained popularity and steadily replaced natural dyes in many textile applications.

sustainable methods of producing colour. It’s not quite so straight-forward as replacing synthetic colour with plant colour: plant-dyeing cannot overcome the problem of scale in large production, for example. It’s also not true that synthetic colour is new, or that dyeing with plants does not involve chemistry! But participating in plant-dyeing engages us in thinking about our relationship with clothes, with buying 'stuff’ and our human footprint. It starts a conversation”, Georgina adds.

Naturally as the use of synthetic dyes increased, there was an equivalent decline in the use of natural dyes. The focus shifted towards mass production and uniformity in colour. Natural dyeing became largely relegated to small-scale production, local crafts, and traditional cultural practices in certain regions of the world.

“By using plants to dye with we can produce subtle, nuanced and variable colours that can be truly appreciated for their remarkable natural beauty and individuality. You cannot achieve this with synthetic dyes as they are produced in a uniform manner with predictable colours.”

For Georgina though, and for other artisan craftspeople who share her love of the practice, working with natural sources brimming with wonderfully vivid pigment, still has a role to play in modern times. It’s a view being increasingly shared across art, sustainability and creative spheres with media coverage recently showcasing this unique tradition and its widespread uses.

For Georgina the opportunity to connect with nature and discover something new each time is a driving force behind her creative work – something she juggles successfully alongside her career in law at a Nottingham law practice and as a mum to her young daughter, supported by her artist husband Marek Tobolewski.

“There are many reasons why natural dyes are gaining popularity, even though the processes involved are time-consuming”, explains Georgina.

The process of nurturing and cultivating traditional dye plants and bringing them back to her studio to be lovingly used in colour creation provides an immersive, hands-on and therapeutic experience. It also aligns seamlessly with her own rural ties and love of the great outdoors. Georgina was born locally but spent much of her formative years

“Is it science, or art, or chemistry, or witchcraft even? I am asked this a lot, and in all honesty, there is quite a bit of chemistry going on here, but I like to think of it as magical.”

“Firstly, concerns about the textile industry and the production of synthetic colour has led to interest in

Health & Beauty

All imagery within this feature is courtesy of Lauren Martin.

vising her uncle and aunt their farm in rural Wales – a place of nurture and inspiration for her still today. “I think that for many of us who juggle numerous responsibilities, and struggle with mental stress, we can find respite and restoration by activities that physically immerse ourselves in the natural world. Getting our hands dirty in this way helps to reawaken our senses and for those of us who over-think, it returns us to the physical reality of our bodies and reminds us that we are also part of nature.” As Georgina explains the processes of extracting colour from her plants – many of which are grown at her dye garden, others sourced through foraging in the wild – it all seems quite magical. “Is it science, or art, or chemistry, or witchcraft even?” laughs Georgina “I am asked this a lot, and in all honesty, there is quite a bit of chemistry going on here, but I like to think of it as magical.” In fact, you’d be forgiven for thinking it is magic after she explains the process of achieving blue colours in particular. “Unlike other colours which are easily obtained from plant dye baths in water, we can only dye fabric blue from specific indigoproducing plants including woad and japanese indigo. As the blue pigment is not soluble in water, there’s a specific process required, which ends with the fabric being taken out from the vat. As it reacts with oxygen in the air it transforms to blue before your eyes. That certainly looks like magic!” We couldn’t help but wonder how Georgina had first discovered plant dyes. Turns out it was a natural interest that evolved from an interest in processing fleece, spinning and dye.

“I remember when I was pregnant with my daughter, needing to take a new direction in my art and I decided that I wanted to learn how to process a fleece - to transform it from raw fleece freshly shorn, via cleaning and spinning, weaving and dyeing into some kind of final outcome. This was probably because of my love of sheep and from my experience visiting the family farm in Wales. I went on an inspiring two-day workshop with Jane Meredith from Plant Dyed Wool in Hereford. I came home inspired to plant my own dye plants, learn more about the plants and how to obtain plant-dyed colour. I’ve not looked back since then.” Georgina’s love of colour and the alchemy of transformation have been clearly ignited and interestingly it has shifted her interest from the conceptual creative work that she had immersed herself in for years, increasing instead her focus on materials and processes and touching things. “As soon as I graduated from Ruskin School of Art I spent my first year travelling around farms, which led to a blog and book and a number of art collaborations – all exploring art and farming. “For me it was a natural extension of my two loves, the natural world and visual art. But then after my daughter was born, I’ve developed my art practice by making new kinds of artworks that are all about touch and play, expired by the endless creativity of young children. I’ve also been regularly asked to teach and share my knowledge by delivering workshops.” Georgina has steadily built a new body of work using her plant dyes and in addition to her collaborations with Primary in Nottingham, where her studio is based, has been working collaboratively with art centres, clubs and education providers

Georgina Barney

including Forest Folk Play. This has included a number of creative dye projects, as a guest speaker and in providing introductory workshops – the latter being something that she is going to increase her focus on in the new year due to demand. Georgina was also commissioned to create a body of tactile play objects for family visitors to the Barber Institute in Birmingham including plant dyed wands, rolling and stacking blocks, felt balls and Nottingham lace that are all currently available to visitors at the Institute.

“I want to offer a deeply nurturing experience just like this craft gives me. It’s an incredibly immersive and sensory experience.” Georgina's workshop and test materials after a successful day creating. Image below: Plant dyed tactile toys for the Barber Institute.

“I’ve been approached by many interested people so my focus for 2024 is expanding on my workshops to make these a regular occurrence throughout the year. I’d like to introduce people to the amazing plant sources we have available to use here locally, to understanding how to cultivate them successfully, and then how to achieve wonderful spectrums of colour in their dyes. There will also be opportunities to look at ways in which we can then use these dyes and how to apply them to wool or silk, for example. “Dyeing requires a satisfying attention to both science and art – I’d like to think it is mastering the notions of chemistry and biology in a fun and nurturing way – extracting dye molecules from plants and binding them to fibres. “It’s something I think many people will benefit from, whether they wish to learn about the plants themselves, develop their own natural paint supply, or venture into both creating, or even reviving products in a sustainable way.” Georgina’s sessions for 2024 are currently being scheduled and her social pages will update regularly on the different themes she has coming up. Sessions will range from threehour to full-day or over several days.

“I’m really excited about these workshops” Georgina enthuses with a smile. “I want to offer a deeply nurturing experience just like this craft gives me. It’s an incredibly immersive and sensory experience.”

Talk

Find out more about Georgina's work and workshops available visit www.plantdyestudio.co.uk  @plantdyestudio and @georgina_barney

Workshops

Talk 'Beetroot v Avocado’ at Framework Knitters Museum, Ruddington, 26 November 2023, 11am, £5 per person frameworkknittersmuseum.org.uk All taking place at Primary, Nottingham NG7 1NU: • 'Dye & Stitch' with Rebekah Johnston, 27 January 2024, 10am - 4pm, £95 • 'Ink: Make, Draw, Continue', 24 February 2024, 10am - 1pm, £48 • 'Plant to Paint’, 23 March 2024, 10am - 4pm, £95 To book visit: www.plantdyestudio.co.uk/learn www.weareprimary.org

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Winter Gardening Dene's gardening tips for the next few months ahead.

Dene Wood, Head Gardener at Clumber Park. he end of 2023 is fast approaching. What we typically call our growing season is often bookended with new growth in the spring and the damaging first frost. This constricts our perception of the gardening calendar to just 8 or 9 months, but the reality is that a garden is busy all year-round. The average first frost date is around late November so ensuring any frost tender vegetables are harvested is a good move; think squashes, outdoor tomatoes, sweetcorn and peppers. Likewise, other tender plants will need protection, cuttings should be taken, and seeds harvested. Hopefully, you will have been able to store some of that recently picked produce to make delicious homemade delights over the coming months. Frozen vegetables and dried flowers will all start to earn their keep soon and leave you thankful you took the time to grow and prepare them.

Ideally, any new spring-flowering bulbs will have been planted, but don’t be afraid to plant right up until the end of the year when the ground is frost-free. Bulbs will do much better planted late than left in a plastic bag in the shed. 2023 has been unusual and very different from 2022. We had a very wet winter with a late and damaging cold snap. This was followed with an abnormally dry spring/early summer spell, and then a rather wet summer. Autumn surprised us with some unseasonably warm days both wet and dry. It has always paid for gardeners to keep an eye on the weather. Less predictable seasons mean that now more than ever this is important – always be ready to respond with a watering can, or a warm fleece! Shorter days will mean that lots of us tend to enjoy our garden only on our days off. I’ve often found a good jacket and a cheap headtorch are invaluable for extending garden time. Enjoy.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/clumberpark Images courtesy of Jon Scrimshaw.

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Health

Thriving Through Winter Nurturing Mind-Body Wellbeing for a Stress-Free Christmas. By Rosalyn Palmer, Transformational Therapist and Coach. Member of the Wellness Business Network.

s the nights draw in and winter descends and the festive season approaches, maintaining our physical and mental wellbeing becomes paramount. The dark and cold winter months, coupled with the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, can present unique challenges to our health and stress levels. The trouble is we don’t properly acknowledge this and every year we get surprised when our bodies rebel and we come down with a cold or the flu, blaming it on the fact that ‘it’s just going around’. While this is true, it is not everyone who succumbs and wouldn’t you love to get through this winter healthier and happier and truly enjoy a stress-free Christmas with your loved ones? I know I would, so join me and follow my simple steps for a wellbeing winter.

Mindfulness in winter The winter months and the inevitable changing of the clocks bring reduced sunlight, potentially leading to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and increased stress. Tip 1: Embrace natural light: Maximise exposure to natural light by taking brisk walks during daylight hours. Even short outdoor breaks can help alleviate symptoms of SAD and boost mood. Tip 2: Mindful winter activities: Engage in mindfulness practices such as meditation or deep breathing to manage stress. These techniques can provide a sense of calm and balance during the holiday rush.

Nutrition as nourishment: The holiday season often involves indulgent feasts and too much temptation via sweet treats, which can impact our physical health and stress levels. Tip 1: Balanced choices: opt for balanced meals rich in seasonal vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. This provides sustained energy and supports your immune system. Tip 2: Mindful eating: Practice mindful eating during holiday gatherings. Pay attention to your body's hunger cues and savour each bite. This helps prevent overeating and reduces holiday-related stress.

Exercise for energy and resilience: The temptation to hibernate during winter can lead to reduced physical activity, affecting both physical and mental wellbeing. Tip 1: Indoor workouts: Explore indoor exercise options like yoga, Pilates, or home workouts. I love Walk Walk (check it out on YouTube). Regular physical activity boosts endorphins, helping to combat stress and maintain energy levels. This also boosts and protects your immune system response. Tip 2: Active socialising: Plan active outings with friends and family, such as winter hikes or ice skating. These activities promote bonding and reduce holiday stress.

Prioritise self-care: The holiday season often brings added responsibilities and expectations, potentially leading to burnout and stress. Tip 1: Set boundaries: Learn to say no when necessary.

Health

Overcommitting can lead to exhaustion and heightened stress levels. Be a human being not a human doing. Tip 2: Self-care rituals: Dedicate time to self-care rituals like reading, taking warm baths, or enjoying a cup of herbal tea. These moments of tranquillity can be grounding during hectic times.

Mindful gift-giving: The pressure to find the perfect gifts and the financial strain of holiday spending can contribute to stress. Tip 1: Plan and budget: Set a reasonable budget for gifts and stick to it. Thoughtful and meaningful presents don’t have to be extravagant. Set family rules and budgets such as no presents for anyone over 25 and only a £25 spend each. Tip 2: Homemade gifts: Consider creating homemade gifts or experiences, which can be more personal and budget friendly. Perhaps all take a cooking class together and spend the money that would have gone on gifts on the shared experience instead.

celebrations. Just because someone always does something for the family doesn’t mean that they either enjoy it or should always be expected to do it. Work as a team. This winter let's be fair to ourselves and each other and recognise that a balanced approach is the key to a healthy and stress-free Christmas season. By prioritising self-care, mindful nutrition, physical activity, and effective communication, you can navigate the challenges of winter and the holidays with resilience, creating cherished moments with loved ones while nurturing your own wellbeing. Remember that the warmth of a healthy mind and body is the greatest gift you can give yourself and those around you during this season of togetherness.

Communication and connection: Family dynamics and expectations can add to holiday stress. Open and effective communication is key. Tip 1: Active listening: Practice active listening when communicating with family members. Seek to understand their perspective and concerns, fostering empathy and reducing conflicts. In other words, walk in their shoes a bit. Tip 2: Delegate and collaborate: Share responsibilities and tasks with family members to reduce the burden on one person. Collaborative efforts often lead to smoother holiday

By Rosalyn Palmer, Transformational Therapist and Coach www.rosalynpalmer.com Member of The Wellness Business Network Call: 07771 884 803 Email: changes@clarewildmancoaching.co.uk www.thewellnessnetwork.co.uk

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Food & Drink

Cheese Platter There are so many delicious types of cheese now available it is sometimes difficult to decide which to use for a cheese board or platter. To help you decide here are some tips: Have at least 5-6 different cheeses to include a mixture of cheese textures and strengths: A hard cheese - such as Cheddar. A crumbly cheese - such as Cheshire. Soft cheese - such as Brie, Camembert. Blue cheese - Stilton, Gorgonzola. Spreadable variety - Ricotta, Soft Goats Cheese. Semi firm or smokey cheese. How much to serve - allow 25-50g portion of each cheese per person as a guide. Eat cheese at room temperature for the best flavour. Take it out of the refrigerator one hour before serving. Cover the cheese board or platter with a sheet of bees wax to prevent it from drying out. Be creative with garnish - use fresh figs, black and green grapes, dried fruits, baby tomatoes, celery sticks, bowls of chutney, olives and a selection of biscuits.

Red Pepper Hummus Ingredients 1 x 440g can chick peas, drained and rinsed 3 tbsp Tahini 3 tbsp garlic infused oil 1 lemon, juiced and half the zest 3 roasted red peppers from a jar Salt and pepper

Method 1. Put the chick peas, tahini and olive oil into a processor and blend. 2. Add the lemon juice, roasted red peppers, blend again. Check the seasoning adding more lemon or a little water if necessary. 3. Season to taste and scrape out of the processor. 4. Drizzle with olive oil and serve with crusty bread or bread sticks bread.

Herby Cheese Paté Ingredients 1 tbsp garlic infused rapeseed oil 450g mild goats cheese or soft cream cheese Zest and juice of ½ lemon 2 mint leaves 1 tbsp chopped parsley Salt and black pepper For Garnish 2 tbsp capers and sun-blushed tomatoes or sweety drop red peppers, salad or rocket leaves and crusty bread or bread sticks for serving.

Method 1. Blitz together all the ingredients, season to taste and put into small into ramekin dishes. 2. Top with capers, chopped sun-blushed tomatoes or sweety drop red peppers. Nb Sweety drop red peppers available from Aldi.

Food & Drink

Festive Cooking Tips • Arrange a bag of green salad leaves on a large round plate in a wreath shape. Top with orange slices, pomegranates, diced chopped walnuts and cubed blue cheese, such as Stilton or Dolcelatte. Alternatively use rocket leaves, ripe pear slices, walnuts pieces and blue cheese. Place a small dish in the centre of the salad with a balsamic vinegar dressing to serve. • For festive ice cubes - slice some oranges and lemons and cut each slice into 6 or 8 pieces. Place a piece of fruit into each compartment of an ice cube tray with a cranberry, fill with water and freeze. Once frozen place in polythene bag ready for serving. • Add extra crunch to roast potatoes by adding a sprinkling of polenta or semolina to the potato after par boiling. To save on electricity costs use your slow cooker to cook a gammon joint. Finish it off by glazing in an oven. • For a quick rice salad cook 180g basmati rice and rinse in cold water. Place in a bowl, add 3 chopped salad onions and 50g flaked browned almonds. Mix together 3 tbsp natural yoghurt and 1 tsp mild curry powder and mix with 1 chopped red dessert apple and the juice of ½ lemon. Mix tgether and serve with left over cooked meats. • Glazed cocktail sausages – Use approximately 30 sausages, roast them in the oven at 180ºC for 20 minutes and mix with one of the following and then cook for a further 5 mins. 1. Equal quantities of 2 tbsp honey and mustard. 2. 2 tbsp hoisin sauce and 2 tsp wholegrain mustard and 1 tsp sesame seeds. 3. 3 tbsp cranberry sauce and 1 tbsp water. • Use shop bought vegetable crisps as a garnish for soups.

Food & Drink

Canny Black Forest Trifle Ingredients 1 x can pitted black cherries 1 x 135g black cherry jelly 1 x 400g can chocolate custard 450g black cherry yoghurt To Serve Whipped double cream or plain yoghurt and 25g grated chocolate

microwave for 1 minute to melt the jelly. Whisk with a fork to ensure the cubes have melted. Add the reserved cherry juice and make up to 1 pint with cold water. 3. Pour over the cherries and leave to set in the refrigerator. 4. Once set, carefully top with the chocolate custard and then the cherry yoghurt. 5. Decorate with a swirl of double cream and sprinkle with grated chocolate. Serves 6-8

Method 1. Drain the cherries and reserve the juice. Divide the cherries between 6 small glass trifle dishes or 8 wine glasses. 2. Place the jelly cubes into a jug with 200mls water and

Cooks Tip - Make up 1 pint of plain custard if preferred instead of using tinned ready made chocolate. Soak cherries in Kirsch for a boozy finish!

Food & Drink

Christmas Microwave Brownies Ingredients 40g cocoa 75g butter 100g granulated sugar 2 large eggs 3 tbsp milk 1 tsp vanilla extract 100g self raising flour 50g chopped walnuts 25g dried cherries or cranberries To Decorate 40g dark chocolate

Method 1. Line a 20cm/8 inch round microwave proof dish with non stick baking paper. 2. Place the butter and cocoa into a large bowl and Microwave on Full Power for 1-1½ mins. 3. Mix in 100g granulated sugar. 4. Beat together 2 eggs, 3 tbsp milk and 1 tsp vanilla extract and mix into the cocoa mix. 5. Add the self-raising flour, chopped walnuts and dried cherries or cranberries 6. Pour the mixture into a shallow 20cm/8inch round dish. 7. Cook on Full Power for 4½ - 5 minutes. 8. Melt chocolate in a small bowl for 1 minute on Full Power. 9. Decorate with melted chocolate and chopped walnuts and serve with vanilla ice cream. Serves 6-8 Cooks Tip – Variation - Turn the brownie out on a plate and immediately remove the greaseproof paper and quickly arrange 8 after dinner mints on the top while the cake is hot. The heat from the brownie will melt the chocolate to form a topping. Sprinkle with nuts before serving.

Food & Drink

Chocolate Roulade With Baileys Cream Ingredients 5 eggs 140 g sugar 225 g dark chocolate 90 mls water 1tsp coffee granules 300mls double cream 2 tbsp Baileys cream or another liqueur To Serve Icing sugar and assorted mixed red berries

Method 1. Line tin with baking parchment. Preheat the oven to 190ºC Fan/Gas 6. 2. Separate the eggs. Beat the yolks and sugar until pale and thick. 3. Mix the coffee and water together to dissolve the granules and put into a thick bottomed saucepan with the chocolate pieces and melt over a gentle heat. 4. Whisk egg whites until stiff. Mix the egg yolk mixture into chocolate and fold in the egg whites. Spread the mixture evenly over the paper. 5. Bake for 12-14 mins until the top is slightly browned and firm to touch. 6. Slide the cake with its baking paper onto a wire try, cover with a clean damp tea towel or moist paper towel and allow to cool, this helps prevent the cake from cracking too much. 7. Place a sheet of greaseproof paper slightly bigger than the cake on the work surface. Turn the cake out onto the paper and peel off the greaseproof lining paper. 8. Whip the cream, add the liqueur and spread evenly over the cake. 9. Roll up like a swiss roll, removing the paper as you go. Twist the ends of the paper together and refridgerate until needed. 10. Trim the ends before serving and serve with fresh mixed fruit.

Find more of Teresa's wonderful recipes in the Autumn/Winter cook book available online on www.madeinn.co.uk/shop

www.teresabovey.co.uk 66

We Rec ommend.. Mr & Mrs Fine Wine It’s that time again to slip on those cosy slippers and pour something special into your glass! Christmas really is the best time of the year to take some time to do things properly, especially when it comes to food and drink. This festive season we’re gearing up for some spectacular wines to suit any seasonal menu!

Sparkles to Start

This year has certainly been interesting in this country, in terms of ‘changeable’ weather, but the more sunshine we do get is all making our homegrown sparkling wines better than ever! From right down near the coast in West Sussex, Bolney Estate Foxhole Vineyard Brut Reserve, £29.99, is generous in Pinot Noir content, it oozes style and best of all, it produces a fabulously fine mousse on the finish! Also rich in Pinot Noir, from the classic Champagne region in France, Delavenne Original Brut Tradition 60/40, £39.99, has some zesty aromas that include lime, to apple to brioche. Both are fine choices to get things started this Christmas. A crisp, white to pair with your turkey and roasted vegetables could be Sancerre. The grapes that produce our Domaine Emile Balland Croq’Caillote Sancerre Blanc, Loire, France, £25.99, come from an exceptionally small, south facing plot of just 6.5 hectares, so you’re getting something very special with this one – a zesty, citrussy, zippy little number that works so well with white meats such as turkey. When it comes to an alternative Christmas dinner of, perhaps poached salmon, it’s a great idea to go for an aromatic white, such as a Riesling. Hanewald-Schwerdt Auf Der Pochel Riesling, £14.99, is a dry style that combines two types of terroir, limestone and sandstone, to produce a lively, silky texture, with some stunning citrussy notes and a slightly a herbal edge.

Premium Red at the Ready

Special occasions call for nothing but the best and Christmas provides the perfect excuse to indulge in something outstanding! Oakville, at the heart of Napa, California, is revered for its exceptional, premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Hoopes Vineyard Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Napa Valley, £100.00, is a perfect example of a wine from its unique terroir. With aromas of leather, white pepper and earthy cocoa, this wine is fresh, ripe and juicy - a real showstopper for your festive table!

Let Dessert be Divine!

For dessert, make it decadent all the way and go for a Vintage Port! Fabulous alongside Christmas pudding but also a winner with chocolate, which will no doubt be available in abundance! Considered to be perhaps the best vintage since 1994, Croft Vintage Port 2000, £65, it’s a lovely full-bodied gem with an intense colour and juicy, fruit cake aromas. Or for a fruitier alternative, choosing its 2003 counterpart, Croft Vintage Port 2003, £67.50, is a great option. Full of aromas of blueberry and blackberry, there’s a lovely helping of minerality on the finish. Plenty to enjoy this Christmas - here’s to tasty, decadent times and a fabulous festive season!

www.mrandmrsfinewine.co.uk

Fashion

Oliver Bonas Oliver Bonas Sparkle Printed Mini Halter Dress, £75. www.oliverbonas.com

e v i t s e F . . . e l k Spar

Shimmer & sparkle your way through the festive season.

Oliver Bonas Oliver Bonas Metallic Gold Shirt, £65. Gold Shimmer Plisse Trouser, £65. www.oliverbonas.com

Oliver Bonas Oliver Bonas Burnout Devoree Mini V Neck Dress, £79.50. www.oliverbonas.com

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3. Oliver Bonas Asterly Tall Shopper Tote, £52. www.oliverbonas.com

6. 5.

1. New Look, Silver Sequin Ruched Mini Dress, £35.99. www.newlook.com 2. Oliver Bonas Silver Kitten Heel Sling Back Point, £9, www.oliverbonas.com. 3. Liverpool Street 2.0 Opulent Medium Ziptop Multiway Black Bag, £279, www.radley.co.uk. 4. Oliver Bonas Twisted Bar Fan & Gem Detail Stud Earrings, £18. www.oliverbonas.com. 5. Oliver Bonas Twisted Bar Fan & Gem Detail Necklace, £24, www.oliverbonas.com. 6. TK MAXX Silver Stiletto (RRP £39.99), New Price £12.99. tkmaxx.com. 7. River Island Studio Dress, £70. www.riverisland.com

s r e m r a W r inte

Warm seasonal knits to keep you cosy this winter from FatFace.

FatFace Hove Crew Jumper, £59, Straight 5 Pocket Jeans, £59. www.fatface.com

Leisure

FatFace Carter Cable Knitted Tank, £45, Lulworth Organic Crew T-Shirt, £25, Loose Fit Jeans, £59, Leon Leather Trainer, £75. www.fatface.com

FatFace Brooke Zip Through, £55, Fleece Overshirt, £55, Henford Stripe T Shirt, £25, Straight Cord Trousers, £55. www.fatface.com

FatFace Calder Half Neck Jumper, £65, Straight Fit Jeans, £59. www.fatface.com

Motoring

Six Decades Of Aston Martin

he world’s most iconic car, the Aston Martin DB5, has turned 60 with Aston Martin leading the celebrations.

September 2023 marked exactly 60 years since Aston Martin unveiled its then newcomer, with the model going on to become an icon of British culture, design and innovation and firmly establishing Aston Martin as one of Britain’s most desirable luxury brands. Six decades on, the DB5 continues to be one of the world’s most iconic and recognisable cars, and took centre stage of Aston Martin’s presence at the Goodwood Revival festival in Sussex last weekend alongside the latest addition to the marque’s revered DB bloodline, the world’s first Super Tourer, DB12. Marking Aston Martin’s proud past and exciting future, the two models have been photographed together in images released today to celebrate the landmark anniversary. Reflecting on the enduring appeal of the DB5 as it marks its 60th anniversary, Aston Martin’s Executive Chairman, Lawrence Stroll – himself a DB5 owner – said: “The David Brown era gave us so many great Aston Martin sports cars but none more recognisable, revered, and desired as the DB5, which laid the foundations of our identity as a British luxury brand synonymous with style, performance, and exclusivity. “It is only right that, as it turns 60, we take a moment to look back and reflect on this car’s incredible role in our storied 110-year heritage. We’re incredibly proud that the DB lineage continues today with the critically acclaimed DB12, which like those came before it, is a celebration of all we love about

British hand built sportscars, with a new injection of the latest technology and highest levels of performance.”

Sixties Icon The year was 1963. Aston Martin was riding a wave of popularity and its DB4 had been selling consistently well since it was unveiled as an entirely new car for the marque in 1958. Yet with strong competition from luxury sports car makers both at home and on the continent, something new was needed to keep the brand on top. Making its official public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1963 the newcomer featured several design, technical and equipment changes over its predecessor – most notably a major engine development delivering even more power – that justified the use of a name entirely new to the car world of the day, but now synonymous with the ultimate in style and desirability: DB5. The saloon and, later, convertible bearing this unmistakable moniker were in production at the brand’s Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire factory and headquarters for a little over two years but, in that time, set about forging a reputation and fame that, today, make them among the most desirable cars of all time. One fictious owner in particular springs to mind, of course, and there’s no doubt that the decision by film-makers EON Productions to put the world’s most well-known secret agent behind the wheel of the new DB5 in a series of James Bond movies over the course of more than half a century has cemented its place in the automotive hall of fame. But 007

Motoring

The Aston Martin DB5 at 60 – Celebrating six decades of the world’s most iconic car.

is far from the only ‘celebrity’ to have been seen behind the wheel of this now iconic Aston Martin.

developing what was, then, a distinctly potent 282 bhp in standard form.

The Swinging Sixties were about to take off as crowds jostled for a glimpse of the new DB5 in Frankfurt and, within only a few years, many of the most famous actors, pop stars and celebrities of the day would be counting themselves fortunate to be among the exclusive ranks of Aston Martin ownership.

That welcome extra power was part of a raft of detailed technical and equipment changes, such as the debut of electric windows and the optional availability of air conditioning, which had been painstakingly engineered to meet increasingly sophisticated and demanding customer expectations.

Celebrated DB5 patrons in the 1960s include The Beatles’ Sir Paul McCartney and George Harrison and Rolling Stone Mick Jagger. Master comedian Peter Sellers also acquired the model, while a plethora of notable names in the years since – from Robert Plant and Jay Kay to Elle McPherson and Ralph Lauren – have ensured that saloon and convertible versions of the car alike have rarely left the limelight. Indeed, the DB5’s celebrity appeal proved to be a springboard for success and helped take Aston Martin from niche British sports car maker to global automotive superstar. This is perhaps even more remarkable when set against the number of cars produced. In all, a mere 887 DB5 saloons, 123 convertibles and 12 bespoke coach-built shooting brakes were made originally. Even by the standards of the day, these numbers were tiny especially with UK car production totaling in excess of 1.8 million in 1963.

Power & Glory The DB5 displayed in Germany featured a new 4.0-litre (3,995cc) much reworked version of the 3.7-litre, twin cam, straight six that powered the DB4, with the new engine

Performance, an Aston Martin trademark even 60 years ago, was commensurate with the car’s svelte styling – the product of Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera – and a top speed exceeding 150 mph prompted the Aston Martin brochure of the day to claim: “The DB5 is the fastest regular 4-seat GT car in the world.” That hugely impressive statistic, even today, helped British car magazine The Autocar to conclude in their first road test of the new model: “this is a car which cries out to be driven, to be driven well, and to be driven far.” This grandest of grand tourers laid the groundwork for the cars that followed, with today’s DB12 – the world’s first Super Tourer – once again asserting Aston Martin’s position as a leader in performance, dynamics, engineering and technology.

For further details visit: www.astonmartin.com

All imagery and editorial thanks to Aston Martin. www.astonmartin.com

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