Now the summer holidays are well underway, we’re sure many Ruddington parents will be looking for local activities and days out that all the family can enjoy. So here’s a round-up of some of the main events taking place in and around the village this summer.
Ruddington Fun
Set up and run by a small group of volunteers, Ruddington Fun is here to provide a wide range of school holiday events and activities for local children, young people and their families. The fun began on 24 July and runs right through to 2 September.
There’s plenty going on every week of the holidays, such as Sticky Fingers cookery classes for under 5s (and their older siblings), cinema trips, sports sessions, nature-themed events at Rushcliffe Country Park and much more. For full details and booking information, simply pick up a Ruddington Fun leaflet from one of schools, the library or the Parish Council office.
All the events are also listed in the Ruddington Diary section of the Parish Council website, www.ruddingtonparishcouncil.co.uk, and on Ruddington Fun’s Facebook page – just type ‘Ruddington Fun’ into the Search box when you log in. Have fun!
Special events at GCRN
As usual, our local heritage railway, Great Central Railway Nottingham (GCRN), is hosting a range of events during the summer holidays, with activities on offer to attract children and adults of all ages.
Steam and diesel services will be also running every Saturday and Sunday until the end of October (except 14 and 21 September), plus August Bank Holiday Monday.
This summer’s special events are:
Model Rail Extravaganza, Saturday 3 & Sunday 4 August. Featuring: a range of layouts of British, Continental and American model railway prototypes, sales stands, rides on the miniature railway and heritage rail services.
Phoenix Summer Gathering, Saturday 11 August. Featuring: a ‘not to be missed’ display of fantastic heritage road vehicles from bygone times, showcasing vintage cars, buses and commercial vehicles. Plus journeys on the full-size steam railway and miniature railway, trade stands and vehicle memorabilia.
20th Anniversary Mixed Traction Event, Monday 26 August. The main details of this event are still to be confirmed (keep an eye on the website – details below), but heritage steam and diesel locomotives will definitely be running.
Please visit www.gcrn.co.uk for the latest information on these events and to view the various timetables for the heritage rail services that will be running on summer weekends. You can also call GCRN on 0115 940 5705 or email info@gcrn.co.uk.
Garden Party at Framework Knitters Museum
The Framework Knitters Museum is holding its second Annual Garden Party on Bank Holiday Monday, 26 August from 11am. Visitors can relax in the Museum’s gardens with a cup of tea and a cake to the accompaniment of traditional Victorian musical entertainment, performed by local artists.
You can also have a go at using the circular knitting machines, watch skilled craftspeople in action and buy a range of locally-made textile gifts. The event is set to be a success whatever the weather as, in case of rain, it will be held in the Museum’s large on site Chapel.
Find out more about the event at www.frameworkknittersmusem.org.uk, or call 0115 984 6914.
Rush4Health returns to Rudd
The popular Rush4Health festival returns to Rushcliffe Country Park on Sunday 1 September, from 12 noon to 5pm. This family day out aims to promote healthy living through a range of fun and informative activities, with free admission for all.
Whilst adults can seek advice from health professionals in a relaxed and friendly environment, the kids can enjoy free activity workshops and find out about all kinds of sports, from cycling and kite-flying to pony trekking, dancing and drumming.
As you’d expect, lots of information will be available around healthy eating, including ‘grow your own’ allotment advice and cookery demonstrations on low fat alternatives to takeaways from home economist Teresa Bovey.
Rush4Health will be divided into three zones – Eat Well, Move More and Live Longer so you can pick and choose the activities and information that are of most interest to you and your family. You can find out more about health living at www.nhs.uk/change4life, the national campaign that’s behind the Rush4Health event.
By Faye Stenson