News
Heritage Trees Project Hosts It's 9th Tree Planting Event in Kirkby-in-Ashfield
The Miner2Major Landscape Partnership Scheme has been working with The Sherwood Forest Trust (SFT) to deliver the ‘Heritage Trees Project’. The Trust is hosting 10 community tree planting events throughout the diverse landscape of the former Royal Hunting Forest and North Nottinghamshire coalfields.
These planting events are focused around commemorating well-known stories in local history and celebrating the contribution that trees make to our environment and our culture.
The 9th event of this project took place in Kirkby-in-Ashfield on the 18th October, when children from Kirkby Woodhouse Primary School attended the event at Nuncargate Recreation Ground to celebrate local cricket legends, Harold Larwood and Bill Voce, who both grew up in the area and played for Nottinghamshire and England teams. The children took part in a range of activities, including tree planting with SFT, willow weaving with Lincoln Willow, and some have-a-go cricket activities with Little Wickets.
They also planted 3 willow trees on the Recreation Ground, which were the nominated tree of choice by the community. This rapidly-growing tree produces white wood which is highly sought after and makes the finest cricket bats used by professional cricketers around the world.
Katie, Community Conservation Officer from the Trust said:
“The overall project is a great way of getting members of the community involved with activities that are both good for the environment, and also allow them to learn more about their local history and culture. The trees planted as part of the project will be admired in years to come and we hope they are a reminder of these important historical stories”.
A spokesperson for Kirkby Woodhouse Primary School said:
"We truly had a fabulous morning when we joined you at Nuncargate. The children were so full of enthusiasm and pride in what they had achieved. The team you had leading the activities were patient and inspiring and I know the children learnt a lot from them. I am sure that in years to come, the trees will be recognised and celebrated by our school".
M2M Veiled Landscape Project at Sherwood Pines Leads to Unique Findings
The M2M Veiled Landscape Project has teamed up with Forestry England to help shed more light on the archaeology buried within Sherwood Pines. A crew of volunteers assembled from Operation Nightingale and Forestry England have excavated three archaeological targets within the WWI training trenches within the forest. Soil samples were collected and processed to help us understand the environment of the past, and a metal detector and unexploded ordnance officer were also on site to lead in the discovery of a number of fascinating finds.
We thank our volunteers who braved the very wet conditions to help us better understand this important relic landscape and improve the management of the WWI trench network within the Sherwood Pines.
M2M launches The Big Draw: Time to Connect project
The Big Draw 2023: Time to Connect will help join six nature and heritage sites across the county in the form of a brand-new art trail!
We have joined Inspire for this year's Big Draw project to help leave a legacy of artworks in key locations across Sherwood Forest.
We are delighted to be working with visual artists Mandy Keating, Tracey Meek and sculptor Chris Campbell who will work with groups across the chosen venues to create the artworks.
This work is part of a wider national project working with renowned portrait photographer, Alistair Morrison. Alistair has created Time to Connect, photographing people and places around the UK and Nottinghamshire is the starting point for this journey!
Take Time to Connect to new people, places and environments. Look out for the exhibition and workshops at an Inspire Library near you. Find out more about the project.
Sherwood Forest Up Close Photography Exhibition to tour Libraries
Miner2Major Launches 2023 Knitting Challenge!
The Miner2Major Landscape Partnership Scheme, Inspire, Nottinghamshire Police, Newark and Sherwood District Council and Creative Lives are supporting Nottinghamshire crafters to make Brave Bears for charities working with children in times of need.
We're working with local textile designer Megan Crook, who has designed Brave Bear knitting and crochet patterns, decorated with a special Sherwood Forest acorn motif.
At the end of the exhibition the Brave Bears will be distributed to charities working with children in times of need by Nottinghamshire Police.
Find out more about 2023 Knitting Challenge and download the Brave Bear knitting patterns at Inspire
Arrow Sculpture Installed at Rainworth Heath Nature Reserve
Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust proudly unveiled its new sculpture at Rainworth Heath Nature Reserve last week – a giant oak arrow - which pays tribute to the area’s captivating heritage, it’s past and present and deep connection with local legends. The sculpture is the result of a year-long engagement project, delivered by Inspire Youth Arts through Miner2Major.
The sculpture was created in collaboration with young people from Dawn House School, Joseph Whitaker School, and the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Young Rangers. Artist Richard Janes facilitated workshops with the schoolchildren, working with them on themes of mining, local heritage, and nature over the last year. The children were introduced to wood carving techniques then given the opportunity to ‘make their own mark’ and add their own carvings to the sculpture themselves under Janes’ guidance. The sculpture’s final design features an image of a miner and local wildlife species from the Rainworth Heath site.
Crafted entirely from oak, the final artwork resembles a colossal arrow shot into the ground. Purposefully designed to fuse the rich history of the area with the local landscape and blend into the natural surroundings of the reserve.
The oak arrow sits at the heart of the Rainworth Heath site and will weather naturally. Visitors to the area are encouraged to come and see the sculpture and discover more of the site and its local walks – which is located adjacent to the former Rufford colliery site. The Rainworth Heath Nature Reserve is managed by the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and is one of the last remaining areas of heathland in Nottinghamshire, home to many species of birds, insects, and plants in the heart of the Sherwood Forest area.
The project has been a creative way to engage young people in Nottinghamshire with the natural landscape and local history. Sculptor Richard Janes is currently working with both schools involved the project and will be producing sculptures for each school that link with the Rainworth Heath work.
Step into Sherwood Voices this Spring