Author: Graham Wright

Swapping and Sowing Seeds for Spring

Graham Wright

It’s now over a year since Ruddington’s last remaining public telephone box, in front of our War Memorial, was saved for future generations by being put to a completely different use. Adopted by Ruddington-based charity The Mustard Seed Project (Uganda) for just £1, since being launched in October 2022 {top photos} the kiosk has served as a seed exchange; dubbed ‘The Mustard Seed Box’. With spring now just around the corner, Trustee Clement Dixon thought it would be a good time to remind villagers about this free facility for all who enjoy…

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Will You Open YOUR Garden for Charity?

Graham Wright

After returning post-pandemic in 2022, it’s been confirmed the (usually) biennial ‘Ruddington Open Gardens’ event is being staged again this summer. In fact, planning is already underway for Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd June 2024, when gardens and allotments in our village will be opening in aid of two charities from 2.00pm to 6.00pm on both days. As previously, all proceeds from the event will be split between Save the Children and Action for Children. Residents willing to participate in this year’s two-day horticultural feast are now being invited to get in touch.…

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A Hundred More Jobs For Ruddington?

Graham Wright

A major UK software company, which already employs around 900 workers at Ruddington Fields Business Park, says it could create over a hundred further jobs at the site if revised proposals for a new office block and car park are given the nod by planners. MHR, which provides HR, talent management, and payroll services, has applied to Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) to revise plans which were already approved in September 2022 for another building adjacent to ‘Britannia House’ (pictured top). This additional block was to contain 2 floors of car parking and 2…

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An SOS From The RBL!

Graham Wright

After the sad passing of its longstanding Chair, Ken Hicks, it’s just over a year since we reported on the appointment of his successor, Malcolm R Greenberry, to this key role at the Ruddington & District Branch of the Royal British Legion. The UK’s leading Armed Forces charity has a network of branches and clubs all over the country and overseas for its members to engage and participate in social, fundraising and welfare activities. Here in Ruddington they also help to organise the well-attended annual Remembrance Services at the War…

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Residents Object to New Nursery Plans

Graham Wright

Proposals to create a new children’s nursery on Brookside Road in Ruddington have proved unpopular with householders in the area. When the site known as ‘Brookside House’ (pictured above in June 2021) was sold off for redevelopment in 2022 by former owners Brookside Autoservices, other units there which were still occupied were also vacated. However, the commercial premises have since lain empty, facing an uncertain future. Most recently, plans to demolish all the existing buildings and build three houses and six apartments there were also shelved. This followed a negative response…

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New Ruddington Defibrillator

Graham Wright

As our village population continues to grow, so does the need for potentially life-saving yellow and green boxes in close proximity which are available to our community 24 hours a day. In the past few years, as well as inside various Ruddington premises and on standby for public events, several publicly accessible automated external defibrillators (AEDs) have been installed at locations around our village. Now there’s another one – on the wall of the Old Chapel belonging to The Framework Knitters’ Museum down Chapel Street. It’s just been unveiled by electrician David Selby…

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Recruiting Ruddington Runners!

Graham Wright

Do you enjoy running and socialising?  If so, a new, free-to-join group of like-minded Ruddingtonians would love to see you. Ruddington Running Club was started by 29-year-old villager Jack Simkins in 2023 but has only been active since the start of this year. Members currently run together twice a week; with one session in the morning and the other in the evening. Jack, who moved to Ruddington just eighteen months’ ago, reveals: “In 2022, while solo training for a half-marathon, I had this idea – why not turn the pavement…

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Traditional Hedge Laying at our Country Park

Graham Wright

Visitors to Ruddington’s top tourist attraction may have noticed a time-honoured hedge laying technique to help manage its hedgerows sustainably, which aims to provide a valuable habitat and food source for wildlife. Further winter work is being undertaken at Rushcliffe Country Park by its Park Rangers and Friends of Rushcliffe Country Park (FoRCP) volunteers using a traditional, manual technique which involves cutting the hedge tree thinly at the base and lying them on their side, as can be seen above. It’s an annual practice they have used for decades in certain…

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Starting a Business in Ruddington?

Graham Wright

If you’ve decided to take the plunge to work for yourself – either from home or perhaps eyeing up one of the currently vacant shop or office units in Ruddington – here’s something which could really help. Village entrepreneurs are being invited to sign up to a free two-day online workshop covering the fundamentals of running a successful business, which it’s promised will provide practical insights and tools to help boost the survival rates of new businesses. The so-called ‘Nottinghamshire Start-up Bootcamp’ is available in our village and some other areas…

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‘Rudd Awards’ is BACK!

Graham Wright

Following its successful debut in 2022, the team behind a biennial, Ruddington-focused awards ceremony has announced nominations for this year’s event are now OPEN. As before, ‘Rudd Awards 2024′, organised by Ruddington Village Community Partnership (RVCP), will recognise villagers’ favourite individuals, community groups and businesses in six categories, as follows: Sports, Leisure & Culture Village Retailer or Service Village Hospitality Community Group Champion Volunteer Young Star The awards are again sponsored by Okarno (formerly Artex Ltd) on Pasture Lane, with RUDDINGTON.info proud to continue as the awards’ official media partner. RVCP Chair Mike Ader…

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