‘Open Gardens’ Countdown Begins

The organisers of a popular, village weekend – which takes place only every other year – say programmes for this summer’s event are now on sale. Ruddington Open Gardens 2024 is being held on Saturday and Sunday 1st and 2nd June from 2pm until 6pm. This time around, 13 private gardens around the village will open for viewing, plus the gardens at The Cottage Hotel and behind the Debbie Bryan Gallery on High Street. Hareham Gardens and Paradise Gardens allotments will also be open to the public. ‘Live’ music is…

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Ruddington Crossroads Work Resumes Soon

After a welcome respite for long-suffering residents and motorists, during which Flawforth Lane has reopened and the temporary traffic lights at the junction with Loughborough Road and Kirk Lane removed, Ruddington’s seemingly never-ending crossroads work will be back soon. Since this major highways project began in July 2023, to improve the layout of the increasingly busy Ruddington junction, it has caused major frustration for both villagers and visitors. Before the widening work could even begin, numerous contractors including Cadent Gas, Severn Trent Water, National Grid, Virgin Media and BT Openreach – have had to be called in…

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Country Park Parking Price Hike

Visitors who travel to Ruddington’s country park by car are being warned about substantial increases to the parking charges there this month. Following removal of the previous £1 all-day rate, from Wednesday 1st May 2024 those using the official parking at Rushcliffe Country Park now have to pay £1.50 to stay up to three hours and £3 hours to stay any longer than that.  That’s a rise of 50% and 300% respectively on the previous tariff. The cost of the annual car parking permit, for frequent park users, has also shot…

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Makers’ Night Goes Back to its Roots!

Organisers of an annual, village event which brings together dozens of crafters, creators, designers and makers from across the region in an artisan/craft trail through Ruddington have announced it will return to its usual summer slot this year. Ruddington Village Community Partnership (RVCP) – which also runs our monthly Village Market – has revealed Makers’ Night 2024 will be held on Friday 21st June from 4pm until 9pm. This time around the official host venues will be St Peter’s Church (pictured top), The Cottage Hotel, Ruddington Methodist Hall, The Framework Knitters’ Museum and Philo’s…

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Play Area Refurbishment Plans Announced

Plans to refurbish the children’s play area in Ruddington’s country park have been revealed today by Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC). The authority says the changes at Rushcliffe Country Park will be made after the Easter holidays in April as part of its £175,000 of investment into local facilities. Works will include replacing the existing central space net with a new Kanope Tower multi-play unit featuring 14 different play elements and a new wooden trail. RBC  says this will offer panoramic views of the park, increase play opportunities with a new pendulum pod swing…

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Rudd Awards 2024 Shortlist Announced!

Those in the running for the 2nd ‘Rudd Awards’ have been revealed, with a host of Ruddington favourites named as this year’s finalists. Launched by registered Community Interest Company Ruddington Village Community Partnership (RVCP) in 2022, the Rudd Awards shine a light on the local, businesses, individuals and community groups who are making a positive difference to life in Ruddington. The nineteen worthy nominees for this year’s awards are represented across six categories and were shortlisted from more than 250 nominations. At the start of January, Ruddington residents and visitors were…

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Smoke-Free Play Park Pledge

To mark ‘No Smoking Day’ today (Wednesday March 13th), the authority which runs Ruddington’s Country Park says it wants to raise awareness that all of its play parks are smoke-free. Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) says this is to further protect the health of children and residents from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Signage is in place at Rushcliffe Country Park so that visitors are even more aware of the need to not smoke in places where children play. It’s part of the RBC’s stated ‘tobacco control action plan’ of health initiatives to…

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Ruddington’s Railway Celebrates 125 Years

Did you realise that 2024 marks 125 years since the opening of the Great Central Railway ‘London Extension’? That included the two sections of line now preserved by heritage railway groups between Ruddington and Birstall in Leicester – which are soon to be reconnected in Loughborough, if all goes to plan. Meantime this weekend those two groups, Great Central Railway (Nottingham) and Great Central Railway (Loughborough), are holding a joint celebration for the first time, and encouraging visitors to enjoy what’s on offer at their sites. On both Saturday 16th March…

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Under Fives’ Female Football Reaches Ruddington!

Did you know Ruddington now has its very own football team for girls under the age of five? Not only that, it’s currently the only female soccer squad in our village. Ruddington Village Football Club, Under Five Girls team was started in September last year, and meets on a Sunday morning at Jubilee Playing Fields, off Loughborough Road.  All girls of reception age are welcome, and it now has a dozen regular players (eight of whom are pictured above). Club administrator Laura Burton says: “They are just training each week…

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A Smoke-Free Ruddington?

Residents and businesses in the village are being invited to share our views on a proposal to expand an existing ‘Smoke Control Area’ to cover all of Rushcliffe. Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) is considering revoking its existing Smoke Control Order in West Bridgford and Edwalton and replacing it with a single Smoke Control Order, covering the whole of the Borough, including Ruddington. The authority says its proposed plan is in line with the government’s air quality strategy which seeks to reduce levels of very fine particulates. This is with the…

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