Category: Events

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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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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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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Twixmas Roundup from our Railway

Graham Wright

With Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre now closed until 2024 (3rd January) here’s a quick progress report as we reach the end of another busy year at Ruddington’s popular railway. Firstly, Great Central Railway (Nottingham) (GCRN) reports that all the main building work on its new carriage shed here in Ruddington is now complete. Not only will this substantial new structure protect four, 1950s-built carriages from the elements and damage, but also the planned flat floor means it will be suitable for indoor events, and there is also a small workshop.…

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Free Tree Recycling Service

Graham Wright

It always seems a strange time to be talking about this, with the festive holidays not even started, but if you have a ‘real’ and unrooted Christmas tree this year, and live in Ruddington, you do need to act NOW! Ruddington Parish Council (RPC) is again offering a FREE tree collection and shredding service for our village but is asking residents to let them know straight away if you want to make use of it. If so, please just email office@ruddingtonparishcouncil.gov.uk or ‘phone them on 0115 914 6660 by Wednesday 20th December 2023 – making sure…

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Ruddington’s ‘Home Alone’ Elves Return!

Graham Wright

After Santa’s been to visit us with his elves, very early on Christmas Day, there’ll again be additional activity that lunchtime thanks to Ruddington’s own little helpers. As in previous years, they’re being co-ordinated by ‘chief elf’ Laura Ratcliffe, of Ruddington Mums (pictured top), to deliver festive meals all around our village to older residents who it’s known will be spending the big day alone. “We have a team of volunteer elves again who are serving an extra home cooked Christmas Day dinner and delivering it to the elderly residents of…

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The True Meaning of Christmas

Graham Wright

Whilst Ruddington’s wide variety of festive celebrations among traders and other village organisations in the run up to Christmas are hard to beat, it’s always good to remember the significance of this special period from a religious point of view. That’s what our three very active Christian churches in Ruddington are inviting us to do in the coming days, and here are their main Christmas services for 2023: Sunday 17th December Nativity Sunday Service @ 10.30am | Ruddington Baptist Church in St Peter’s Rooms – an all-age, interactive retelling of the…

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