Wildlife – RUDDINGTON.info

Overdue Junction Improvements Should Get ‘Green Light’ Soon

2nd June 20232nd June 2023 Graham Wright

For over a year, frustration has been building among village motorists and other residents about the mounting peak-time traffic queues at Ruddington’s busiest crossroads. The increased delays at the Loughborough Road/Kirk Lane/Flawforth Lane traffic lights are being blamed on a failure to carry out the promised junction improvement works there – as hundreds of new families move into the four, major new developments approved in Ruddington as part of the Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) ‘Local Plan Part Two’. As previously reported, Avant Homes in particular has come in for criticism after…

To Mow or Not to Mow?

29th May 202329th May 2023 Graham Wright

Many lawns, verges and public spaces in Ruddington are a little ‘wilder’ at the moment – as ‘No Mow May’ comes to an end. Promoted each year by the charity ‘Plantlife’, the initiative encourages individuals and organisations to leave mowers in sheds during the month of May so that wildflowers among the grass can grow wild to provide a feast for pollinators, tackle pollution, and lock away atmospheric carbon below ground. The question is, should more of us leave more ground untended throughout the year, not just for these 31 days?…

Country Park Path Closures

27th May 202330th May 2023 Graham Wright

A major programme of works has been announced, taking place throughout this summer, to maintain and repair the network of pathways which criss-cross Rushcliffe Country Park. The popular Ruddington leisure facility welcomes hundreds of thousands of people each year – from our village and further afield. Its miles of paths will now be brought back up to standard from the resultant wear and tear ahead of the busy summer season. Rushcliffe Borough Council says its £45k capital investment will begin on Monday June 5th 2023 to improve the visitor experience and accessibility to…

MP & Councillors’ Open Letter to Bloor Homes

16th May 202316th May 2023 Graham Wright

Frustrated residents next to the new Ruddington housing development off Wilford Road have received some high profile backing in their bid to proceed with the agreed tree planting there as part of ‘The Queen’s Green Canopy’ (QGC). MP for Rushcliffe Ruth Edwards and Ruddington’s three Rushcliffe Borough Councillors – Jen Walker, Mike Gaunt and Graham Fletcher – have all signed an Open Letter to the owner and Directors of Bloor Homes Ltd. It’s after the developer’s regional office suddenly reneged on its promise to allow room for a row of trees…

Help Our Hedgehogs!

8th May 20238th May 2023 Graham Wright

Ruddington wildlife lovers are being encouraged to take action to protect the red listed mammals – with ‘The State of Britain’s Hedgehogs 2022’ report suggesting numbers have declined by 75% in some parts of our country since the year 2000. The increased use of fencing between houses, rather than hedges, has been partly blamed. Besides established hedgerows providing a ‘home’ for the spiky creatures, hedgehogs can also travel up to a mile each night through people’s gardens if the activity of humans still makes this possible. They need around a dozen gardens…

Labour Landslide in Ruddington

5th May 20235th May 2023 Graham Wright

Villagers went to the polls yesterday (4th May 2023), to elect Ruddington’s three representatives on Rushcliffe Borough Council, and the results are now in. With an impressive turnout of 43.1%, the three Labour Party candidates all secured many more votes than their Conservative & Green Party rivals, taking all three available seats. There were seven candidates standing for election in Ruddington Ward, who polled as follows: Name of Candidate Description (if any) Number of Votes* CAVEN-ATACK, Benjamin William commonly known as ATACK, Ben Local Conservatives 776 DICKMAN, Gary Dane Local Conservatives 821 FLETCHER, Graham…

A ‘Yarn Bomb’ Fit For a King

4th May 202314th May 2023 Graham Wright

It’s only a month since their last ‘Ruddington Yarn Bomb’ for Easter, but our local knitters, pom pom and tassle makers, crocheters and sewists from the ‘Handmade in Rudd’ Facebook group and beyond have been working flat out, before and since, to create their latest display in time for The King’s Coronation. The now famous ‘Ruddington Yarn Ninjas’ have created lots of brand new pieces to adorn the village centre, as well as an update to last year’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee church railings ‘royal balcony’ tapestry to reflect the key Royal players this time around. Chief…

Adopt a Flower Bed!

2nd May 20232nd May 2023 Graham Wright

An imaginative volunteering idea has been unveiled by a Ruddington tourist attraction aiming to get all generations involved at its village centre heritage site. The Framework Knitters’ Museum on Chapel Street has launched a campaign to find two ‘green fingered’ families over the summer holidays. Those chosen will adopt a flower bed, in the museum’s gardens, and be given British cottage flowers to tend to once a week throughout June, July and August. Families will also explore and identify the type of plants and flowers, how best to care for them, their…

Ruddington’s First Rapid Chargers

28th April 202328th April 2023 Graham Wright

It’s been rather a long time coming, but our village is now offering rapid charging provision for use by the ever-increasing number of residents and visitors with electric vehicles (EVs). Two EV charging points have just been installed at the entrance to Rushcliffe Country Park, operating on the national BP Pulse network. These units offer up to 50kW charging speeds which, for a small car like the MINI Electric (pictured) means charging up from 20% to 80% will take only around 20 minutes. This compares with several hours to achieve the same…

Ruddington’s Local Election Candidates

20th April 202320th April 2023 Graham Wright

With just a fortnight left before we go to the polls on 4th May 2023, all the candidates standing for election here in Ruddington have now been revealed. Once again, villagers will not be asked to vote for any Ruddington Parish Councillors since, disappointingly, only 13 residents put themselves forward for the 16 available seats. These Councillors have already been ‘duly elected’ by the Returning Officer, without a contest. It’s hoped the vacant Parish Council seats – one in Flawford Ward and two in Manor Ward – can be filled by co-option…