‘Shade Sails’ in the Park

Regular visitors to Rushcliffe Country Park here in Ruddington may already have noticed two rather ‘striking’ new additions between the children’s play area and outdoor gym/new skatepark. Officially called ‘Shade Sails’ (pictured top), they have been erected among the picnic benches to provide welcome shelter from the sun during the summer months, and protection from rain during the wet, winter months. They were funded by a visitor who made a generous donation in her will to a favourite park she had visited many times over the years. It’s possible the new structures rather…

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New Ruddington Café Shelter Opens

Visitors to Rushcliffe Country Park can now enjoy an extra place to take refuge from the rain – or the sun! – thanks to a brand new natural wood shelter constructed near the Visitor Centre. It also aims to provide a sociable space with additional all-weather seating where park-goers can enjoy refreshments from the adjacent ‘Coffee and Cake by the Lake’ café, which opened in October last year. The structure will also be used as an outdoor education centre to teach children the important part wildlife has to play in…

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Country Park Path Closures

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…

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90th Anniversary of Local Park

On 10th September 1932, the Ruddington Parish Council Recreation Ground (Elms Park/ Carter’s Recreation Ground) was officially opened by Samuel Carter. Samuel was born in Ruddington in 1859, in a cottage that apparently stood where the current library is. In 1880, he moved to Guelph, Ontario, Canada, where he was a very successful hosiery manufacturer and Mayor from 1913 to 1914. He died there in 1944. In the early 1930s, he offered to fund a recreation ground and swimming baths for his native village of Ruddington. At this time, public…

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Another Celebration at Rushcliffe Country Park

Once again a Green Flag has been raised in Ruddington’s Country Park – acknowledging our local green space as one of the very best outdoor spaces in the UK. Rushcliffe Country Park has been named again among 2,208 UK parks and green spaces that have received the 2022/2023 Award, which sets the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the UK and around the world. Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Communities and Climate Change, Cllr Abby Brennan, joined The Friends of Rushcliffe Country Park volunteer group…

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Ruddington’s Country Park Does it Again!

Rushcliffe Country Park has just received its 15th consecutive Green Flag Award – an acknowledgment that Ruddington’s much loved green space remains one of the very best parks in the UK. It’s one of 2,127 parks and green spaces around the country that have received the award – as the scheme celebrates 25 years as the international quality mark for parks. It’s a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities. Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for…

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COVID Safety Concerns at Country Park

As we enter the second week of the new national Coronavirus ‘lockdown’, concerns are being expressed by users of Rushcliffe Country Park that ‘social distancing’ and other COVID-safe guidelines are not being followed. It follows reports of crowds flocking there last weekend just as if it was ‘business as usual’. One park user, calling himself DT, tweeted: “Nobody is isolating. Went for a walk at Ruddington park yesterday. Must have been at least 300 people on the park. 2 burger vans and a ice cream truck in full operation. No chance…

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Yet Another Green Flag For Our Country Park!

A popular Ruddington, visitor attraction has received its fourteenth consecutive Green Flag Award, acknowledging it as one of the very best parks in the UK. Of course, Rushcliffe Country Park is also much loved and well used by thousands of village residents – with this safe, open, green space right on our doorstep being especially appreciated by locals during the Coronavirus outbreak. In fact, these international awards were a little delayed by COVID-19 this year, but it didn’t stop Ruddington again being among a record-breaking 2,061 UK locations which have now received…

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