Tourism – RUDDINGTON.info

Key Bridge Repair Should Get ‘Big Trains’ Back Soon!

17th July 202418th July 2024 Graham Wright

It’s now over four years since full-sized trains carried passengers on our once popular heritage railway line south of Ruddington. The tough restrictions at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 brought a halt to all activities at Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre on Mere Way, including the weekend steam and diesel services operated by the volunteers at Great Central Railway (Nottingham) (GCRN). Other setbacks since have meant these trains still haven’t restarted. One of these setbacks is a small bridge on the Nottinghamshire section of the railway which…

Traditional Hedge Laying at our Country Park

13th January 202413th January 2024 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…

‘The Big Swap Shop’ in Ruddington

25th May 202316th June 2023 Graham Wright

Recycling and re-using are at the heart of a special ‘pre-loved’ clothing event coming to our village next month. Ruddington’s award-winning Framework Knitters’ Museum is teaming up with ‘The Big Swap Shop’ to host a swap and ‘slow’ fashion event on Saturday 10th June from 6pm to 9pm. Organisers say it will be ‘family-friendly’ event, which will be held at the museum on Chapel Street. It will see a ‘twilight’ evening with a fashion mini market as well as local slow traders. Guests will also experience textile demonstrations and an…

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 ‘Big Trains’ Could Restart Soon!

30th January 202330th January 2023 Graham Wright

For almost three years now, a previously familiar weekend sound drifting across Ruddington has been sadly missing – that of the distant whistles and gentle chugging of steam trains making their way in and out of Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre. Since RUDDINGTON.info published the news piece ‘What’s Happening at our Heritage Railway’, back in January 2022, it’s continued to be one of our most searched for items – as villagers and visitors alike seek the elusive answer! In particular, the legendary ‘Santa Specials’ in the run-up to Christmas have been…

New Ruddington Café Launches

10th July 202211th July 2022 Graham Wright

The recently opened coffee shop within the new extension and gardens at Ruddington’s knitting and textile museum is now officially in new hands – following its ‘launch’ this weekend. The Split Screen Coffee Company – which has previously traded from The Bottle Top on High Street as well as from its famous converted VW camper van – is now running the hospitality area at Parker’s Yard within the former ‘Gunn Cottage’. Along with the museum gift shop and its Old Chapel, these are areas of Ruddington’s internationally famous tourist attraction which can…

Pointers in the Park

18th May 202125th January 2022 Graham Wright

If you’re a regular visitor to Rushcliffe Country Park, you can’t fail to have noticed the ever increasing number of beautifully carved wooden signs popping up to guide people to its many attractions. From the imposing sign at the car park entrance – to the numerous strategically placed finger posts around our Ruddington tourist hotspot – it’s now becoming increasingly difficult to get lost among the 200 acres of cycling and walking trails! Helpful signage (such as the examples shown below) takes you from the two hectare lake to key…

Ruddington Railway’s ‘Roadmap’

4th March 20217th March 2021 Graham Wright

One of our village’s main tourist attractions has announced it will begin to re-open some areas of its Mere Way site just after the Easter holidays. Although this means Ruddington kids will miss out on the Easter Bunny for a second year running – having also been deprived of a festive train trip with Santa – at least we can now see a light at the end of the (metaphorical) tunnel. Heritage services last ran at Great Central Railway (Nottingham) during the February half-term last year before all trains were cancelled and…

Co-op Cash Funding for our Framework Knitters

13th January 201717th January 2017 Graham Wright

Whilst Ruddington’s Framework Knitters’ Museum remains closed for the usual January break it’s worth remembering that you can still support them just by shopping at the Co-op! Our nationally acclaimed museum was chosen for Co-op Local Community Funding last year. This has already raised over £650 which will go towards their Key Stage One educational programme for school children. That funding has now been extended until April 30th 2017, so there’s still plenty of time to raise money by purchasing Co-op own-brand products and services. However, please remember you have to select them first! Anyone within 15 miles of Ruddington…