When Aike Bosman and Annika van Beers tied the knot at one of Nottinghamshire County Council’s licensed venues, Norwood Park in Southwell, the devotees honoured the famous outlaw and that period of history in a number of quirky ways.For a Dutch couple who have been avid fans of the outlaw since their childhood, getting married in Nottinghamshire on 8 May in a Robin Hood-style wedding was a dream come true.
When Aike Bosman and Annika van Beers tied the knot at one of Nottinghamshire County Council’s licensed venues, Norwood Park in Southwell, the devotees honoured the famous outlaw and that period of history in a number of quirky ways.
Diane Webster, superintendent registrar for Newark & Sherwood district who performed the ceremony said: "We were more than happy to help Aike and Annika when we heard what great fans they were of the iconic Nottinghamshire legend. They were looking for an atmospheric location close to the Sherwood Forest area which could accommodate all their wishes and themed touches.
"EU nationals are legally free to marry in the UK as long as they spend seven consecutive nights in the district where they wish to get married before giving notice. We’ve also been helping them with what they need to do to make their marriage legal in the Netherlands.”
And whilst Aike and Annika didn’t dress up as Robin and Marian for their big day, they did don mediaeval costumes for their pre-wedding photo shoot in Sherwood Forest.
The 36 guests at the intimate celebration at Norwood Park were able to have a go at archery in the grounds; the wedding cake was topped with a small statue of Robin and Marian and was cut with a mediaeval sword; the wedding breakfast was a mediaeval-style banquet featuring a minstrel dressed in period costume.
The marriage ceremony was followed by a blessing at St Mary’s Church in Edwinstowe, believed to be the church where Robin and Marian married.
Following Aike’s marriage proposal, the couple from Amersfoort in the Netherlands took the first of their three trips to Nottinghamshire in the past year to start looking for wedding venues.
Aike, whose most-loved Robin Hood films are the old ones like ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’ with Errol Flynn, said: "We’re thrilled to have been able to set up our dream wedding in the Robin Hood county and have received so much help from Newark register office and our wedding venue to come up with what was a perfect day.
"Since I was a child, I always wanted to visit Sherwood Forest,” added Annika whose favourite Robin Hood was played by Michael Praed in the 1980s TV series and who’s been an avid Robin Hood fan since the age of 10. "It never happened, so as I grew up I decided that my first visit would be with the person I was going to marry. So, it’s a perfect match really.”
For more information contact Dianne Webster, Superintendent Registrar tel: 01636 705455
Pupils from schools in Broxtowe Borough are encouraging local people to get out and get healthy on the newly created Erewash Valley Trail. Children from four schools based close to the trail have taken part in workshops led by the Greenwood Community Forest Team for the Erewash Valley Trail Partnership.
The four classes of over 100 children came up with several one-kilometre routes on, or close to the trail at:
Smithurst Meadows, Eastwood (Brookhill Leys Primary School)
Bramcote Hills Park (Fernwood Junior School)
Awsworth Recreation Ground (Awsworth Primary School)
Toton Fields, Toton. (Bispham Drive Junior School)
The aim of the project is to encourage local people to walk more for health along the 30 mile trail which stretches from Langley Mill basin along the Erewash and Nottingham canals to Trent Lock, Sawley.
The workshops encouraged pupils to learn how to use pedometers, compasses, stopwatches and maps before getting down to planning a route that could easily be walked in about 15 minutes.
The pupils used pedometers to test how many steps they had used throughout the day and some pupils timed the routes too. The children were encouraged to work together as a team and helped each other with the planning, and then trying out each route to see if it could be followed.
Now the routes have been chosen, the children will set about designing leaflets and posters to encourage local people to use the trail for exercise. Once completed, the routes can be uploaded to the Change4 life website, which encourages people to make small changes to their life to help them improve their health.
Gill Grievson, Community Liaison Officer for Greenwood said: "It was great to see all the children working together as a team when planning and trying out the routes. All in all we did about 14,000 steps each day – so it’s great that the children got plenty of exercise too.”
Jigisa Naik, teacher at Fernwood Junior School, said: “An important outcome for me was seeing how, with a little planning, it can be easy to use our local green space and get involved in projects to help local people. We had a fantastic day and it really got the children thinking about using the area more.”
For more information contact: Gill Grievson, Greenwood and conservation project officer tel: 01623 827 326
Residents at Abbey Grove Sheltered Housing in Worksop now have even more reason to sit out and enjoy the sunshine.
They have been hard at work planting an array of summer colour into their newly landscaped garden.
The £35,000 project includes seating, a pergola, paved and grassed areas and a number of raised flower beds.
The Local Improvement Scheme provided most of the funding with additional funding from A1 Housing and Mears Group plc.
The centre, which provides day services for the local community, previously lacked outdoor space for residents and visitors to sit and relax. Now the new garden is accessible for wheelchair users and people with limited disability.
Conservation officer Nic Wort, who managed the project, said: “The garden has been a welcome addition at Abbey Grove as the residents love their time in the fresh air. They will also be busy over the summer helping to maintain the flower beds, watering and general garden activities.”
For more information contact Jen Sheriston tel: 0115 977 4170
The latest improvements at Netherfield Lagoons aim to attract more visitors and schools to the nature reserve.
The last four years have seen a number of projects undertaken at the site and this year the Local Improvement Scheme has funded the building of a new dipping platform and improved access routes.
The site is managed by Gedling Conservation Trust who has reported a significant increase in the number of schools, community groups and general visitors using the reserve.
Coun Richard Butler, Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, said: “This is a wonderful example of the exquisite countryside we have in Nottinghamshire and we need to raise awareness of places like this so that both young and old can see the benefits.”
The latest project was managed by Groundwork Greater Nottingham whose executive director Jo Bradley commented: “The new dipping platform is an excellent example of the work we have been able to achieve in partnership with the community. I’m delighted that the profile of Netherfield Lagoons has been increased in recent years and I’m confident this site will become a regular venue for schools and the general public from across the county.”
A £25,000 Local Improvement Scheme to tidy up Spring Lane in Wiseton has been completed.
The request from the local parish council concentrated on an area next to the anal that had become otally overgrown.
The project included the creation of two parking bays, new seating, tree planting, the installation of litter bins, fencing and new York stone paving.
Coun Yates said: “This area is very popular with fishermen and walkers so they now have somewhere to park and somewhere to sit and relax. This patch of land used to be somewhat of an eyesore so the work carried out has been welcomed by residents and visitors alike.”
The work in Spring Lane was carried out by a number of agencies including Highways, Heritage Conservation, British Waterways, Bassetlaw District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council Rights of Way team.
For more information contact Jen Sheriston tel: 0115 977 4170
The residents in the village of East Leake can now enjoy the delights of 28 different tree species in a newly created arboretum.
The Friends of Meadow Park wanted to transform the area into a better equipped public space so that residents throughout the village could enjoy it.
As well as the arboretum, new pathways have been created which has improved the access for children attending Harry Carlton Comprehensive and lantern Lane Primary School who use the park as a cut through.
Nottinghamshire County Council’s Local Improvement Scheme has also provided a new picnic area and a notice board for the Friends group to advertise events and news in.
Pupil Freya Holdsworth, 8, said: “The arboretum will be an excellent place for wildlife and my class will also be using it to learn about nature and the environment.”
The project is an excellent example of partnership working with the Friends group working successfully with East Leake Parish Council, Rushcliffe Borough Council and Nottinghamshire County Council.
For more information contact Jen Sheriston tel: 0115 977 4170
The Local Improvement Scheme has helped brighten up the village of Ranby with a little help from local schoolchildren.
Pupils from Ranby Church of England Primary School helped local councillor Coun Liz Yates plant two raised beds in the village with a variety of summer bedding plants.
The Parish Council also made a request for two benches for the village so that people could sit and relax when out doing shopping or out walking.
For more information contact Jen Sheriston tel: 0115 977 4170