What’s On: Easter activities over the bank holiday

Easter events at Sherwood Forest, Edwinstowe:

Saturday 5 – Monday 21 April, 11am-3pm

SSSI Diamond Jubilee – Robin Hood’s Easter Trail

Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre, £1 per trail leaflet available from Visitor Information and £3 car parking charge at weekends and bank holidays.

Follow this self-guided trail around the Visitor Centre and woodland to discover lots of fascinating facts about Sherwood Forest and Robin Hood. Complete all the clues and claim your candy cane or chocolate reward! (subject to availability). Suitable for wheelchair users.

Edwinstowe:

Friday 18 April, 11am onwards

2.30pm-4pm (Walk)

Walk with the Hawks, Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre

Adults £5, children £2.50. £3 car parking charge

Take a walk on the wild side with falconer Chris Miller and his birds. A chance to get up close and personal with these beautiful creatures and learn some fascinating facts about this ‘sport of kings’, in the magnificent setting of the once Royal Hunting Forest of Sherwood. Places limited on the walk so pre-booking essential on 01623 823202. Sorry, no dogs. Maximum distance 1½ miles. (Heavy rain or strong winds may require this event to be re-scheduled.) Not suitable for wheelchair users.

Edwinstowe:

Saturday 19 – Monday 21 April, 11am-4pm

Dogs of War, Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre

Free Event. £3 car parking charge

Come along to Sherwood Forest this Easter weekend and meet members of the Dogs of War medieval re-enactment group. Let them thrill you with their displays of medieval combat and find out what life was really like in the forest in medieval times. Suitable for wheelchair users.

Edwinstowe:

Saturday 26 April, 11am-4pm

RSPB at Sherwood, Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre

Free event but small donation please towards the cost of materials. £3 car parking charge

Did you know The RSPB is the country’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home? Come along to the visitor centre today and try your hand at children’s activities under the guidance of the colourful Roseanna Burton, RSPB Community Engagement Officer and learn not just about birds but about nature and how to give ‘Nature a Home’.

Edwinstowe:

Sunday 27 April, 5am-7am

SSSI Diamond Jubilee – Dawn Chorus in the Forest

Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre, Adults £5, children (under 12) £3

Set your alarm clock for an experience not to be missed and one you’ll be talking about for weeks afterwards. Wrap up warm and join the RSPB’s Nottinghamshire Conservation officer Carl Cornish for a gentle stroll through this ancient forest to enjoy a magical early morning concert courtesy of the birds of Sherwood. Sorry, no dogs. Maximum distance 1½ miles Places are limited so pre-booking is essential on 01623 823202. Not suitable for wheelchair users or young children.

Edwinstowe:

Sunday 27 April, 12noon, 2pm and 3.30pm

The Legend Lives On! Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre

Free Event. £3 car parking charge

Come along to Sherwood today and meet some of the colourful costumed characters from the Oakwood Outlaws. Be amazed as the lads and lasses demonstrate their medieval combat skills ‘up close and personal under the Major Oak’!

Easter events at Rufford Abbey Country Park, near Ollerton

Rufford, near Ollerton:

Saturday 5 April – Monday 21 April, 11am-3.30pm

Easter Egg Hunt, Rufford Abbey Country Park

£1 per trail leaflet, £3 car parking charge applies at weekends and bank holidays.

The Easter Bunny has lost some Easter eggs around Rufford Park. Can you find all of the eggs including the secret golden egg? Return completed trails to receive a reward! Suitable for wheelchair users.

Rufford, near Ollerton:

Monday 21 April, 11am-4pm

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust at Rufford

Rufford Abbey Country Park, Free event but small donation for materials welcome. £3 car parking charge.

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is the county’s leading conservation charity run by local people for the benefit of local wildlife, with over 70 nature reserves. Why not come along today, let the children have a go at a table top activity and meet David Wright and find out how you can help secure the future for Nottinghamshire’s wildlife for generations to come.

Rufford, near Ollerton:

Saturday 26 April – Sunday 27 April, 11am-4.30pm

Grand Historical and Vintage Bazaar, Rufford Abbey Country Park

Free Event. £5 car parking charge

Dress to impress in period style and come along to our annual historical multi-period bring and buy sale! With something of interest for every visitor, historical trader, enthusiast, re-enactor, historical group and schoolchild, there’s plenty to look at including period vehicles, living history activities and displays taking place throughout the weekend.

Easter events at: Bestwood Country Park, Bestwood

Bestwood:

Saturday 19 April 10am-12 noon

Bestwood Winding Engine House (opens Easter Saturday)

Free Entry. Free Parking, The historic winding Engine House re-opens to the public for another season. See this unique building, a tribute to the workers who put the Great into Britain and fed the fire of the industrial revolution. Take a ride to the top of the building in the glass lift and see the 18 foot winding wheel up close, then pop into the Dynamo House café for a delicious home-made cake.

Open for tours from 10am to 12noon Saturdays and Bank Holidays from Easter-October.

If you would like to volunteer with the engineering and maintenance team, or in other roles such as learning, oral history or in the café team, please contact the Heritage Development Officers Adele Williams [email protected] or David Amos [email protected] or telephone 0115 976 2422. Suitable for wheelchair users

Bestwood:

Easter Sunrise Service

Sunday 20 April, 5.30am

Join the congregation from Bestwood’s Six Churches for this dawn service in the woods. Afterwards join the group for a well-earned breakfast (small charge) at the Emmanuel Church Hall, which requires booking in advance. For more details and to book your breakfast, please contact: 0115 9208879 or 0115 9550423.

Bestwood:

Wednesday 23 April, 10.30am

Wednesday Health Walk, Bestwood Country Park, Free event.

Meet at the Winding Engine House car park for this 90 minute lead walk. For more information contact Community Liaison Officer Sue McDonald on 01159 753782. Due to the terrain and the nature of some events good mobility may be required. Please telephone in advance to discuss your needs. Under 18s should be accompanied by an adult.

Bestwood:

Saturday 26 April, 10.30am-4pm

Sweat Lodge, Bestwood Country Park

Charge applies. The Sweat Lodge is a place to cleanse and connect with nature, the elements and the spirit. The sweat lodge is a covered dome created out of bent willow saplings. During the sweat lodge hot volcanic stones are placed in a central pit in the dome and doused with water and herbs, creating a therapeutic steam. The combination of heat and steam is incredibly cleansing and has many health benefits. For more information and to book a place please contact Jason Sewell on 0115 956 9603 or email [email protected]

Bestwood:

Saturday 26 April, 9am-11am

Spring Bird Walk, Bestwood Country Park, Free Event.

Join Terry Adams, local birdwatcher and guide, for this walk as you explore parts of the 650 acre Bestwood Country Park looking for our feathered friends. The park has a mosaic of habitats home to resident and migrant birds so come along and take part in this walk which will hopefully include a visit to Mill Lakes. As spring is in the air you just never know what species you may see.

Afterwards why don’t you stay and take advantage of the delicious cakes or beverages on sale in the community run Dynamo House Café. Meet at the Winding Engine House off Park Road, Bestwood Village NG6 8ZE. Please wear suitable footwear and be prepared for a walk of approximately 2 miles. Sorry no dogs allowed. This event is unsuitable for wheelchair users.

To book your place please call the Country Parks Events and Learning Officer Gary Joynt 01623 821336 or email [email protected]

Bestwood:

Sunday 27 April 2014, 10am-2pm

Meeting of the National Mining Memorabilia Association

Dynamo House, mining heritage displays, and the opportunity to bring along your own mining memorabilia to show. Tours of the Winding Engine House will be available, as will delicious cakes and coffee at the Dynamo House. For details please call David Amos on 0115 976 2422.