Trent Valley Mini Owners Club is hoping to be able to stage their popular events in 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all events which had been planned in 2020 had to be cancelled so the club are keen to be able to return to an enjoyable year. The following is a list of dates they have now secured should they be able / allowed to go ahead. read more

It seems to have been a very long winter for all of us and our hopes that the vaccine would liberate us from lockdowns and loneliness have not yet been fulfilled. No wonder so many of us feel lethargic and dispirited. This is natural. We are social animals and it’s hard for us to adapt to isolation. read more

Tens of thousands of Nottinghamshire residents at risk of Type 2 Diabetes are being encouraged to access free prevention support through the Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. Living Well Taking Control (LWTC), a new provider of the NHS programme, opened its doors in the area at the start of December 2020, offering the nine-month programme either immediately online through an app or through in-person group sessions once it’s safe to do so amidst the coronavirus pandemic. read more

Despite a difficult year for fundraising, car enthusiast Stuart Dixon collected almost £13,000 for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice in 2020 and has now raised a total of over £168,000 for the local charity in the last three years.
Stuart, from Retford, has dedicated hours of his time to combining fundraising and his love of cars. read more

Last year saw a huge surge in interest in garden wildlife and many people took great comfort from connecting with nature at a very challenging time. With the bird nesting season not yet upon us, now is an ideal time to think about ways to attract birds to our gardens and to give them a helping hand by installing a nest box or two. read more

December is normally a very busy time for the Rotary Club of Retford. Because of the pandemic, not this time. However, Past President Paul Withers was not going to let this Christmas pass by without some form of meaningful contribution to the community. Finding a project that still encompassed social distancing was the objective. read more

Since last month’s report on Muddy Fork’s reopening, some progress has been made in inviting former participants to return and in processing new referrals – in spite of the wintry weather! Work continues in the garden and the tree nursery, and a productive team day just before Christmas saw a quantity of willow harvested from the willow holt on the nature reserve. read more

The Christmas period is now well and truly over. Santa has returned to his home at the North Pole. His sleigh is stored until the nicer weather comes and COVID restrictions are reduced to something like normality so that Retford Lions can commence some repairs and alterations – they hope to be able to allow him closer contact with children next time, without the clinical barrier that has been necessary lately! read more

Do you have an interest in the arts? Then join The Arts Society Dukeries, a local National Arts Society Association group. Usually, they have monthly lecture meetings at the Civic Centre, Carlton, two extra Special Interest Days, trips out to places of interest, newsletters, a national magazine and a holiday for members. read more

Residents of Eaton are delighted to have been awarded a £10,000 grant to help fund the installation of a kitchen and toilet at their village church to enable it to better serve its community. Broadcaster and journalist Huw Edwards, Vice President of The National Churches Trust, said: “The UK’s historic churches and chapels are a vital part of our national heritage and have done so much to help local people during the COVID-19 lockdown. read more