Despite the hot weather during May the litter pickers have cleared 13 bags of rubbish from the environment. Hopefully now that children have returned to school after half term parties on Washdyke Lane park and The Ranges, the amount of rubbish should ease a little and maybe our dedicated litter picker, accompanied by his dog, will have slightly less rubbish to collect.
New members to the group are always welcome. For further information see the Litter Picking Group details at the foot of the newsletter.
After the hottest recorded May day ever the group travelled to the Croome Estate in Worcestershire for our first ever visit to the venue. Arriving at around 10.30 in bright sunshine we were soon enjoying the beautiful estate.
The heart of the Estate is the House which was the brainchild of the 6th Earl of Coventry, an 18th century trendsetter who worked closely with the best talent of the time, Robert Adam and Lancelot (Capability) Brown to plan the House and Estate.
The House is not a typical National Trust property, with eighty percent of the collections missing and replaced by temporary exhibitions.
The Estate, with its specular views of the Malvern Hills, was only acquired by the National Trust in 1996, a move that saved it from being totally lost to visitors. On the Estate lies a serpentine river, a tree lined lake, and elegant garden buildings, a perfect place to spend a summers day.
As you walk one of the four marked walks you can view kestrels, herons, swans and Canada geese.
In previous times the Estate has housed a Catholic School and during the Second World War a secret RAF camp employing over two thousand staff.
All this with a large cafe, walled gardens, a shuttle coach around the Estate and plant and book shop meant that there was plenty to occupy the group.
Leaving promptly at 4.00 pm we were safely back in Hucknall just after 6.30 pm.
Next month we travel to Ickworth Estate in Suffolk.
Our Science Group enjoyed a fascinating visit to the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds on 15th May, a trip that proved both entertaining and wonderfully informative.
The museum’s immersive galleries brought the history of healthcare vividly to life, from the bustle of Victorian street medicine to the remarkable advances of modern surgery.
A highlight of the day was our group talk, Bloody Barbers and Splattered Surgeons, which explored the grisly world of early medical practice with plenty of humour and just the right amount of squeamish detail.
After the talk, members once again wandered through the galleries at their own pace, comparing past treatments with today’s science and sharing lively conversations along the way. We rounded off the visit with a relaxed chat in the busy café, reflecting on how far medicine has come. A thoroughly enjoyable and thought‑provoking outing for all.
For anyone who hasn’t come across pickleball before, it is a mixture of various other games, tennis, badminton and table tennis. It is played on a badminton court but with a low net and bats (paddles) like a large table tennis bat and a plastic ball with holes in it!
We currently have 3 pickleball groups, Mondays and Thursdays are mixed ability, sociable sessions and Tuesdays are for more experienced players who like a more competitive game.
If you are interested in joining any of the groups please contact Vaughan for the Monday group or Karen for the Tuesday or Thursday groups.
