Gardening Group

by John PrettyGardening GroupPosted on Comments are Disabled

Last month’s meeting was a visit to Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The weather was glorious and we were able to wander the grounds without coats!

There is so much to see in this historical botanic garden, which has remained intact since 1829. There are over 10,000 plants and we saw many spring bulbs, shrubs and trees all flowering. The 4 Victorian Glasshouses contained an amazing variety of plants, including cacti, lemon trees, gardenia, orchids and many others. There is also an Alpine Garden, a Bog and Fern area, a Japanese Garden – the theme of our meeting in April, a Pinetum and for the young an Adventure Playground. 

The shop and nursery area had a good variety of gardenalia to tempt visitors to part with some money! The café was unfortunately out of action, but we were well served with hot drinks by a young man with a pop-up drinks van and it was perfect weather to sit out with our packed lunches. It is well worth a visit if you have never been.

Anne

Vegetarian Cookery

by John PrettyVegetarian CookeryPosted on Comments are Disabled

At our meeting in March we tried three different recipes.  These were Glamorgan Sausages, in a tray bake form, Smokey Leek and Hazelnut tart and Apple sauce cookies. Judging by the empty plates these went down well! 

The meeting in April will be on Monday 28th April.

This group is now full and cannot take any new members at the moment.

Anne Wilkinson

Science Group

by John PrettyScience GroupPosted on Comments are Disabled

This year’s Science Group visit is to RAF Cosford on Friday 16th May.

I am organising this visit and now offering places to some non-science group members.

The coach (Vallances Luxury…) will leave Hucknall Market Place at 09.00, arriving back at approx. 17.00. The cost will be £16.00, which includes the coach, museum donation and driver tip.

There are 3 optional pre-bookable tours, each costing £9.00.

If you are interested, please contact me via email davidrose98835@gmail.com

Some details from the website:

Discover the fascinating, sometimes surprising, array of aircraft and objects in the collection. Alongside the aircraft are free exhibitions, flight-related memorabilia and interactive displays. View a variety of flight-related artwork in our art gallery. Some of these are available to purchase if one takes your fancy.

In the National Cold War Exhibition look out for the life-size Russian dolls and for those with a head for heights, take the lift to the top of our viewing gallery and look down at the mighty Belfast Transporter.

In Hangar 1, you will find the 1:1 scale Airfix Spitfire – which was featured on BBC2’s James May Toy Stories – complete with a model pilot and lots more.

IN ADDITION

There are options of 3 dedicated talks provided 10 people wish to take part.

The Museum can organise tours for pre-booked groups. We have a few tours we can offer You and your group:

• Bomber Command Tour (1-hour tour)
• National Cold War Exhibition Tour (1-hour tour)
• Battle of Britain Tour (1-hour tour)

All our guided tours are £9.00 per head. To get the group rate, your group must have a minimum of 10 people. If you are interested in booking a guided tour, please contact our Customer Care team at midlands@rafmuseum.org. We ask that you give us a minimum of 2 weeks’ notice so that we can make the necessary arrangements. we also ask that you confirm your final numbers a week before your visit. This will then be the amount charged on the day.

I will collect the names of those interested in any of the 3 options but will not be collecting any money at this stage

David Rose

Medium Walks

by John PrettyMedium WalksPosted on Comments are Disabled

Our walk for March was a local walk, starting from Bestwood Village. After chatting to the leader of another walking group from Mansfield, we set off through an area where a lot of horses are stabled, and then onto the trail along the route of the old railway branch line to Calverton. We then continued on part of the Robin Hood Way, and through Killarney Park into the Country Park, having chatted to a passing walker who was distinctive in a bright red fleece, from appearing on Bargain Hunt, the TV series.

After some of our group opted for the steeper option on the next section, we re-assembled for the picnic stop, where there is a good view across to Hucknall and the Annesley woods. Thanks to Steve and Anne Lawrence for planning this walk.

Our April walk will be at Elvaston Castle, and one week later than usual, on Monday 28th April, due to the later Easter holiday.

John Tedstone

Long Walks

by John PrettyLong WalksPosted on Comments are Disabled

On the 4th March, we embarked on an 8.30 mile, circular walk from Tansley, taking in Tansley Knoll and Lumsdale Falls before returning to the village. The weather was on our side and it was sunny for the majority of the walk.

Setting off from Tansley, we followed a well-marked path up to Tansley Knoll, where we were rewarded with panoramic views over the Derbyshire countryside. The gentle ascent provided a good warm-up, and the terrain was a mix of grassy fields and stone paths and reasonably dry and to our relief not too much mud.

From the knoll, we descended through woodland and open farmland towards Lumsdale, where the historic valley and waterfalls awaited. The Lumsdale Falls were in full flow, cascading over moss-covered rocks. The ruins of the old mills along the valley added an atmospheric touch to the walk. The damp paths near the falls required careful footing, but the scenery made it worthwhile.

The return to Tansley followed a mixture of woodland trails and country lanes, offering a peaceful conclusion to the walk. Overall, the route provided a mix of scenic views, local history, and natural beauty, making it a rewarding excursion, finished off with a pint in the Tavern pub at Tansley.