Award-winning restoration work to be showcased at Rufford Colliery open day
Thursday 19th May
The Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and Harworth Estates will be showcasing their award-winning restoration at the former Rufford Colliery in Rainworth on Saturday 21st of May as part of a wider family open day.
The event, to be held between 11am and 3pm, will promote the County’s largest ever heathland recreation programme totalling over 100 hectares to help restore the landscape of the wider Sherwood Forest. This will include environmental education activities, guided walks and nature trails and trips around the wider site.
A large marquee will also be set up within the site for a range of exhibitors to show their wares, including woodwork activities of pole lathe and green wood work and history exhibitions that reflect how Rufford was used as a training ground by troops and other military units in World War 2.
Rob Fitzsimons, Chief Executive for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, said: “We are delighted to be able to showcase the work we’ve done to restore wildlife habitats at the former Rufford Colliery in partnership with Harworth Estates at this event. The scale of habitat restoration required in Sherwood Forest will require true partnership working and the transformation of this site is a great example of what can be achieved.”
Richard Grey, Quarry Manager for Harworth Estates, said: “We have worked closely with the Trust in restoring a large part of the former Colliery for a number of years and it is only right we showcase the hard work of all involved. The day will provide an excellent opportunity for people to learn about the process of restoring land to promote new habitats and how this fits with restoring the wider Sherwood Forest.”
The Trust and Harworth Estates have also begun the restoration of Thoresby Colliery’s 350 acre former spoil heap over the past two weeks in line with a restoration scheme previously agreed with Nottinghamshire County Council. The scheme, which will take at least two years to fully complete, will provide a series of new public rights of way and a further raised viewing platform that will offer spectacular views across the entire Sherwood Forest and its immediate environs.
