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Six towns across Derbyshire will be staging around 100 spectacular events this spring with the return of our Derbyshire Makes festival.
If you're out and about in Cromford, Chesterfield, Swadlincote, Heanor, Glossop and Bolsover between 11 April and 16 May 2026, you'll discover each town hosting a full day of free activity bringing together artists, makers, performers and communities to celebrate Derbyshire’s rich story of making and innovation.
The festival, now in its second year, will transform high streets, heritage sites and public spaces into vibrant hubs of activity and at the heart of this year’s programme are specially commissioned showcase performances, created in collaboration with local communities and rooted in the distinct character of each town.
These bold, high-quality productions will be accompanied by workshops, demonstrations and drop-in sessions, so that you can experience extraordinary performances and get involved.
📸Thingamabob, an ingenious solo street show by Matt Pang. Photo credit: Ashley Bird.
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Have you had your new food waste caddy delivered yet? All households in Derbyshire are to receive free weekly food collections as part of reforms set out by central government.
The new legislation means food waste must be collected separately from other waste and the new collections will be operated every week by your local district or borough council.
It means that if you're in Amber Valley and Erewash you'll get food waste collections for the first time, and if you live in Chesterfield, Bolsover, High Peak, North East Derbyshire or South Derbyshire you'll change from the old system of having food waste collected in your garden waste bin to separate weekly food waste collections.
Derbyshire Dales residents already have food waste collected separately each week so collections there will remain the same. All residents will receive a new outdoor caddy for their food waste – except in Derbyshire Dales.
The caddies are lockable so they don't attract wildlife.
We're urging you to start separating food waste into your new outdoor caddy as soon as collections in your area begin. Details of when collections will start are being delivered to households along with their caddy and are also available by contacting their local district or borough council.
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We've picked up an award at the national Modeshift STARS travel awards, along with schools in South Normanton and Duffield.
The annual awards ceremony, held in London, recognises individuals, schools, businesses, councils, healthcare organisations and residential developments dedicated to enhancing everyday journeys and helping more people to walk, wheel, cycle, and use public transport.
South Normanton Nursery School was named ‘Early Years Establishment of the Year’, William Gilbert Primary School in Duffield picked up the award for best Mode Shift Month campaign and we were also recognised for our Mode Shift Month campaign aimed at council employees to promote alternatives to travelling by car.
📸Pictured from left receiving their awards are Helen Britten, headteacher at William Gilbert Primary School, South Normanton Nursery School headteacher Peter Hallsworth, and Rob Bounds, senior transport officer for Derbyshire County Council.
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Three out of four free schools can now go ahead following a government review.
Plans for New House Primary School in south Derbyshire were this week given the green light.
In December, the Government announced that The Avenue in north east Derbyshire and Bolsover Sixth Form could go ahead.
However a fourth project at Infinity Park in south Derbyshire has been shelved.
With the Easter holidays fast approaching, families planning visits to farms and petting zoos are being reminded to make sure they wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching animals, fences and other surfaces.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warns that harmful infections can be picked up from animals and contaminated surfaces.
Farm animals naturally carry bugs including cryptosporidium, E.coli and salmonella, which can be passed to humans through direct contact with animals, their droppings or fences and gates. In 2024, there were 362 reported cases of cryptosporidium in the East Midlands.
Families out and about at farm parks or petting zoos are advised to:
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Eat only in designated areas.
- Don't allow children to put their faces near animals.
- Never rely on gels and wipes instead of soap and water.
If you or anyone in your group develops diarrhoea, vomiting or stomach pains within two weeks of visiting a farm, contact your GP or call NHS 111.
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If you use Somercotes library we're sorry to tell you that the current library closure is going to be extended until June 2027. In the meantime, both our libraries at Pinxton and South Normanton will offer longer opening hours and increased activities.
The extended closure is down to continued building work at a neighbouring school, with which it shares a site.
The library, on the the Somerlea Park Junior School campus, was closed temporarily due to noise and disruption from the work to redevelop the school.
While the new school premises is scheduled to be complete by this December, from next January to June 2027 contractors will be demolishing the existing school building, removing debris, bringing on site several hundred tonnes of topsoil and landscaping the demolition site.
If you live in Hope Valley or you'll be out and about there in the school holidays, a main road in the valley is due to close during the day for four days from Monday 30 March 2026.
The A623 will be closed at Middleton Dale from 8am to 5pm each day while private landowners along the stretch carry out essential work to remove trees showing signs of ash dieback.
Ash dieback is a serious disease that can weaken trees and increase the risk of them shedding branches or collapsing.
Contractors are removing up to 200 ash trees at risk of falling and the work has been timed so it can be completed under a single road closure to reduce disruption for residents and road users.
The road closure will be in place between Farnsley Lane and the junction with B6521 The Dale, Eyam, with signed diversions in place.
Anyone concerned about the safety of a tree next to a road, public path, or other public place can report it via www.derbyshire.gov.uk/ashdieback
We want to know what your experience is of using our household waste recycling centres.
We carry out a survey every year to get residents’ views about our centres and our contractor has been gathering comments from people using our sites this month. You can also take part in the survey online until 19 April 2026.
Are you part of Derbyshire’s advanced manufacturing sector?
We're offering support to high-tech manufacturing firms across the county to develop their supply chain and understand how they can benefit from offering apprenticeships.
The next event taking place online on Tuesday 14 April, is focussing on ‘Building Talent and Partnerships for Advanced Manufacturing Growth’.
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