Highfields Park has reached the end of its Heritage Lottery funded Restoration Project. But that's far from the end for the park …

A new Park Friends Group is set to be launched next week, the aim of which is for people who love the park to get involved in its future development and to help with its ongoing projects with Ranger Steve.

If you have a vested interest in the park and would like to join the group, or would simply like to learn more, the first meeting is set for Tuesday 5th March at 6pm in the D.H Lawrence pavilion on the park.

If you are interested in coming along or just want to find out more please contact Ranger Steve on 07908488721 or email steven.clarke@nottinghamcity.gov.uk in order for planning for numbers attending to be carried out.  

The National Lottery Heritage Fund have also funded local organization  Nature in Mind.

Nature in Mind supports people with mental health problems, and promotes well-being and recovery, through engagement with nature-related activities in Nottingham city.

Because of the funding, they will now be able to work with Ranger Simon to deliver monthly conservation tasks in nature reserves and other green spaces like Clifton Woods, Moorbridge Pond and Brecks Plantation. Activities involve clearing invasive non-native species, clearing footpaths, learning traditional countryside maintenance skills such as hedge laying and creating habitat stacks.

Nature in Mind will use nature and heritage as a vehicle for participants to manage their mental health issues - reducing social isolation and loneliness for many local residents. Participants will learn about landscape heritage, manage wildlife areas in a practical sense, understand conservation theory, learn how to use tools, learn about wildlife species, learn about threats to wildlife, learn about wider environmental issues. Most importantly participants will experience fresh air and exercise, develop a sense of well-being, build confidence and have the opportunity to socialise with other people.

Martin Jackaman Centre volunteers resume conservation sessions.

Ranger Matt welcomed the volunteer group back at the Forest Recreation Ground to help with a tidy-up!

The day was spent cleaning up the park with litter pickers and encouraging members of the public to use the bins provided.

After a well-earned lunch break the team headed back out armed with their cameras to take photos of the park and to look out for signs of spring. The February sun was playing along and many great snaps were taken!

The day was ended with a nice cuppa in Homemade!

Oral History Project at Highfields Park.

We've been busy at Highfields collecting anecdotes, memories and stories from people who hold the park in a special place in their heart.

The Oral History Project started last year and culminated in a series of voice recordings which will now be preserved forever more.

The online story-gathering element will continue which will hopefully capture more stories from farther afield as well as more from closer to home. This is now live and we want you to join in and add to the picture.

You can tell us your story on the Highfields Park webpage under the Park History section. Click on the button “Share your story with us”.

Or you can go straight to the survey here.

For almost a year now Ranger Simon has been working on a number of nature reserves around the city.

These include some well-known sites such as Martin’s Pond in Wollaton and Sellers Wood in Bulwell and some lesser known sites including Whitemore Nature Reserve and Valley Road Water Meadow.

A lot of the work involved with maintaining these sites requires the help of some dedicated volunteers and Simon has been working with a number of volunteer and 'Friends' groups including Friends of Wollaton Nature Reserves, University of Nottingham Conservation Society, Nature in Mind and City Local Group.

Regular Wednesday sessions which are open to all who wish to volunteer also take place and if you would like to become part of this team, Ranger Simon would be happy to greet you!

Volunteer tasks carried out over the winter months have included hedge laying in Glapton Woods and at Moorbridge Pond in Bulwell, Scrub control on Sandybanks in Bestwood and Control of Snowberry in Bulwell Hall Park.