Nottinghamshire’s world-famous Sherwood Forest will provide a stunning backdrop to the Tour of Britain cycle race when it returns to the county later this year.

Stage four of the showpiece event will start at Forest Corner in Edwinstowe – a short distance away from the iconic Major Oak and RSPB Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre – before finishing in Newark-on-Trent on Wednesday 6 September.

The full route will be launched soon, but the world-class field of riders will pass through several towns and villages in the districts of Bassetlaw and Newark and Sherwood along the 170-kilometre stage.

Adoption East Midlands is joining forces with agencies across the country to support a new #YouCanAdopt campaign to find families for children who wait the longest. 

The new campaign aims to reach potential parents for children from certain groups that repeatedly wait longest to be adopted and sees a series of new films released featuring real life stories from those who have adopted children, and others who have been adopted themselves. The films spotlight the various means of support available throughout the adoption journey from adoption agencies, social care workers, charities, employers, friends, relatives, peers and more

"As we’re finally seeing something that looks like summer, it’s worth reflecting on a particularly difficult winter, and thanking our gritting and emergency response teams"; writes Councillor Neil Clarke, MBE.  

"There isn’t really a break though, as many of those workers have now moved into spring and summer maintenance. 

"A lot of the highways maintenance work we undertake is to better prepare us for extreme weather like cold and snow, or storms and the heavy rains we have recently been experiencing.

"We recently launched our Summer Gully Cleanse – a focused cleanse of drains and gullies in addition to our year-round programme of cleaning in the county."

A park in the heart of a Nottinghamshire community has received a fresh new look so that even more children and families can enjoy its facilities for years to come.

Gringley on the Hill play park, near Misterton in Bassetlaw, now boasts an upgraded activity area with new equipment  following the completion of a £40,000 improvement scheme.

The park now features a multi-play climbing frame, zip wire, roundabout and even talking flowers – which help can develop  language and creativity for children outdoors.

The men and women who serve as school crossing patrols, who are most easily recognised by their ‘lollipop’, were honoured in a celebration, to mark the service’s platinum anniversary.

Nottinghamshire has over 100 patrol sites which are intended to help primary schoolchildren get to and from school safely. 

Members of the county’s school crossing patrols were awarded badges and certificates to mark seventy years since the service began in a celebration at Bilsthorpe Depot, headquarters of Via East Midlands, which delivers the service on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council.

"During Carers Week, I want to recognise the work that carers do across the county and take the opportunity to thank them for the incredible contribution they make to people’s lives. They play an amazing role and their commitment and support to others is truly humbling. 

"Caring is something that is genuinely life changing. Those who care for others – their loved ones, family members, friends and neighbours – commit countless hours of their time to ensure people are looked after, in the place where they live. For those who are being cared for, their carers are a lifeline and for many, represent contact with the outside world.

"We recognise the immense contribution that unpaid carers make, on a personal level to the people they care for, and to society as whole. Nationally, 26 percent of adults provided care during the height of the pandemic."

Councillor Matt Barney, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health