AGM 2025
Held at 7.30pm on Monday 7 July at the The Dynamo House
Chair's Report
Pipeline works
The year since our last AGM has continued to be dominated by the impact of the new Severn Trent Water PLC clean water pipeline. The pipeline has largely been laid, but remediation works will take some considerable time. Sue MacDonald is our liaison between NCC, FOB and the Severn Trent Water PLC contractors. Our focus of interest now will be on the biodiversity net gain that has been promised.
Nottinghamshire County Council
Over the last year, NCC has been catching up with maintenance and repairs rolled over from the previous contract with GBC. We are pleased to note that the disabled toilet near the classroom has been repaired. NCC have secured funding to allow the toilets to be opened at weekends; not sure when this will start.
The relocation of Notts Outdoors, an environmental education arm of NCC, to BCP has had a major impact on a number of users. Notts Outdoors have taken over the camping field and the classroom, so that they are not available to previous users. Thanks to mediation by Heather Stokes, Nottingham Goddess Camp has been able to negotiate permission to use the field for 4 nights in August, but one forest school provider is now unable to provide sessions that had relied on the use of the classroom. Other forest schools that do not need these facilities can continue.
Gedling Borough Council
GBC no longer holds the maintenance contract for the larger part of the park, but retains responsibility for the area around the hotel. They have supplied us with litter pickers and bin bags, starting with a two-day litter pick in the spring. These are in the container, available for use by any volunteers that would like to pick litter.
Bestwood Development Group
We are keen to get these meetings back on track, as an effective way of getting future plans organised, but they are currently on hold whilst NCC staff catch up with other responsibilities. However, Jason Mordan has been proactive in working on proposals with us to build a new toilet block near the Dynamo House, install a covered seating area, fit solar panels and a new heating system to the DH, and so on. FOB are also supporting a project to renew the sundial in the hotel grounds.
Wildlife Group
The group has continued to be very active. Imogen and Hayley have organised regular moth nights, butterfly transects and soil testing, and were involved in planting an edible hedge. The group attended the Robin Hood Festival and put on activities at the Darling Buds of May event. They continue to work together with the Environment Agency to tackle sewage pollution at Mill Lakes. Jean, Helen and Sean have recently started a “tree of the month” project to produce a leaflet for display in the Dynamo House. We started this month with the oak.
Darling Buds of May event
This now annual event continues to be popular, and we are grateful to so many volunteers who helped to put it together. The Lymn Centenary Fund provided us with a grant to fund a portable toilet, and Nigel himself brought his beautiful yellow vintage (eponymous) Rolls Royce to the event. The plant stall, the birds of prey, storytelling, children’s crafts, musical entertainment and much more are now regular features. Thanks to Cllr. Rachael Ellis, this year we were joined by Gedling Play Forum, who provided children’s activities. Thanks to Liz and Helen from Greenwood, who helped with organisation and on the day.
Dynamo House Café
The Dynamo House Café remains very active, open to serve home-made cake and drinks every Saturday morning and bank holiday Monday. From time to time, we have also had a number of private and corporate bookings. We are very grateful to our volunteer servers and bakers, and also to the Winding Engine House volunteers who provide free guided tours.
The café is FOB’s main source of income, as well as a much-loved community resource. There have occasionally been enquiries about hiring the Dynamo House for regular commercial ventures, but after much discussion, we took the view that this would jeopardise the DH’s use as a valuable community resource; keeping it available for voluntary groups and local people is more important.
We have restarted our quarterly charitable donations, and the most recent one was to Charlie’s Place, an animal rescue centre that was brought to our attention by Katja from the wildlife group. They recently attended on a Saturday morning, and had a very successful morning talking to café customers about what they do.
Other events taken on by the café team include catering for the BigBAG event at Brackenhurst College in Southwell, and the now annual Darling Buds of May event, as already mentioned.
We really appreciate all our hard-working volunteers, particularly the shift leaders Ian, Karen and Heather. We are holding a thank-you barbecue for our volunteers later this month.
Winding Engine House
There are still difficulties with malfunctioning alarms and electrical systems, and we look forward to some resolution via the county council.
We are very grateful to the volunteers who turn up to offer free tours every Saturday and bank holiday, as well as bespoke tours on request. This spring we had visits from two primary schools, Rise Park and Hawthorn, and also the Girls’ Brigade – these chances to learn about local mining history are really appreciated by children and teachers alike, with many people still having family connections to the local mines.
We have produced a new leaflet, which is available from the DH and WEH.
We pay tribute to the late Keith Stone, who assembled so much local mining history. We understand that his work will be going to the Nottinghamshire archives.
Communications
Our social media communications remain very active, and we are very grateful to Alan Green for moderating the Facebook group, and to Rob Gilbank for maintaining the website. We are also most grateful to all those involved in the production of The Dynamo newsletter, particularly David Heathcote and Alan Green.
Thank yous
Thank you all, and grateful thanks to the committee, Ian, Carol, Karen, Alan, Rob and Debs for all their time and commitment, and also to Barbara McDonald for help with the minutes this year. I am particularly grateful to Ian, Carol and Karen, who do so much more work behind the scenes!
Our appreciation of this big, beautiful park is reflected in the vast number of hours of work by volunteers from all walks of life. Anyone who would like to get involved, even if only for a couple of hours, will be welcomed!
Pipeline works
The year since our last AGM has continued to be dominated by the impact of the new Severn Trent Water PLC clean water pipeline. The pipeline has largely been laid, but remediation works will take some considerable time. Sue MacDonald is our liaison between NCC, FOB and the Severn Trent Water PLC contractors. Our focus of interest now will be on the biodiversity net gain that has been promised.
Nottinghamshire County Council
Over the last year, NCC has been catching up with maintenance and repairs rolled over from the previous contract with GBC. We are pleased to note that the disabled toilet near the classroom has been repaired. NCC have secured funding to allow the toilets to be opened at weekends; not sure when this will start.
The relocation of Notts Outdoors, an environmental education arm of NCC, to BCP has had a major impact on a number of users. Notts Outdoors have taken over the camping field and the classroom, so that they are not available to previous users. Thanks to mediation by Heather Stokes, Nottingham Goddess Camp has been able to negotiate permission to use the field for 4 nights in August, but one forest school provider is now unable to provide sessions that had relied on the use of the classroom. Other forest schools that do not need these facilities can continue.
Gedling Borough Council
GBC no longer holds the maintenance contract for the larger part of the park, but retains responsibility for the area around the hotel. They have supplied us with litter pickers and bin bags, starting with a two-day litter pick in the spring. These are in the container, available for use by any volunteers that would like to pick litter.
Bestwood Development Group
We are keen to get these meetings back on track, as an effective way of getting future plans organised, but they are currently on hold whilst NCC staff catch up with other responsibilities. However, Jason Mordan has been proactive in working on proposals with us to build a new toilet block near the Dynamo House, install a covered seating area, fit solar panels and a new heating system to the DH, and so on. FOB are also supporting a project to renew the sundial in the hotel grounds.
Wildlife Group
The group has continued to be very active. Imogen and Hayley have organised regular moth nights, butterfly transects and soil testing, and were involved in planting an edible hedge. The group attended the Robin Hood Festival and put on activities at the Darling Buds of May event. They continue to work together with the Environment Agency to tackle sewage pollution at Mill Lakes. Jean, Helen and Sean have recently started a “tree of the month” project to produce a leaflet for display in the Dynamo House. We started this month with the oak.
Darling Buds of May event
This now annual event continues to be popular, and we are grateful to so many volunteers who helped to put it together. The Lymn Centenary Fund provided us with a grant to fund a portable toilet, and Nigel himself brought his beautiful yellow vintage (eponymous) Rolls Royce to the event. The plant stall, the birds of prey, storytelling, children’s crafts, musical entertainment and much more are now regular features. Thanks to Cllr. Rachael Ellis, this year we were joined by Gedling Play Forum, who provided children’s activities. Thanks to Liz and Helen from Greenwood, who helped with organisation and on the day.
Dynamo House Café
The Dynamo House Café remains very active, open to serve home-made cake and drinks every Saturday morning and bank holiday Monday. From time to time, we have also had a number of private and corporate bookings. We are very grateful to our volunteer servers and bakers, and also to the Winding Engine House volunteers who provide free guided tours.
The café is FOB’s main source of income, as well as a much-loved community resource. There have occasionally been enquiries about hiring the Dynamo House for regular commercial ventures, but after much discussion, we took the view that this would jeopardise the DH’s use as a valuable community resource; keeping it available for voluntary groups and local people is more important.
We have restarted our quarterly charitable donations, and the most recent one was to Charlie’s Place, an animal rescue centre that was brought to our attention by Katja from the wildlife group. They recently attended on a Saturday morning, and had a very successful morning talking to café customers about what they do.
Other events taken on by the café team include catering for the BigBAG event at Brackenhurst College in Southwell, and the now annual Darling Buds of May event, as already mentioned.
We really appreciate all our hard-working volunteers, particularly the shift leaders Ian, Karen and Heather. We are holding a thank-you barbecue for our volunteers later this month.
Winding Engine House
There are still difficulties with malfunctioning alarms and electrical systems, and we look forward to some resolution via the county council.
We are very grateful to the volunteers who turn up to offer free tours every Saturday and bank holiday, as well as bespoke tours on request. This spring we had visits from two primary schools, Rise Park and Hawthorn, and also the Girls’ Brigade – these chances to learn about local mining history are really appreciated by children and teachers alike, with many people still having family connections to the local mines.
We have produced a new leaflet, which is available from the DH and WEH.
We pay tribute to the late Keith Stone, who assembled so much local mining history. We understand that his work will be going to the Nottinghamshire archives.
Communications
Our social media communications remain very active, and we are very grateful to Alan Green for moderating the Facebook group, and to Rob Gilbank for maintaining the website. We are also most grateful to all those involved in the production of The Dynamo newsletter, particularly David Heathcote and Alan Green.
Thank yous
Thank you all, and grateful thanks to the committee, Ian, Carol, Karen, Alan, Rob and Debs for all their time and commitment, and also to Barbara McDonald for help with the minutes this year. I am particularly grateful to Ian, Carol and Karen, who do so much more work behind the scenes!
Our appreciation of this big, beautiful park is reflected in the vast number of hours of work by volunteers from all walks of life. Anyone who would like to get involved, even if only for a couple of hours, will be welcomed!
