Previous Events Held in the Park or by FoBCP
To give you an idea of the types of events that have taken place in Bestwood Country Park, and the fund-raising events we run we have details of a few of them set out below.
RSPCA Beasties of Bestwood Event - Saturday 20 June 2015
This event was arranged and supported by the RSPCA and was something quite different for the Winding Engine House compound.
There was a plant stall, information stands, games and activities to take part in and discounted dog ID chipping too. The café was open longer than normal (10am to 3pm) and offered the usual sweet treats to compliment the burgers and hot dogs on sale outside. The ice cream van did a roaring trade too as the weather was very sunny until about 5 minutes from the end of the day.
There are a few photos of the stalls and what was on offer below.
There was a plant stall, information stands, games and activities to take part in and discounted dog ID chipping too. The café was open longer than normal (10am to 3pm) and offered the usual sweet treats to compliment the burgers and hot dogs on sale outside. The ice cream van did a roaring trade too as the weather was very sunny until about 5 minutes from the end of the day.
There are a few photos of the stalls and what was on offer below.
All in the April Evening - Musical Recital - Friday 24 April 2015
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The Dynamo House showed its versatility by hosting a musical evening. Local mezzo soprano Katharine Dryden gave a recital entitled All in the April Evening accompanied by pianist Paul Ricard. The recital included traditional English folk songs, classical pieces, operatic arias and wartime favourites showing the breadth of Katharine's talent. The acoustics of the Dynamo House were wonderful.
The concert was given in honour of her singing teacher Constance Shacklock OBE (1913–1999) and was named after a piece they had worked on together. There was a chance to learn more about her life through a display of photographs and Katharine's introductions to the songs that meant so much to them both. The audience were astounded to hear about this local heroine who had achieved so much from her humble beginnings in Sherwood. All money raised on the night was donated to the Friends of Bestwood Country Park. |
Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Group - Wednesday, 22 April 2015
FoBCP were asked to cater for the Notts Big BAG event held at Brackenhurst Collage. It gave us a chance to promote the great cakes & biscuits on offer at the Dynamo House Café in the park to a new audience of keen outdoor people. Margret, Kay & Sue ably assisted by Abi & Emma made tea coffee and served up the baking at the morning and afternoon breaks and at lunchtime.350 biscuits and 150 pieces of cake were consumed on the day - not bad going for just 110 people! We raised around £65 for the FoBCP at this event.
The World Challenge Event - Saturday 18 April 2015
Young runners from around the country met up in the Winding Engine House to set out on 5k, 10k and 15k races. Family and friends who had come along to support them took the opportunity to enjoy the spring sunshine and take tours of the WEH and to pop into the café for refreshments.
Macmillan BIG Coffee Morning - Saturday 27 September 2014
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For the second year running we held a Macmillan BIG Coffee Morning at the Dynamo House Café. All profits from the day went to the charity to help support families facing cancer. This year we outstripped last year's total by over £60 by donating £210.50.
Thank you to all our staff and visitors for their donations of time, baking and hard cash to make up this amazing total amount. We hold charity days at the café once every quarter so if you know of a worthy cause we might consider supporting please drop us a line. Coming up over the next few months look out the following charity days:- Autumn 2014 – Battens Disease Family Association (Oct, Nov, Dec) Winter 2015 – Notts Wildlife Trust (Jan Feb March) Spring 2015 - Big Smiles (cleft lip support group) (April May June) Summer 2015 - NORSACA (aspergers) (July August September) Autumn 2015 – Nottingham Deaf Society. (October, November, December) |
Steam Heritage Day - Sunday 7 September 2014
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A great day out for all the family
More photos in the gallery
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Thwack! - Sunday 17 August 2014
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Miners & Music Event - Sunday 27 July 2014
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Amanda's story telling tent
The Bestwood Male Voice Choir at home.
The Black Diamonds Brass Band
Dakota Fly-by
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Christmas Wreath Making - Sunday 1 December 2013
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Carol's wreath
Tanya's wreath
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Free Family Fungi Foray - Sunday 13 October 2013 10.30am to 4pm
Run in partnership with the Nottinghamshire Fungi Group
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Macmillan Cancer Support - The Big Coffee Morning - Saturday 28 September 2013 - 10am to 12 noon. We raised £150 to support the work of Macmillan nurses.
Customers soaking up the sunshine outside
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The delicious selection of cakes on offer
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Kay & Carol ready to serve the crowds
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Bat Walk Around the Lakes - Wednesday, 11 September 2013 - 6.30pm to 8.30pm
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Meet Penny the common pipistrelle bat
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Steam Heritage Day - Sunday, 8 September 2013 - 11am to 4pm
There are a few more photos in the gallery
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Mini-Miners Family Day Out - Saturday, 31 August 2013 - 11am to 3pm
This event was funded by the Friends of Bestwood Country Park
There are a few more photos in the gallery
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Dressing up and searching for "coal"
"Pit Pony" rides
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The Big Lunch - Sunday, 2 June 2013 - 11am to 3pm
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There are a few more photos in the Gallery.
Singing Spring Birds - Sunday, 5 May - 6am to 8am
An early morning walk to listen out for the feathered inhabitants of
Bestwood Country Park. Try to identify the ‘singers’ as they sing out
their ‘battle cries’ to woo the ladies and defend their patch. Light refreshments available afterwards in the Dynamo House.
Adults £4 Child £2
A grand walk led by Sue McDonald reviewed by Gill Costello, Treasurer FoBCP
I walked down from my home through the woodlands to the start point at the Dynamo House. The woods smelt of spring; fresh green leaves just unfolding. A tawny owl called in the distance, but it was cold still and the only other song I could hear then were the blackbirds from our gardens behind me.
About ten of us, plus Sue, set off - the sun was then just coming onto the park slopes, inching down the hill-side, bringing warmth which after a while encouraged the birds to get properly tuned up. We walked up through the woods, with lots of pauses to listen and look, then strolled across to the splendid all-round hill top view by Rise Park, before returning to the Dynamo House. Robins, wrens, dunnocks, blackbirds, and nuthatches, our regulars, were determined to defend their nesting territories and attract mates. Great tits and blue tits chipped in. Green woodpeckers’ laughing call came several times. Song thrushes treated us to their lovely song at various stages along our route. A buzzard called.
A pair of bullfinches was a good sighting at ‘ferny hollow’ - an area that had been previously cleared of dense sycamore trees to provide layers of open varied habitat. It was the first time I’d seen bullfinches there. Our peculiar spring this year showed in the wild woodland flowers when we saw yellow celandines still in full bloom, at the same time as the opening of the first bluebell flowers.
It was good to hear again our returning summer birds starting to sing, although still feeding up after long migration flights to return to their breeding sites in the park. We got lots of musical song from blackcaps, as well as good views, and the descending scales of the willow warbler followed us around. We would now and again hear the whitethroat scratchy song, but didn’t manage to see one. We thought we heard a garden warbler too, but less certain of that. Telling them apart from blackcaps isn’t easy.
Skylarks were singing beautifully on the hill top. A couple of swallows swooped over us along the path back to the winding house. One of us had previously seen swallows investigating their traditional nest sites at Alexandra Lodge.
Thanks to Sue for taking us round and sharing tips on birds and their language! Thanks also, to both Sue and Adele, for the hospitable coffee and toast and bird talk round the table at the Dynamo House to finish off a grand walk. As a bonus, walking home along the sidings path, I did manage to see that whitethroat that had hidden from us earlier!
Adults £4 Child £2
A grand walk led by Sue McDonald reviewed by Gill Costello, Treasurer FoBCP
I walked down from my home through the woodlands to the start point at the Dynamo House. The woods smelt of spring; fresh green leaves just unfolding. A tawny owl called in the distance, but it was cold still and the only other song I could hear then were the blackbirds from our gardens behind me.
About ten of us, plus Sue, set off - the sun was then just coming onto the park slopes, inching down the hill-side, bringing warmth which after a while encouraged the birds to get properly tuned up. We walked up through the woods, with lots of pauses to listen and look, then strolled across to the splendid all-round hill top view by Rise Park, before returning to the Dynamo House. Robins, wrens, dunnocks, blackbirds, and nuthatches, our regulars, were determined to defend their nesting territories and attract mates. Great tits and blue tits chipped in. Green woodpeckers’ laughing call came several times. Song thrushes treated us to their lovely song at various stages along our route. A buzzard called.
A pair of bullfinches was a good sighting at ‘ferny hollow’ - an area that had been previously cleared of dense sycamore trees to provide layers of open varied habitat. It was the first time I’d seen bullfinches there. Our peculiar spring this year showed in the wild woodland flowers when we saw yellow celandines still in full bloom, at the same time as the opening of the first bluebell flowers.
It was good to hear again our returning summer birds starting to sing, although still feeding up after long migration flights to return to their breeding sites in the park. We got lots of musical song from blackcaps, as well as good views, and the descending scales of the willow warbler followed us around. We would now and again hear the whitethroat scratchy song, but didn’t manage to see one. We thought we heard a garden warbler too, but less certain of that. Telling them apart from blackcaps isn’t easy.
Skylarks were singing beautifully on the hill top. A couple of swallows swooped over us along the path back to the winding house. One of us had previously seen swallows investigating their traditional nest sites at Alexandra Lodge.
Thanks to Sue for taking us round and sharing tips on birds and their language! Thanks also, to both Sue and Adele, for the hospitable coffee and toast and bird talk round the table at the Dynamo House to finish off a grand walk. As a bonus, walking home along the sidings path, I did manage to see that whitethroat that had hidden from us earlier!
Table Top Sales - Saturday & Monday 4 & 6 May
Saturday 4 May - 10am to 12 noon and BH Monday 6 May - 10am to 12.30pm CRAFT & BOOK STALLS
A selection of table-top stalls selling crafts and second-hand books run by local ladies of the Women's Institute outside the Dynamo House.
A review by Kay Brown - Secretary of Bestwood Village WI
The weather was very hard on us on the Saturday with steady drizzle all morning. This meant that the stalls were forced to retreat inside the Dynamo House and that fewer people came along to buy things. However, unusually the sun shone on us on the Bank Holiday Monday and the stalls stayed outside and the people flocked in to find a bargain. With 10% of their sales going into FoBCP funds this was good news all round!
The event was very well received and we will be repeating it again for the next Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May but with a slightly different range of stalls. Look out for us hopefully outside in the sunshine once again.
A selection of table-top stalls selling crafts and second-hand books run by local ladies of the Women's Institute outside the Dynamo House.
A review by Kay Brown - Secretary of Bestwood Village WI
The weather was very hard on us on the Saturday with steady drizzle all morning. This meant that the stalls were forced to retreat inside the Dynamo House and that fewer people came along to buy things. However, unusually the sun shone on us on the Bank Holiday Monday and the stalls stayed outside and the people flocked in to find a bargain. With 10% of their sales going into FoBCP funds this was good news all round!
The event was very well received and we will be repeating it again for the next Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May but with a slightly different range of stalls. Look out for us hopefully outside in the sunshine once again.
A panoramic view of the Winding Engine House, Dynamo House Café and the stalls out on the grass.
