Welcome back, Nottingham schools – boy, we have missed you! But now it’s school business as usual and we, and you – we hope, are raring to go for another year of learning. Welcome too, to those who are having their first days and weeks at school! You’ve quite the journey ahead of you!
Whilst the summer holiday is over, there is still loafs happening for you to do! September will see arts, cultural and community partners from across Nottingham launch South Asian Cultural Festival – the first of its kind anywhere in the UK. The month is a celebration of the culture and heritage of people from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh who have settled, flourished and contributed to the vibrancy of the city.
The Chinasuars are still on the prowl at Wollaton Hall and Lakeside with The Dinosaurs of China exhibition! This one-time only world exclusive exhibition of dinosaurs, featuring fossils never before seen outside of Asia, brings to life the story of how dinosaurs evolved into the birds that live alongside us today. It runs to 29 October. There are also dino-sleepovers at Wollaton happening, but for those of us who’ve been on the Wollaton Hall camps in Year 2, then this is old news!
You may have also seen that Nottingham is bidding to become the European Capital of Culture in 2023! You can find more info here and see what you can do to be part of or back the bid. It would be great to back up our UNESCO City of Literature status with us being a cultural capital for a year too!
A £135k project for children in Nottingham has opened today with the unveiling of a new bike track on Victoria Embankment. Built by the City Council’s Parks and Highways teams, the track features a miniature road layout with traffic lights, zebra crossing, roundabout, and junctions. The aim is to allow children to learn road skills and road safety in a fun and engaging environment.
The track is suitable for toddlers using balance bikes and stabilisers up to 11 year olds. Scooters are also welcome.
It is hoped there will be formal courses on road safety and learning to cycle on the course in the future. At present, the park is free to use and open to the public at any time, right through the week. At various points at the track, Ridewise will be in attendance with free bikes to ride and their instructors will be offering tips and advice, plus Parklives will be running various activities.
Cllr Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, said: “It is wonderful to see the opening of the junior bike track. What a great way to introduce children to road safety from a really young age, while providing a really engaging space to enjoy the outdoors. They can play, and have fun but learn at the same time.”
A Roar-Some new competition allows children in Nottingham to design and win their own amazing bean-bag of their dream dinosaur! Inspired by the Dinosaurs of China exhibition in Nottingham, Entrants must be aged 11 and under; competition open from Monday 10 July – Saturday 30 September. Winner and two runners up receive family tickets to the Dinosaurs of China exhibition in Nottingham; winner also receives a giant bean bag featuring a print of their drawing Entries submitted online here
Children aged 11 and under have the chance to win a giant bean bag featuring their drawing of their ‘dream dinosaur’ by entering a competition that is being run by the Nottingham-based manufacturing company, GreatBeanBags™, to celebrate the Dinosaurs of China exhibition that has landed in the city this summer.
The first prize winner will receive the giant bean bag featuring a printed version of their own drawing, as well as a family ticket to the Dinosaurs of China exhibition currently showing at Nottingham’s Wollaton Hall and Lakeside Arts, Nottingham.
Two runners up will receive a family ticket to the Dinosaurs of China exhibit as well as having their dinosaur design showcased on the website.
The competition launched on Monday 10 July and will close at midnight on Saturday 30 September 2017. Parents are invited to submit their children’s designs by email via the competition website; all entries will then be shown in the online gallery.
