Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust provided the wildflower seeds, we provided the premises and equpment, the pre-school provided the young gardeners. The Mayor of Gedling Pat Blandamer joined in the whole planting and bug hunting session. Together we have created a mini meadow for children and families who use our centre to enjoy.
The pre-school children planted the first seeds and bulbs last autumn, they will be back to check the progress of the plants and wildlife they attract. The bug hunting session bagged a range of mini beasts. Children went home with their own pot of seeds. Last year we received £500 from NCC Local area initiative fund to inprove our outside area - we are still improving it.
Wildflower seeds planted - and checked. Our Mayor helps plant mini pots. Checking for mini beasts
19th March 2011 A Parent Partnership Aiming High for DisabledChildren Event at Richard Herrod Centre
Our team of volunteers (6) and staff (2) provided a range of activities including: Sensory geodome and music area, ribbon sticks, Glass and plastic painting, gloop and jelly nuggets (with, magnets, vehicles etc) and flannel bag decorating. We took our circus skills kit, the children soon mastered the pedalos and balance boards.
Other activities provided by PP were an excellent face painter and bouncy castles
Funding provided by Nottinghamshire County Council, Aiming High for Disabled children project
We did cover the new carpet. One of our family workshops. Inside our geodome- markers and sounds
5th March 2011 Open day and Spring Workshops.
Visitors and members from local play schemes, special schools, junior youthgroups, faith groups, uniformed groups and childminding came together and joined in with a range of workshops including: bag decorating, glass coaster decorating, card and flower making.
Members took away materials to share their new skills with the children and young people in their groups. Many thanks to CLLR Mel Shepherd for funding these workshops.
23rd February2011 in Arnot Hill Park
One day in a week of activity days at Arnot Hill Park. We were supporting friends of Arnot Hill Park and the park rangers. We provided a pot and basket decorating activity to compliment the rangers planting activity and National Geologicals fossil making, gold panning and dinosaur activities.
19th February Carlton Valley Residents’ Association & Gedling Borough Council Community Marketplace at Wheldon School
A chance for groups and organisations providing services for the area to meet with local residents. We attended this excellent event - taking information boards and hands on craft activities
18th February 2011 Opening of Queens Bower Park, Arnold
We were invited by Gedling Borough Council Direct Services to provide free activities for this popular park opening. We provided Rocket making and launching and butterfly kite making. For further information click here
15th February 
Friends of Arnot Hill Park planting event
We took park in Friends of Arnot Hill Park panting event. Over 6000 snowdrops planted along the the nature walk. Friends of Arnot Hill Park welcome new members. See link
The wildlife walk will be opened March 23rd.
12th February 2011
Free taster sessions of cooking course and healthy eating advice available to groups at our resource centre
We were joined by workers, volunteers with their children from toddler groups, after school groups, holiday clubs,, uniformed groups, schools and more. Vernon coaker MP, rolled his sleeves up and joined in.
Activities included: Wok cooking,Sugar games, kids cut and sticky activity, recipes and leaflets. Luke Daley, Gedlings Public Health Nutritionist came and cooked up a storm, many of the groups have booked for further sessions in their own settings. Children and their adults had a wide range of fresh ingreadients to prepare, cook and eat. We hope to run further session soon. Please contact us if you are interested in finding out more.
Mini dragons, drums, lanterns and muh more at CNY Cooking for all ages at our Forum
Chinese new year in the park - February 2011.
Gedling Borough Council funded us to provide a range of creative workshops for local families. Over 80 families took part in this popular event. The first hour was available to families with children with additional needs - funded through Aiming High for Disabled Children. The last two hours open to all ( these were very busy sessions). We finished with a lantern and dragon parade around the park. Over 150 people took part. Leisure Service provided free passes for a family swim or leisure centre to every family that took part.
Linda from Rushcliffe Play Forum came and made clay Rabbits, the next day(sunday) Lesley and Sheila from Gedling Play Forum took our dragon helmet workshop to West Bridgford to support Rushcliffe Play Forum's CNY celebrations in the Community Centre. Ethel Swann From Fair Play for Children supported both events.
Aiming High - Debz4 coffee - Christmas Workshops at our Resource Centre - A day of crafts for familes with Children with /additional needs.
December 16th 2010- Open day at Gedling Play Forum
Visitors had a chance to look around our resource cente and scrap store, join in with a range of christmas crafts workshops and enjoy our season refreshments. The hot spiced apple punch was welcome by many that braved the snow and ice. Thanks to everyone who managed to get to us. Thanks again to Vernon Coaker MP who again supported us and our members.
November 27th 2010. Christmas Crafts leading to Arnolds Christmas tree switch on by Gedlings Mayor Cllr Pat Blandamer
Venue: Arnold Methodist Church, Worrall Avenue, Arnold (by the Market)
A family event, craft activities included popcorn making,tree decorations, costumes and simple lanterns
Hourly sessions for the whole family. Funded by Gedling Borough Council, Leisure
Music from Flirty Something lead to switching on of Arnolds Chrismas treelights by the the Mayor of Gedling. All could join in with carols and seasonal songs.
November 6th 2010 - Our Christmas Craft Workshops.
35 adults and 9 children took part. They made a range of crafts including tree decorations, wreaths, cards, snow bottles. Our winter soup making (and eating) proved very popular with the children who took away a book 'what's so good about vedgetables.' The hot popcorn making combined with the fresh bread and soup making and scented the resource centre.
We have been asked to run further sessions.
Haloween crafts in Arnot Hill Park Workshops in our Centre attract families and group leaders
October 30th. Halloween and Autumn Crafts - Working with Friends of Arnot Hill Park and Gedling Borough Council
A well attended event, the first hour being funded through Nottinghamshire County Councils Aiming High Fund, the later hours by Friends Of Arnot Hill Park.
We provided a range of craft activities to fill the Bowling Green Pavillion at Arnot Hill Park. (approx 90 children and parents/carers joined in with costume making ( supported by Ethel Swann from Fair Play for Children), lantern making, spiders in boxes, spooky bottles, decorated bags, made popcorn and more
Other activities provided by Friends of Arnot Hill Park were facepainting and story telling from Dawn Farrier. The Park Rangers and our Vice chair - Mick - decorated the venue and carved pumpkins that were lit by ingenious means.
October 25th - A Debs4Coffee fun event
Using our Aiming High funding we supported this wonderful group (who support families with children with aspergers). Four of our volunters and a paid worker delivered a range of creative activities. St Mary's Church in Arnold provided a free venue. Debs4Coffee are planning other events in 2010/11.
October 16th A Parent Partnership/ Aiming High Event
We provided five activities at this popular and well attended event. Well ok six activities with Mick's rocket making and launching but due to the nature of the activity he was sent outside and sadly rain stopped this play but not before parents and children were instructed on how to make their own kits. We look forward to the next event.
Other activities were a giant bouncy castle, Wi, games and a consulting activity. Main contact is Helen Torr from Parent Partnership.
October 2nd McMillan Biggest Coffee Morning
A big thank you to everyone who supported this event. The home made cakes, chutneys, sale of goods and raffle raised £192.45. A special thanks to one of our young supporters who brought along his soft toys to sell and raised over £12.
We were visited by our MP Vernon Coaker who donated his raffle prize to a new expectant grandma. Over 40 local residents and play forum members supported the day.
Sunday September 5th 2010 The Gedling Show
Sponsored by Gedling Borough Council we filled a marquee with craft and play activities. Families made a range of items from butterlies and nector feeders to puppets and rockets.
Saturday 28th August 2010. The BIG HEAT showdown at the Brickyard Community Centre
The showdown was a celebration of the centres summer events and included the Youth World Cup Tournament Finals, Pride in Honeywood Cultural Arts displays, arts and crafts, and catch up on progress with the “HEAT Generates Life” Environmental Programme.
We attended and provided a range of hands on craft activities including decorating felt peace doves, an aboriginal game in a bag, cloth puppet making and banner making. Other activites included a very lively Zumba experience. For further information see
http://www.gedling.gov.uk/index/ac-home/ac-newscentre/ac-news-archive/ac-news-article.htm?newsid=37302
11 th August 2010 Arnold Playday
At Arnot Hill Park, Arnold 1pm to 4 pm.
A Gedling Play Partnership Event. See http://www.gedling.gov.uk/leisure/ls-ae-ho/ls-playday.htm
We provided a range of activites including a healthy eating stall with fruit and water for every child. This was funded by Nottinghamshire County Councillor Mel Shepherd.
Our activities used mainly recycled materials. We provided a large cardboard castle with tunnel to a cottage that children decorated, medievel crafts included costume and shield making. Children filled in playday questionnaire to help with future planning.
Through Aiming High for Disabled Children we employed Wildlife Workshops. They showed children how to care for a range of animals and gave hands on experience of handling them.
Over 7000 came and played.
28th July 2010 Papplewick Play event
A Papplewick Parish Council and Gedling Play Partnership event
We joined our play partners and provided a range of free play activities at this very popular event.
Notts County Council Barnfather funded our free fruit and water stand, our activites were sponsored by Gedling Borough Council
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On 17th July we held our Our Annual General Meeting. This followed an equipment, book and toy sale. We had a information and ideas share throught the morning.
June/July a range of workshops held at our recource centre for Breaks in Partnership groups including Sutherland House and Debs4Coffee
Gedling Gala 3rd July 2010
Gedling Gala Committee have ran one of the most successful events to date. The Park was full of music, dance and people just having a good family day out. We esimate over 2000 people joined in with this community event.
We provided a range of creative activities, from rocket making and launching to planes, general craft table and yes those bowler hats again, with around 180 rehomed. We were next to Gedling Gala Committees Beach area, this was always full of children playing with sand and water.
No idea how they will top this next year, may just have to go and find out.
Netherfield Heathy Eating Month Activities at Jacki Bells Field 23rd June 2010 5-7pm
A Gedling Borough council, Nottm PCT event.
We provided a marquee full of creative activities and information on our services, including Aiming High for Disable Children Pathfinder workshops.
A lovely warm evening making windsocks, decorated shapes and glittery bowlers. Due to requests we did agree to provide these again at our next event in Gedling...
Free play activies at Arnold Carnival 16and 17th June
Two full days of fun and activities
Sponsored by Gedling Borough council we provided free craft activities for hundreds of children, young people and families at this ever popular event. One of our most popular activites was bowler hat decorating, nearly 400 were made and taken away - rockets, clay, flower fairies, medievel crafts and sundry sandy and glittery treasure went home with happy children and parents.
See http://www.gedling.gov.uk/index/leisure/ls-ae-ho/ls-ae-carnivalsandshows.htm for further information
A play activity day for Debs4Coffee group, 4th June 2010
Held at our resource centre. We provided 6 initial activities and responded to childrens requests on the day to provided banner painting, noise makers, facepainting etc. The children and young people were also encouraged to raid our scrap store to make dens, costumes and 'objects'. From 10am - 3pm, 50 people made, played and then took home bags of materials to continue their play at home.
Funded through Aiming High for Disabled Children Pathfinder fund See Aiming High
Catlton Play Day June 2nd 2010
A Gedling Play Partnership event, organised by Lorraine Brown, Gedling Borough Council, Leisure Services. An estimated 700 children brought their adults to this popular event.
We provided a range of creative activities for the whole family.
Other activities provided by our play partners included Road Safety, BMX, games, fitness activites and goal shooting from Ice Stadium, A busy and successful day. We were sponsored by Gedling Borough Council.
Colwick Play Park Celebration Event May 22nd 2010
Gedling Homes provided funding for a new play area. A celebration event was organised by Colwick Parish Council and supported by Gedling Borough Council.
Many organisations attended and provided free family fun for our community.
We provided a range of creative and active play activities at this popular event, we were sponsored by Gedling Borough Council and a marquee was provided by Gedling Homes.
Gedling Homes Event May 8th 2010
We provided four craft activities at this well attended event. People braved the rain to participate in a range of activities and gain information from a wide range of stalls and interactive displays.
Gedling Homes thoughtfully provided hot food and refreshments to all attending. At the close, people were still playing, learning and wanting to take part in the activies. some suggested an evening barbeque would have been a nice addition. (but only if it stopped raining!)
Spring Training Workshops 27th March 2010.
Childcare and playworkers took part in our popular craft workshops at our resource centre. morning and afternoon sessions were offfered - some stayed all day. Participants were from various settings including: special schools, playschemes, childminding, holiday clubs and after school clubs.
Not all activiies were planned, participants children joined in with the workshops untill they took over the scrapstore to produce a puppet theatre and two plays. Look out for more productions at our playdays. Training funded by Notts County Council, Play Service, Play Development.
Open meeting 25th March 2010 at our resource centre.
All were welcome. Meeting was held to discuss the changes to our forum, membership criterea and charges for the coming year. Members attending were from schools, uniformed groups, out of school care, pre-school, holiday clubs, parent groups, junior youth and children's clubs. New areas of working, membership criterea and charges were agreed.
Killisick Community Event 20th March 2010
A Gedling Borough Council Partnership event. A chance for the community to come together for a day of activities, information and advice. Local residents could get advice on training, health, housing, work in the area and community cohesion.
We provided four activities, an encausic art workshop, egg decorating, making/decorating fruit people, and easter cards. Prior to the event our volunteers packed 250 reusable shopping bags with a selection of free fruit and vedge, this was funded through Gedling Borough Council.
Nottingham loves learning - Face painting workshops. Sunday, 14th Feb 2010
A day of family facepainting workshops with a story telling theme. The tutor was Lynne Adger and participants were from our local community. We painted faces, arms, hands, made puppets, learnt new skills and had fun. More family workshops have been requested.
Participants enjoyed the demonstrations, learning new skills and having fun.
Chinese New Year in the Park. Saturday 13th February 2010
We worked with Gedling Borough Council Leisure an Arts development and provided craft activities for 180 children and families. GBC provided an excellent facepainter and chinese story telling sessions. We provided a mixture of activiies including lanterns, dragon callers (it worked one appeared) envelopes, fans, bouncy dragons, hats etc. We were supported by Ethel Swan from Fair play for children who helped the children make costumes.
The day ended with over 100 people joining in with a lantern and dragon parade around the lake -Woodthorpe Guides did a great job in controlling the dragon. Thanks to all who helped make a great day.
Friends of Arnot Hill ,Park Christmas Event 12th December 09
We worked with Friends of Arnot Hill Park and Gedling Borough Council to provide families with a free afternoon of making Chrismas decorations, lanterns, bird feeders, beaded doves, snowflakes, stars and table decorations. Children could enter a winter wonderland and come out face painted. Approx 130 people took part. We finished a a lantern parade around the lake, it finished at the play park when the banner bearers took a detour into the play park. Children filled in wish stars with ideas for future events.
Childrens christmas wishes, one of our activities. After the sensory workshop, others still benefitted
Sensory Area Workshop - A Gedling Out of School Networking event Nov 28th
Vicki Moss, Childcare Development Worker Notts County Council, out of school team held a workshop for local after school care schemes.
Groups came to the Resource Centre to discover low cost ideas and tips on how to develop and build sensory areas within their settings. The area was left up after the event and many other groups are still benefitting from this training.
Winter Craft Workshops in our Resource Centre 14th November
Local play and childcare workers and their children came and took part in a day of workshops. From angels,wreathes, hats, xmas bird feeders to mice and gitterbugs. Participants could access the scrap store when inspiration took hold, we saw some spectacular creations.
We received funding through Notts County Council Play Service, workshop leader Linda Cox, and from workers from Gedling Play Forum.
Making circuits - the first stage in bug making, bodymaterials from scrap store. Winter crafts sessions, networking.