Beauty spot's £250,000 investment
A popular beauty spot which offers a glimpse into Ashfield’s past is preparing for its next steps thanks to more than £250,000 of investment.
Ashfield District Council, in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council, is delighted to announce the launch of the Mill Waters Next Steps Project. This follows the successful National Lottery Heritage Fund bid for £249,898 and £8,600 from Ashfield’s UK Government Funding.
The two authorities will work closely together to host the project from the Adventures Park at Mill Waters, Kings Mill Reservoir.
Adventures celebrates its first birthday on Saturday 5 July with free activities including inflatables. The party will be followed by the launch of the Mill Waters Next Steps Project on Sunday 6 July with a free Wild! drop-in activity with nature crafts.
There will be 20 percent off all activities at Adventures all weekend. Details for both celebrations are available on Facebook @AdventuresNotts.
Mill Waters is known for offering a glimpse into Sutton’s medieval, industrial and social heritage while surrounded by nature and the scenic River Maun. Over the next two years the Mill Waters Next Steps Project will celebrate and bring to life the rich history of the area and create more opportunities for residents of all ages to take part.
This latest funding will enable new projects such as ‘Mills Along the Maun’ which will include a new book and a printed trail by Denis Hill, of Kirkby District and Archaeological Group.
Other projects will include ‘Sutton Lawn Landscape and Living Memory’ from The Gardens Trust. This will bring together the living history of Sutton Lawn with video interviews and pictures.
There will also be a ‘Girl Outdoors’ project that will explore barriers to women and girls accessing the outdoors. This will be a collaboration with First Art, Academy Transformation Trust Further Education and Nottinghamshire Independent Domestic Abuse Service.
Young people will have the opportunity to coproduce and perform a short play with theatre maker Jack Burrows and The Little Festival of Heritage and Nature at Kings Mill Reservoir will be bigger and better thanks to the Lottery funding and collaborations with community partners.
These are just some of the projects that will help build on the success of Mill Waters, strengthening existing engagement and creating new opportunities.
John Bennett, Ashfield District Council’s Executive Director – Place, said:
“These projects will help more people in Ashfield learn about the heritage of the District and get closer to nature. We need to preserve our history so that future generations can learn more about the past and it is projects like this that will help us to do that.
“I look forward to seeing how these projects come to life at Mill Waters. I would urge anyone who has not done so to pay a visit to Mill Waters when they get chance. Thank you to the National Lottery Heritage Fund as well for its support with this project.”
Mill Waters can be found between Ashfield and Mansfield and covers three public open spaces – Sutton Lawn, Kings Mill Reservoir and Hermitage Ponds.
It offers more than 70 hectares for visitors to enjoy with recreational activities including the new Adventures Park, tennis, a skate park, play facilities, and outdoor fitness.
