Key milestones in Nottinghamshire

This year is a big year for milestones in Nottinghamshire. Nottinghamshire County Council marks its 125th anniversary in April. Plus, there will be some key celebrations for everyone to enjoy in 2014.

• 60 years…
Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve will celebrate a special Diamond Anniversary. It is 60 years since this wildlife rich area was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. There are a wide range of events which will celebrate 60 years of conservation at Sherwood.

• 30 years…
It is the 30th anniversary of the Robin Hood Festival also to be staged at Sherwood Forest – between August 4 and 10. This week-long celebration of all things Robin Hood will again feature a full cast of medieval characters and a whole host of events and activities to celebrate our famous outlaw.

• 20 years….
It is the 20th anniversary of the Earth and Fire International Ceramic Fair at Rufford Abbey Country Park from June 20-22 each day from 10am to 5pm with a packed programme and appearances from key ceramicists from across the UK and Europe.

Councillor John Knight, Culture Committee Chairman at Nottinghamshire County Council said: “It is very interesting that there are so many special anniversaries of events here in the county taking place in 2014.

"The Robin Hood Festival is a much-loved event with Robin Hood fans both in the UK and abroad and it is wonderful that we are going to celebrate 30 years of the festival this summer. It is a double celebration for Sherwood as it marks the Diamond Anniversary of receiving SSSI status.

“And with the 20th anniversary of the Earth and Fire International Ceramic Fair at Rufford Abbey in June – all in the year that the county council is 125 years old – it really does make 2014 stand out as a special year of milestones.”

2014 is also seeing the commemorations of The Great War, with many events being organised by the county’s libraries and archives service.