Our next Walking Group takes place on Wednesday 6th October, leaving at 2:00 pm from outside the Village Hall.
If you are interested in organising or taking part – or would just like more information, please contact Anne or David Harvey or John Morrell.
Unfortunately, it has not been possible to proceed with the proposed fund raising Flower Festival which was going to be held on October 9th and 10th.
Our Harvest Festival service will be held on Sunday 3rd October at 6pm.
All welcome at this annual service of Thanksgiving, which will be followed by refreshments – nibbles and wine.
Donations invited for the Rutland Foodbank.
Rutland County Council have made changes to some of the bin collection routes, this means that your green and grey bin may now be collected on different days, if you have received a letter about your bin collection, your village or street will be listed. See the following link from RCC for more detail – https://www.rutland.gov.uk/my-services/waste-and-recycling/find-my-bin-collection-day/changes-to-bin-collections-in-villages/
Ridlington’s Green bin is now collected with the black bin on Wednesday mornings.
To get the latest information on your bin collections and to report a missed, or damaged bin, you can now sign up for MyAccount on the RCC site allowing you to keep all your details in one place and quickly report service issues.
Please find attached the minutes to the meeting held on September 22nd at 7:30 pm at Ridlington Village Hall.
For future reference these minutes are held on the website under the heading – Minutes, Agendas & Accounts.
MURDER EH? DEAR OH DEAR, SUCH A TO-DO………….
Yes, but what was the motive?
Come to MANTON VILLAGE HALL on Saturday, October 9th to watch the Ridlington Players weave the murky story of DEATH AT THE DEANERY and all will be revealed!
Bring your own liquid refreshment and glasses and gather for a pre-theatre drink at 7:00 pm. Curtains up at 7:30 pm. Meet the cast afterwards and enjoy an after theatre pow-wow!
Tickets are £5 each (in aid of Ridlington Church) and can be bought from the following people:
Margie Wall 0792837866 margie.wall@hotmail.com
Debra Thatcher 01572 823910 debrathatcher@hotmail.com
Suzanne Baines 01572 823542 suzannebaines@outlook.com
Selling fast, don’t miss out!
“Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.”
Results of the Playing Field Questionnaire that was circulated in the latter part of last year are now available to read on the website. We would like to thank Suzanne Baines again for all her hard work in the design, compilation, distribution and collation of all the documentation and to all of you who responded.
The analysis of the questionnaire together with the annual ROSPA Safety Inspection Report will be discussed at our first Action Group meeting towards the end of September. Date and time to be confirmed. The outcome of these discussions and the priorities and future plans will be taken forward by the Trustees and dedicated Action Groups. Please do let us know if you would like to be involved. We are in the process of setting up a Trustees email address which we will put on the website very soon.
The Field
We would like to thank Russell and Dawn once again for gathering the hay from the field. We know that so many of you missed the field as it was and are aware that leaving the grass to grow curtailed your enjoyment and regular activities. We thank you for bearing with us over the last 18 months and with the decisions that we made as a result of the ongoing pandemic. Your feedback has been greatly appreciated and noted and we will ensure that regular mowing and maintenance of the field will be resuming as we go forwards.
We are however, planning to let the periphery of the field continue to re-wild as we know from your feedback that this gives pleasure to so many in the village as well as helping nature to flourish. The new saplings are growing well within this area too.
We would like to thank Karen and Richard Baines as they continue to do a stirling job as volunteers within the playing field especially in the wooded areas around the periphery of the field. They and their team have worked so hard in clearing away so much dead wood and debris and have now created a path through the trees and bushes leading from where the wood starts on the far right hand side of the field (just above where the play area is) and going forwards towards the entrances to Green Lane. Richard has also removed all the barbed wire on that side bordering onto Green Lane. Your support continues to be invaluable. To see the improvements and what the Playing Field looks like now we’ve taken a few photos. 
The Play Area
A second lorry load of bark was recently delivered and spread. Thank you Simon. Appropriate signage remains in place.
The Sue Lane Memorial Bench has been washed and treated and now sits on the concrete base by the play area.
The new bench on the opposite side of the field is proving very popular and being well used also.
Cricket Club
There have been no home games this summer. We are in the process of liaising with representatives of the club to clarify their future plans.
Cricket Pavillion
We are aware that the existing cricket pavilion is no longer suitable or fit for purpose. Discussions are to take place to determine what actions are required now and in the future.
Bird Boxes
We have received a donation for bird boxes with the stipulation that they are made locally. Ideas welcome.
Football Pitch
Thanks goes to Mitch Pilkington for mowing the football field earlier in the summer. New football nets are due to be ordered shortly as the existing nets are shredded and torn.
Petanque
Peter Richards is taking this forward and was very much enthused by the interest expressed via the questionnaires. The area itself is now weed free due to the hard work of members of the group.
Dog Poo Bins
These are proving very popular and we endeavour to empty them regularly.
Mariane and Ruth enjoyed meeting with the High Sheriff David Wood and his wife Jeffy on their recent visit to the village. We enjoyed our stroll around the field together and the mutual exchange of information was most appreciated.
You will have noticed from time to time we have taken the decision to lock the main gate to the field following the advice of our local police when there has been an increased risk of unauthorised groups driving in and gathering illegally on green spaces in our locality. Thank you for your understanding. Thankfully we have the small gate just a little further down the road.
Thank you all for your ongoing support. It is greatly welcomed and appreciated.
Ridlington Playing Field Trustees
Did you know you can raise FREE donations for Ridlington Playing Fields EVERY time you shop online? 4,000 shops and sites will donate to us when you use #easyfundraising to shop with them at no extra cost to you. Please take a moment to sign up and support us! https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/ridlingtonplayingfields
Here is an update from the Trustees of the Ridlington Playing Field.
For those who may not be aware the village playing field on Top Road is held in Trust for the village by a small body of Trustees currently; Julie Hoult, Mariane Gilkes, Simon Powell and Ruth Lees. The Trustees have a legal responsibility to manage the playing field in the best way they see fit for the benefit of the villagers and a body of Trustees has been doing this since the playing fields were gifted in trust in 1946.
The Trustees really appreciate the enthusiasm of many villagers to engage in the upkeep and enhancement of the field and appreciate the feedback you have given through the survey. To ensure that these collaborations achieve maximum benefit and comply with the legal responsibilities and the conditions therein of the Trustees, we plan to invite villagers to join an Action Group to drive the future sustainability of the playing field, under the direction of the Trustees.
We have had some volunteers already and would welcome further interest from any other villagers keen to participate. Please email Ruth Lees in the first instance –ruthlees123@aol.com
Thank you.
The Playing Field Trustees
