Blog

From Bude, back to South Derbyshire

After a lovely break in Bude, I returned to South Derbyshire feeling refreshed and ready to get back out and about—but, as usual, there was no gentle easing back into things! While I was away, I naturally found myself visiting other tourist information centres. Even on holiday, I can’t resist having a look at how

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The Secret Sculpture Garden – Melbourne Hall

Finding Inspiration in Melbourne – A Sculpture Trail, Beautiful Gardens and the Head Gardener Some places leave a lasting impression long after you’ve driven home, and Melbourne in South Derbyshire is certainly one of them. Last Thursday evening, I had the privilege of attending the opening and unveiling of the winning sculpture at the Melbourne

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A Peaceful Afternoon at Mercia Marina, Willington By Lyndsay Thomson

There’s something wonderfully calming about spending a few hours by the water, and my recent visit to Mercia Marina in Willington was exactly that—a gentle, easy morning filled with wandering, browsing, and soaking up the scenery. It’s one of those places that feels both lively and peaceful, with plenty to see and do without ever

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Nuroosa: A Place That No Phone Camera Can Ever Truly Capture

Dragonflies on the water, birdsong in the trees and a vision lovingly brought to life by Reb and Pete. This morning I had the privilege of spending some time at Nuroosa, and I’ve been staring at the photos on my phone ever since, trying to work out why they just don’t tell the story. The

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Welcome to South Derbyshire – A New Chapter Begins

There is something special about South Derbyshire, as someone who has lived here all her life I think I know the area Whether you’re discovering it for the first time, have lived here all your life, or are returning to visit family and friends, this is a place full of hidden gems, beautiful countryside, fascinating

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Well Dressings in South Derbyshire

Well dressing season is underway and the first festival in South Derbyshire took place in June at Etwall, an event that is now in its 54th year! In addition to the well dressings, the village hosted a range of events and activities, including live music, a fly by, children’s puppet shows, a craft fair, duck

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Bluebells in South Derbyshire

Late spring is the perfect time to get out and see beautiful bluebells in their full splendour. We are lucky enough to have a range of wonderful walking locations in South Derbyshire that transform into bluebell wonderlands at this time of year. Here are some of our favourites. Spring Wood, Melbourne To the east of

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The National Forest Walking Festival

The 14th annual National Forest Walking Festival starts in just a few days! Over 80 walks across all areas of the National Forest are planned between Saturday, 13th and Thursday, 25th May. There are multiple walks taking place every day to suit every ability – from short, easy strolls to more strenuous routes for experienced

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The Coronation of King Charles III

It was wonderful to see so many of you in Swadlincote town centre on Saturday, 6th May to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. We were lucky enough to be joined by a visiting Grenadier Guardsman and our Town Crier, who started the celebrations in the morning. If you managed to get a selfie

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Molly Scott visits Melbourne

You can only imagine how excited we were on Wednesday 23 March when respected Derbyshire blogger Molly Scott visited Melbourne in South Derbyshire. The sun shone as Molly meandered through the town together with a film crew from Bretby-based MIH Solutions, visiting businesses, interviewing their owners, sampling menus and discovering some of the rich history

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