Huthwaite park celebrates 10th anniversary (Ashfield and Eastwood Liberal Democrats)

Ashfield and Eastwood Liberal Democrats <info@ashfieldlibdems.org.uk>

Huthwaite park celebrates 10th anniversary

November 15, 2009 5:13 PM
By Mansfield & Ashfield Chad

STAFF and volunteers have raised a toast to celebrate the 10th anniversary of 'one of Ashfield's jewels' -- Huthwaite's award-winning Brierley Forest Park.

They celebrated the milestone with a special event which included every one of the 45 volunteers who have helped out in the visitor centre having their names read out and local youngsters who have celebrated their own 10th birthday this year joining in the festivities.

And the Greenwood Community Forest Team - which helps to create community forests in Nottinghamshire - also produced a timeline of activities and significant events around the walls of the former pit tip to mark the landmark.

Said Greenwood's community liaison officer Gill Grievson: "It only seems like 10 months since the centre opened its doors, never mind 10 years.

"The timeline brought back a lot of memories for me including some lovely educational visits with local schools."

Brierley welcomed its first visitor in October 1999 and has since gone on to stage hundreds of regional events.

Said Jessie Hickling, who was one of the first volunteers: "We had put on a lovely buffet, but unfortunately Beverley Hughes had to leave immediately after the launch to get back for a vote in the Commons.

"She was looking at the mouth-watering spread, so I quickly made up a plate for her and her driver to take back to Westminster."

The Ashfield District Council-owned centre relies on volunteers to keep it open and three of the original four helpers were presented with a plaque by Coun Ray Buttery, a Friends of Brierley Forest Park Group member, to say thank you for their hard work.

And Coun Jason Zadrozny, whose Sutton North ward includes part of the park, said: "Brierley is one of Ashfield's jewels. It has three green flags and to have come from a former colliery spoil heap is quite outstanding.

"A lot of credit goes to the Friends' group and it is the extra-curricular activities that make it extra special - there is a lot to do and see and I recommend everyone go and explore it."