Southwell Library

Published 30th July 2024

We're celebrating the rich history, culture and arts scene of Nottinghamshire on Sunday 25 August for Nottinghamshire Day 2024. Whether you'll be attending the celebration event at Sherwood Forest or you're heading out and about, there are inspiring activities all over the county to help celebrate the event.

Nottinghamshire Day 25 August #NottsDay

Merry making workshops in libraries

Peg versions of Robin Hood and his Merry Men

Families across Nottinghamshire are invited to take part in FREE family craft sessions, making local legends Robin Hood and his Merry Men in peg form! From Worksop to East Leake, Eastwood to Southwell, enjoy creating peg pals and sharing stories of our heroic outlaw. 

Not sure where your local library is? Find out and start enjoying thousands of books plus free activities and events with your free Inspire library card.

Browse and share photographs

Take a trip through Notts in years gone by. Search our Inspire Picture Archive and discover thousands of images of people, places and moments in time all shared by people just like you. Explore our recommended collections, or use the search function to find images from your local area. Access to the collection is free, and we can provide digital copies for just a small fee.

Celebrate local authors

Person writing, with the outline of Nottinghamshire county overlapping

Our library shelves are overflowing with entries to new characters and exciting worlds; but did you know some of them originate right here in Nottinghamshire? Visit your local library to discover thrillers, romance and more written by our very own locals. 

Looking for inspiration? Check out our crime picks in Whodun-Nott? A Celebration of Local Crime Authors

Explore Nottinghamshire's nature and heritage sites

Time to Connect art trail cover

Pick up the Time to Connect Nottinghamshire art trail this summer! Discover six unique sculptures at six Nottinghamshire venues, including RSPB Sherwood Forest Nature Reserve, Vicar Water Country Park, Newstead Abbey, Papplewick Pumping Station, Rufford Abbey and Bestwood Country Park. 

These sculptures celebrate Nottinghamshire's heritage and landscapes, connecting local artists, community groups, and schools through art.

Our Time to Connect trail is part of a larger national project by British photographer Alistair Morrison, kicking off right here in Nottinghamshire and continuing in all 100 UK counties!

The trail is free and available to pick up at your local library, Nottingham Travel and Tourism Centre, or you can view it on online: Time to Connect Nottinghamshire

Discover Sherwood Forest's Fungi Up Close

Three pink mushroom surrounded by grass

Natural history photographer Alex Hyde has visited sites across our local area including Sherwood Forest, Maun Valley and Spa Ponds to open our eyes to the wonders of fungi.

A selection of Alex's photographs from these visits have been used to create a stunning exhibition, touring Inspire libraries this Autumn. 

Find out more about the exhibition, including library tour dates: Fungi Up Close


Celebrate Nottinghamshire knitters

A wall of care squares colourful blankets

Celebrate knitting, crochet and the amazing generosity of crafters across the county!

You can see the beautiful knitted blankets and squares from our 2024 Inspire Knitting Challenge on display at Mansfield Central Library between 14 August - 24 September. 

We would like to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who generously donated their time and skills to create more than 200 Care Squares blankets and thousands of knitted and crocheted squares.

Can you spare the time to help turn one of our Stitch Up bundles into a finished Care Squares blanket? Every blanket handed back to the library will be included in the exhibition and then donated to people in care and hospital settings this Autumn - just ask our library staff for a bundle. 

Find out more about the exhibition: Care Squares Exhibition

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