FOBHS@ 2019
We Win Again!
A special green flag is fluttering over Brinsley as the village celebrates a well earned environmental award.
It is the 11th successive year that the Green Flag organisation – an off shoot of the Keep Britain Tidy group – has awarded Brinsley the prestigious status of the Community Green Flag Award in recognition of the local community input to the ongoing growth of the Headstocks mining heritage display and the adjoining nature reserve.
The restoration of the Brinsley Colliery site reached a significant milestone recently when representatives of the contributing agencies met on site to review progress to date.
Mayor of Broxtowe Cllr Robert Bullock also unveiled a new Miners Memorial Bench and viewed the newly planted Memorial Orchard.
In all, a total of 33 men and boys perished while working at the mine and the council has produced a unique plaque listing the name, age, date of death and locality of each miner.
The Bench has been carved from timbers saved from the recently removed headstocks structure and features colliery wheels, a miner’s lantern and helmet along with a wildlife design.
The Memorial Orchard comprises 33 fruit trees, a mix of seven Nottingham sourced apple varieties and a Merryweather damson. To accompany the orchard an information board has been installed outlining the origin of the trees and their likely fruiting date.
Council Leader Coun Milan Radulovic described the dual project as an important part of Broxtowe’s history – something that was just the start of the council’s wider re-building project at the Brinsley headstocks site.
The council’s Environment and Climate Change Portfolio Holder Coun Helen Skinner added, “Fruit has been carefully chosen to be of the time. We hope people will enjoy this peaceful setting for years to come.”
Chairman of The Friends of Brinsley Headstocks Ken Hamilton acknowledged the wide support of the village community. “They are appreciative of having such an endearing asset within the village.”
July 2025
NEXT CHAPTER IN THE HEADSTOCKS STORY
The next significant chapter in the ever-evolving story of the Brinsley Headstocks site is under way.
Contractors have brought in heavy equipment to prepare the foundations for the replacement headstocks structure to be built on the site of the previously thriving Brinsley colliery.
Officials and Volunteers marking the start of the new works
While the civil engineering works have continued at a pace the “greening” of the recovery site has also gathered momentum. Thanks to the efforts of the local community, widespread bulb planting has been achieved– with volunteers often working in dire weather conditions – the headstocks have been a blaze of Spring colour.
First up were the snowdrops, mainly in Vine Wood. Although not open to the public the wood provided a spectacular carpet of white flowers readily viewed from the main footpath running through the site. The Friends received a number of compliments about the free-to-view display, better value than some commercial displays!
Next up were the purple coloured Snakes Head Fritillary on lower sections of the site.
To complete the colourful springtime display hundreds of daffodils burst into life, many planted by teams comprising councillors and officers from Broxtowe council, pupils from the village’s primary school alongside volunteers from the Friends group.
The daffodils have been particularly effective in the Memorial Orchard where fruit trees were planted in memory of local workers who perished while mining Nottinghamshire’s famed “black gold.”
New wooden headstocks are to be constructed and will hold the original winding wheels which are currently in storage. In addition to all this activity Mother Nature has also been in action with scores of trees, plants, animals, insects and birds taking advantage of what the Headstocks Nature Reserve has to offer.
If all goes well the recovery plan will reach fruition in time for the D.H.Lawrence Festival later this year.
As Friends Chairman Ken Hamilton commented, “It’s all at the Headstocks to freely view and enjoy”
May, 2026.