Site search

Nature, folklore and tradition: we chat to the founders of the Sherwood Forest Trust Woodland Festival

With Sherwood Forest Trust Woodland Festival coming up this weekend, Jo Kingsley caught up with founder Graeme Turner, to talk about re-connecting with nature, keeping folk traditions alive, and celebrating Nottingham’s incredible creative talent...

Sam Heaton talks turning Notts County's The Nest into a versatile live events venue

In 2024 Notts County FC turned an old metal fabricators warehouse next to their stadium into a state-of-the-art live events venue. Thus The Nest was born and has since led a double life as a football fanzone and as a major player in Nottingham’s live music and events scene. We spoke to their events manager Sam Heaton about those last two years and their big plans for the future…

Director Alison Rashley talks us through Television Workshop's best known actors

Workshop Director Alison Rashley talks through some of the Television Workshop’s best known actors and gives the lowdown on what they were like to teach…

Theatre Interview: Sam Harry Macgregor actor and writer from Hold The Line at Nottingham Arts Theatre

Hold the Line is a new play coming to the Nottingham Arts Theatre that lifts the lid on life and work at the NHS 111 telephone service. Rising star Sam Harry Macgregor, who wrote and stars in the play, talks to Leftlion about the journey...  

How the Sherwood Forest Trust are conserving Nottinghamshire's ancient woodland

Once spreading throughout most of the county and beyond, Sherwood Forest is the emerald jewel in Nottinghamshire’s crown. As Sherwood Forest Day approaches, Helen Sullivan, Director of the Sherwood Forest Trust, speaks about how they’re protecting, restoring, and celebrating the landscape of Sherwood Forest, and how we can too. 

Seeing the wood for the trees: what makes Nottingham a 'green' city?

With the recent success of urban greening projects, like the Green Heart Park, Nottingham is starting 2026 with lots of love for spots of nature in-and-around its city centre. Caradoc Gayer looks at what makes Nottingham a particularly ‘green’ city, and how in 2026 we can continue to ensure that it stays that way. 

Hart of the Wood: the film installations at Newstead Abbey inspired by forest folklore

With its elegant ruins, serene rolling gardens and rich literary history, Newstead Abbey already makes for an atmospheric autumnal wander, but currently, another escape awaits within its historic landscape. Dotted within the grounds, the Hart of the Wood project shares a series of intriguing 16mm films exploring the seasons, our relationship with folklore and the land. We spoke to Notts filmmaker Benjamin Wigley to hear about the artistry and story behind these curious hand-powered moving pictures…

Hang Linton on making good trouble, second-hand iPods and playing Nottingham's woodworking studio

Ahead of their forthcoming gig at By Our Hands We Make Our Way this month, we caught up with Leeds-based interdisciplinary artist Hang Linton...

Boxer Leigh Wood weighs in on his upcoming fight against Anthony Cacace at Motorpoint Arena

There’s something different in the air when it comes to Leigh Wood fight nights in Nottingham. The noise. The pride. The pressure. The unmistakable sound of Mull of Kintyre echoing through the Motorpoint Arena. This month, after nearly eighteen months out, Nottingham’s two-time world champion is back, this time against IBO Super Featherweight Champion Anthony Cacace. Reuben Moynihan-Case sat down with Leigh to discuss his highly anticipated return to the ring as he bids to become a two-weight, three-time world champion!

Interview : Sam Lupton and Tom Major the stars of Only Fools and Horses at the Royal Concert Hall

Only Fools and Horses has to be one of the UK's most popular sitcoms ever. And now the musical revamp is coming to Nottingham. Leftlion chats with Sam Lupton and Tom Major as they become the new Del Boy and Rodney... 

LeftLion's Latest Listens #16: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Otala, Sam Shaw & The Real Eyes, Green Grango, Fallowed and Divorce...

We hear from The Sherwood People’s Forest who are bringing the greenery of our northern woodlands a bit closer to the city

“A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit,” so goes the Greek proverb. Nottingham is a county known worldwide for the leafy Sherwood Forest, but for several years plans have been afoot to create the Sherwood People’s Forest to bring the greenery of our northern woodlands a bit closer to the city. Organiser Sarah Manton tells us more…

Salt of the Earth: Catching up with musician and Saltbox manager Sam Heaton

There are few people who live and breathe Nottingham’s vibrant music scene quite like Sam Heaton. From his own ambient rock band Eyre Llew being one of the city’s greatest exports, to a stint in charge of Rough Trade’s events, as well as independently booking and promoting local artists for the last two decades too, his fingerprints have been on a lot of the city’s musical successes. Earlier this year though, he took on a tough new challenge – transforming Saltbox from a little-known sports bar into a versatile 500-person capacity music venue and events space. 

To find out more, we sat down with Sam to chat about his first seven months running the venue, the hurdles he’s had to overcome in that time, and what he has planned for the venue and his band in 2025…

Food review: Delving into the new tasting menu at Woodborough Hall

Have you ever experienced a tasting menu? Food Co-editor Lucy Campion explains why you should treat yourself to a tasting menu (or ‘degustation menu’ as the French call it) for your next special occasion and why Woodborough Hall should be your destination of choice this autumn.

Book Review: akal by Dave Wood

We sit down with a mindful new collection from a much-valued Nottingham poet...

We spoke to the organisers of Huldra Horror Shorts, a film festival in the woods this September

It’s still August, but if you are one of those people who hankers for Halloween, the Huldra Horror Shorts Festival might be for you. Taking place in the woodland near Notts Maize Maze this September, we meet the makers Dan and Kym Lord to ask what horrors await this year…

Watch: Growing Pains

Watch a new short film made in Nottingham by a local cast and crew about a young woman whose ill father who self-medicates with cannabis. When school bullies discover her dad's medicine is homegrown, Rhea quickly learns that sharing is not always caring...

Skate Nottingham Team Up With Samsung to Land Flip Park in Nottingham

Something special is coming to the city next week that anyone involved in our local skating community needs to know about...

We Chat to Trent Rockets Squad Member Luke Wood Ahead of the Hundred at Trent Bridge

The Hundred, cricket’s exciting new competition featuring the world’s best mens and womens cricketers alongside live music from The Hundred’s BBC Music Introducing partnership, takes place this August including four games at our very own Trent Bridge – the home ground of the Nottingham based team, Trent Rockets. The Hundred is as much about entertainment as it is fast-paced, explosive cricket...

From Splendour Festival to Woodland Wellbeing, Here’s What’s on in Nottingham This Week 17 July - 23 July

Live music, theatre, video games... and some woodland wellbeing to end the week. What more could you want?

Musing on Nature and the Present Moment, We Talk to Richard C Bower About His Poetry Collection

Inspired by the beauty of the natural world, Richard C. Bower muses on our relationship with the earth in his new poetry collection, Pleasures In The Pathless Woods. Featuring 76 poems set across four seasons, it’s a project that focuses on experiencing the present moment. We catch up with the local author about the process, contemplating beauty, and his upcoming book…

Book Review: Pleasures in the Pathless Woods

Inspired by the natural world and the change of seasons, Bob Williams reviews Richard C Bower's new collection Pleasures In The Pathless Woods...