There?s plenty happening in Nottingham over this bank holiday and half-term break - with some decent weather forecast too.

The much-loved Luminarium returns to Highfields Park from Saturday 27 May ? Sunday 4 June. ?Terceradix? is a Nottingham premiere by internationally renowned Architects of Air. Inside, these glorious structures radiate beautiful, iridescent colours, and are always sensory, magical and memorable occasions.

The Sausage & Cider Festival is at Wollaton Park on Saturday 27 May. Toploader will be headlining the festival, and also performing are tributes to Queen, Oasis, Kings of Leon and Madness. As well as dozens of bars and food vendors, there?s a ?mini grooverz? kids disco and a silent disco.

You can join the National Ice Centre this half term for disco skates, hockey clinic, daily skating sessions and intensive skating lessons. Nottingham Libraries celebrate Elmer Day with themed activities throughout half term, including craft sessions, picture hunts and stories. Littles ones can also take part in baking workshops and a games day at Green?s Windmill.

This bank holiday weekend also sees the fourth special event where the grounds of Nottingham Castle have been opened up ahead of the castle?s full reopening in a month?s time. It?s fantastic that all three days of the Medieval Legends event are sold out, with around 1,500 visitors each day set to enjoy medieval encampments, archery, meeting Robin Hood and more. It shows just how keen people are to return to the site. Tickets can now be booked here for visiting Nottingham Castle and grounds after the site fully reopens on June 26 ? it?s just ?12 per adult, under 15s go free, for as many visits as you like over the year.

It?s great to see that a growing network of active volunteer Wildlife Champions are collaborating with the council to extend its successful pilot of a herbicide-free approach to managing city streets, to cover the whole of Sherwood Ward.

Based on the success of last year?s pilot on 53 streets around the Sherwood, Carrington and Basford areas, with over 150 Wildlife Champion Volunteers pledging to help nature on their street, there is plenty of opportunity for new growth, wildlife and community ambition in the area.

The innovative Wild.NG approach is part of the council?s ambitious Carbon Neutral 2028 targets by reducing travel for operatives to these streets to treat the areas and also by increasing greening on streets. It also links to the biodiversity aims of the city through creating urban greening, encouraging pollinators such as bees and butterflies and improving connectivity between habitats within the city.

I was proud to hear that Jane Lewis, the City Council?s Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse Lead, received a special Prevent Award from the Police and Crime Commissioner. This was in recognition of over three decades of pioneering the prevention of domestic abuse and providing support to survivors. The work she does is sadly necessary and so important.

Dedicated public servants like Jane are often the unsung heroes of society so it?s great when they get the recognition they so thoroughly deserve.

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Don?t forget that the Ay-Up Market will return to Old Market Square from Friday 16 ? Sunday 18 June, and is a celebration of Nottingham's independent businesses.

Building on the success of last year, the event will showcase a curated market of independent traders, entertainment and street food, including a licensed bar with local musicians and performers.

Ay-Up Market is brought to you by Nottingham BID and Nottingham City Council. This project is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Usually if the Sheriff of Nottingham appears on a theatre stage, it?s as the baddie to be booed at. Hopefully that?s not the case for my fellow councillor Shaguftah Quddoos, who no sooner than taking up the role of Sheriff earlier this week, has been thrust into the limelight of the Theatre Royal as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company?s production of Julius Caesar.?There are still tickets available here

She is one of five female community leaders women forming a Community Chorus in the play which explores what makes a leader and asks questions about gender and power. It sounds like perfect casting! Good luck, Shuguftah!?

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