Blossom Together is part of the Platinum Jubilee Queen?s Green Canopy project. Nottingham City Council Parks Team, in partnership with the National Trust has delivered two green canopy projects bringing new blossom trees for local people to enjoy. Lenton?Recreation Ground and St Mary?s Rest Garden in St Ann?s near Victoria Park have both had cherry trees planted as part of the initiative. These trees will help meet our ambition to plant 50,000 trees by 2023 to help tackle climate change and create new homes for nature.

This weekend and next week you can join our Parks Team as they celebrate this partnership with the National Trust to help communities ?blossom.? A range of free, family friendly activities will be on offer at?Lenton?Recreation Ground (Sat 28 May) and?St Mary?s Rest Garden(Tues 31 May) between?from 11am ? 2pm.

Activities will include garden games such as Giant Jenga and Connect-four, archery, drop-in nature tasks ? seed bomb making, yoga, a tree walk, floral paper-crafting, Story Parks, and a chance to talk to the council?s Social Prescribing Team and Resident Development Officers (previously Neighbourhood Development Officers). The Sanctuary Team will be available too, to offer Covid information. Both days will feature a community picnic with food from Homemade, and Rainbow Stripes with Sue Scargill will perform at the St Mary?s event. Find out more

The Queen will celebrate her Platinum Jubilee next week, marking?70 years?on the throne. It is the first time in British history that a monarch has reached this milestone and it?s important for Nottingham to mark this unique occasion. Old Market Square is the setting for many major events and celebrations in our city and this Jubilee will be no exception.

We?ve partnered with major local employer Capital One, and with Nottingham BID to fill the Old Market Square with jubilee colour. From Wednesday 1 June, a replica Coronation crown will adorn the front of the Council House and a giant floral jubilee-themed 70 will be displayed with over 5,000 silver, blue and purple plants in the square below.

The plants have all been grown by the award winning team and Woodthorpe Park and local artists Makers.UK have created the crown. I?d like to thank our sponsors for their valued support on this event and enabling such a grand display to be brought to the square.

Post-installation, on 10 June, all the plants will be bought back to Woodthorpe Park Plant Shop to be sold to customers with some to be donated to local care homes for the elderly.

Find out more

I?ve been out today in Dales ward today, where I am one of the ward councillors, to help out with their latest Big Spring Clean litter pick. We were litter picking in Colwick Woods where I met some of our dedicated Clean Champions who have volunteered hours of their time and people on their very first litter pick. The litter pics are great way to help look after your local area and they are fun too.

There a several more litter picks this weekend if you?d like to get involved.?

? Saturday 28 May ? Litter pick around Sneinton Greenway from 8.30am. Meet at Costa Daleside Road

? Saturday 28 May ? Litter pick around Dales from 11.15am. Meet at the Dales Centre Library

? Saturday 28 May ? Litter pick at Wollaton Park from 11am ? meet outside Wollaton Hall next to the red phonebox

I am be keen to hear from you how you help to keep your bit of the city clean and tidy, please feel free to contact me on [email protected] to let me know how you help.

Finally, I?d like to wish Nottingham Forest all the very best for their play-off final with Huddersfield Town on Sunday afternoon.

It?s an unbelievable achievement to get to Wembley for the first time in 30 years ? especially after their start to the season ? and Steve Cooper, his staff and players deserve huge credit. It will be a wonderful memory for so many fans, whether they have a ticket or plan to watch back home with friends and family in Nottingham. Come on You Reds!