I hope you are managing to find some shade and respite from the extreme heat we are experiencing. It felt incredibly hot today ? hard to believe that tomorrow will be even hotter.

Please protect yourself and others from too much sun or heat. If you?re going out in the hot weather:

• Walk in the shade
• Apply sunscreen
• Wear a hat and light, loose clothes
• Avoid extreme physical exertion
• Drink plenty of fluids

If you or others feel unwell, get dizzy, feel weak, anxious or have intense thirst, move to a cool place, rehydrate and cool your body down.

Please don?t feel tempted to cool down in our rivers or open water, where there is a risk of cold water shock and drowning. If you are enjoying the hot weather in our city?s parks and open spaces then please remember to take your rubbish home with you.

If you get chance, check in on older people or sick neighbours, family or friends tonight and tomorrow, just to make sure they are coping in the hot weather. Let?s all stay safe by taking care of ourselves and others.

More advice on hot weather safety can be found here: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/heatwave-how-to-cope-in-hot-weather

Funding has been secured for a further two parks to receive new facilities including play equipment, seating and general improvements. ?Moor Road Play Area, Bilborough and Marmion Park, St Ann?s are the latest parks earmarked for improvements. The projects are being funded by FCC Communities Foundation and Nottingham City Council.

Moor Road Play Area (?70,000) ? The play area will be completely refurbished to provide a new and exciting play facility for local children.

Marmion Park (?30,000) ? The old play area is being refurbished and additional site furniture will be installed.

It?s great to see that work has already started on refurbishing the main play area at Coppice Park, St Ann?s. We will be removing the old play area near Caunton Avenue and installing outdoor fitness equipment and replacing the steps. These Improvements are expected to be complete by the Autumn.

Improvements funded by FCC Communities Foundation and Nottingham City Council at Seaford Avenue Park (?65,000), Amesbury Circus Park (?96,000) and Arkwright Walk have already been completed. ?

I?m really pleased to see that Nottingham Castle has launched an annual pass which gives people access for an unlimited number of visits to the galleries and grounds. The Castle Trust relaunched the annual pass and it includes a discount for Nottingham City residents. A ?10 adult admission ticket for Nottingham City residents now comes with an annual pass so people can enjoy unlimited visits over a 12 month period.

General Admission tickets include entry to the Castle?s stunning grounds and Hood?s Hideout Adventure Playground, plus an exhilarating programme of events and exhibitions, galleries displaying collections of fine and decorative arts, the Rebellion Gallery and the Museum of the Mercian Regiment, along with medieval mischief in Robin Hood Adventures.

Find out more and book your tickets here