News in Oakham

Parents are being asked to try cloth nappies for their babies as an environmentally friendlier alternative to disposable ones.

Rutland County Council is spearheading the local initiative and offering the opportunity to trial real nappy kits free of charge.

A 44 year-old man of no-fixed address has been arrested on suspicion of theft from another person in connection to the investigation into Ketton teenager Sonny Ferry's missing wallet.

The body of 19-year-old Sonny was recovered at around 12pm on Sunday, 14 April following reports that a person had fallen into the river in York.

Staff, volunteers and patients at Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice welcomed a very special visitor recently – Dr Sarah Furness, Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland.

During her visit, Dr Furness found out about the expert palliative care and support the hospice provides for families in Rutland.

The British Merchant Navy's iconic red flag will be flown outside Oakham Library next month to mark Merchant Navy Day 2019.

The special day is celebrated throughout the UK on 3 September each year - the day that marked the start of the Second World in 1939 and saw the first British maritime casualty of the conflict, the sinking of the merchant vessel SS Athenia.

This year's highly-anticipated Birdfair will be addressing some of the big issues of the day, including climate change and wildlife decline.

The birdwatchers' Glastonbury is at Anglian Water Nature Reserve in Egleton, cared for by Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust in partnership with Anglian Water, from Friday, 16 to Sunday, 18 August.

A new butchery and farm shop is opening at Gates Garden Centre, Cold Overton, later this month.

Gates Farm Shop will open its doors on Friday, 23 August, with a key focus on offering the finest locally-sourced produce; complemented by the best from national producers.

Rutland County Council has announced today (Mon) that it will not be developing the Officers' Mess site in advance of the redevelopment of St George's Barracks.

The council's cabinet agreed in March 2018 to explore the potential of acquiring the four hectare Officers' Mess site from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), to build approximately 70 homes as an exemplar for the remainder of the St George's site.

Rutland Water Beach and Aqua Park is set to re-open this weekend after levels of blue green algae have fallen.

An Anglian Water spokesperson said: "Following our latest water samples taken today we have seen levels of blue green algae reduce and we will be reopening the Aquapark, Watersports Centre and beach tomorrow, Saturday August 3.

The redevelopment of St George's Barracks to provide local homes has moved a step closer after government support was published.

The Ministry of Defence's estates department, the DIO, (Defence Infrastructure Organisation) has produced information to support Rutland County Council's application to include St George's Barracks in its Draft Local Plan.

Award-winning children's author and poet Joseph Coelho will be dropping in to Oakham Library for a special visit on August 6 at 11am.

The visit is part of a library marathon challenge that Joseph has set himself to join a library in every library authority in the UK, promoting and celebrating the work they do.