Wednesday, 29 October 2008

The Ranges, Hucknall, Nottinghamshire


















The Ranges is a public recreation area on the edge of the town of Hucknall. It is a place which, although relatively large, you'll only find if you're looking for it. It is almost completely man-made, and represents the old and the new, being created from an old spoil heap of the Hucknall and Linby mines.
It was sculpted into its present form by Nottinghamshire County Council, using money raised from landfill tax. It is these facts that make the spot all the more attractive; whilst the Hucknall community was plunged into deprivation following the death of the mining industry, remnants of that past have served to give the locals a nice place to go, which is a complete contrast to the victorian terraces which flank the area.
The view from the top of the hill looks down over Hucknall from one perspective, and turning 180 degrees gives the impression that you are in the middle of the countryside, which is a nice option to have just 10 minutes walk from your house. The Jewel in the Crown was added a couple of years ago to symbolise the area's new use; a £13000 4m high sculpture of a man walking a dog. Shame about the litter that's been thrown into it.

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