Ayup… Before delving into this project and what it’s all about, what it’s done so far and what it intends to do next, I will start by introducing myself. I am Phoebe Cox, a local writer, student, community blogger, and volunteer.

I wear many hats, and with the weather being as unpredictable as it has been, it’s a good job!

Warsop born and bred, I am proud to be from the Mansfield area, but I also recognise its shortcomings and hope to assist in focusing on more positive coverage, rooted in community, supporting small businesses, and covering arts and culture to name a few.

I feel very passionate about the local area and, through the recent coronavirus lockdown, came up with an idea to create a platform built on culture, creativity, community, and collaboration.

I am due to graduate from Nottingham Trent University over the summer and essentially wanted to look ahead to the next chapter of my life.

Through mixing interests and passions, Mansfield On The Map came to fruition and the rest is history…

Mansfield On The Map is a new online local-based blog that aims to write about all things Mansfield, the wider district, and surrounding areas.
The aim is to put Mansfield on the map, from a fresh and creative perspective.

So far, the blog has covered articles around mental health, community concerns, and local environmental initiatives, such as district-wide freecycle groups. One of the first featured articles focused on Nottinghamshire Mining Museum, which is located by Mansfield Railway Station and aims to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the Nottinghamshire coalfields.

Culture and local, working-class history are so important to our community, and as I volunteer there myself, it felt great to be able to sing its praises and share the team’s committed and educational work with others.

Additional features so far on the blog have included a candid conversation with a Warsop resident regarding the swans of The Carrs, and Ferocious Dog’s frontman Ken Bonsall, about music and Mansfield.

It also has features on local businesses, such as Mansfield Refillery, a zero-waste store right on Warsop’s High Street; a review on Tea Cosy, also in Warsop; and a multimedia post regarding online yoga classes with an old friend of mine, Holly Brown, of Bright Living.

Mansfield Refillery began in Brianne and John Pritchard’s front room in their Warsop Vale home and it now resides in the heart of Warsop.

The couple moved from city-life in Cardiff a decade ago, seeking a more rural environment and green upbringing for their young children.

The family’s plastic-free journey was a gradual process and continues to improve, as they seek plastic-free alternatives and learn how to sustain and improve their plastic-free lifestyle.

Brianne and Jon encourage their customers to treat the process as a journey too, for a plastic-free life cannot be achieved overnight. They say: “It takes time. It took us two years to get to where we are and we still hit barriers… It’s hard when you’ve got children.”

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Plus, the blog highlights something that may come as a huge surprise to many, Mansfield’s first feature sci-fi film — UNIT 19.

The film stars Mansfield’s own Zara Phythian (Marvel actress from Doctor Strange), who is the director of the PBA Academy, Europe’s best known, award-winning martial arts academy, based in Mansfield.

The film has just wrapped its first block, with the next block of filming set to continue in Mansfield later this summer, a project the team like to call ‘Planet Mansfield’ shoot.

The filming will then move on to an undisclosed location outside of Mansfield for its final block.

Local performers and actors should note that casting for future roles will be held, for the summer shoot… UNIT 19 is on the hunt for support roles, stunt and action performers, and background artists.

Hopefully (financial support willing) the film will be wrapped and ready for post later this year, with a target release of Summer 2022.

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It is amazing to be able to tap into these places and people and bring creative writing to the community.

The project has helped me to produce a solid body of work, as I am a local creative and enjoy the process of producing, and also provided a great opportunity to cover a wide range of topics, which are evidently important and of interest to local people, given the positive reaction on social media.

Mansfield often gets a bad reputation nationally and even locally, so if I can in some way alleviate that stigma and utilise my skills to bring something inventive, creative and community-focused to the area, then I will continue to do so.

The blog intends to keep on growing the community network, producing interesting and innovative features, as well as maintaining a close working relationship with local businesses and community projects.

There are a lot of exciting plans in the mix as the blog expands and coronavirus restrictions begin to lift.

I am currently working closely with Mansfield-based web designer Neil Thornton, from Web Design by Neil, on a new website that will hopefully allow the blog to grow and achieve its aims and ethos.