Local people can get hands-on with heritage at a special event to remember the role Nottinghamshire played during the Great War – both on the frontline and back home.

Nottinghamshire County Council and the Nottinghamshire Heritage Forum have teamed up to organise the World War I Heritage Day at Rufford Abbey Country Park on Wednesday, 11 July, 10am to 3pm.

It is part of a series of events and commemorations in Nottinghamshire to mark the centenary year of the end of the Great War (1914-1918).

The heritage event includes demonstrations, quizzes, competitions, storytelling and fascinating displays telling the story of life in Nottinghamshire during World War I.

Visitors will be able to trace their family links to World War One war veterans with the help of genealogists, find out more about Clipstone Camp which was one of the country’s largest training bases for troops bound for the front and the role of local stretcher bearers and medical teams, rescuing and treating the wounded.

There will also be a focus on what life was like back home, including the local fire service, how difficult it was for women to buy food and feed their families and a special insight into the Mayoresses of Newark between 1914 and 1928 – how they inspired and led the community during the turbulence of the First World War, in the aftermath and political engagement to full female suffrage in 1928.

Coun Kay Cutts, leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “This is one of many events and initiatives taking place in Nottinghamshire this year, as part of our commemorations to mark the centenary of the the Great War.

“The World War I Heritage Day promises to be a fascinating insight into the experiences of those preparing for and living life in the trenches, as well as those back home whose role it was to keep the country going and support the war effort, often in difficult circumstances. The many groups taking part all bring a different perspective to what life was like for people in Nottinghamshire at the time.

“It’s important that we all understand about the challenges faced by local people at home and in the heat of battle, so I am delighted that a number of schools will be visiting the heritage day – helping to ensure that those experiences are shared with future generations.

A wide variety of Nottinghamshire organisations will be taking part in the Heritage day with displays, demonstrations and artefacts, including:
•The Queen’s Royal Lancers and Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Museum
•The Mercian Collection
•The Clipstone Camp
•The Museum of the Horse
•National Civil War Centre, Newark
•Women in War
•National Justice Museum
•William Booth Memorial Museum
•The Historic Ambulance Association
•The Western Front Association East Midlands
•Women in War – Newark Mayoresses – Newark Town Hall Gallery
•Beeston History Society
•Forest History Society
•Ruddington Village Museum
•Flintham Museum
•Bilsthorpe Heritage Centre
•The Walks of Life
•The Mansfield Fire Museum
•Bassetlaw Museum

There is free entry into the Heritage Day, with car parking charged at £3.50 per car.