Bookings are now open for stalls in Chesterfield market place during the Chesterfield medieval fun day event.

The popular annual event, staged by Chesterfield Borough Council, takes place on Tuesday 25 July and always attracts crowds to the town centre.

Each year, registered charities take stalls at the event to raise money for good causes. Stalls at the event cost £15 for charities and £25 for general traders.

All stall holders will be encouraged to dress in medieval costume with £200 in shared prize money on offer to the three best traders in costume.

Councillor Steve Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said:-

“The medieval fun day is always a popular event in the calendar. I’d encourage local good causes to take a stall at the event to raise money and join in the atmosphere on the day.”

Also at the event will be a medieval encampment in the grounds of the ‘Crooked Spire’ Church, medieval entertainment and ‘A day in the Middle Ages’ event at Chesterfield Museum.

For more information and to book a stall click here.

Rain may have stopped play as the wraps came off the first-ever RHS Chatsworth Flower Show, but guests in the Experience Peak District & Derbyshire show garden braved the elements in true British style – with a traditional countryside picnic.

They toasted official tourist board Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire’s success in winning a Silver Gilt Medal with a glass of Derbyshire sparkling wine and the cream of local produce – including Bakewell Pudding, Hartington cheese and hand-made pies made with locally-reared meat (Tuesday June 6).

The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire joined the celebrations alongside Sheffield-based designer Lee Bestall – fresh from his Silver Medal winning triumph at RHS Chelsea 2017 – in the eye-catching space, inspired by the richness and variety of the area’s landscapes and formal gardens.

Gardener, broadcaster and writer Alan Titchmarsh also dropped by before RHS show organisers were forced to abandon the media preview day because of bad weather – and was particularly impressed by three life-size model cows grazing in wild flower strewn meadows.

The cows, sprayed in eye-catching metallic colours – copper, chrome/silver and gold – and ‘branded’ with a blue and white hand-painted circular motif, were intended to add a touch of whimsy and humour and are proving a real talking point.

Lee, whose business Bestall & Co, is based at Renishaw Hall, said:-

“I decided to include them after reading a comment by the late Sir George Sitwell of Renishaw Hall & Gardens that white cows could be made more interesting if painted with a blue pattern.

“I don’t think his vision was ever realised, but it certainly stimulated my imagination as a quirky complement to the overall picture I wanted to create. I was delighted by the enthusiastic reception our cows received from our guests on the first day – including Alan Titchmarsh, who really liked them.”

Jo Dilley, the tourist board’s Managing Director, added:-

“Fortunately both the cows and our garden made a great initial impression before the bad weather took hold on the first day, and we are really pleased that the reaction has been so positive, especially from the show judges.

“Now we’re looking for a good home for the cows after the show has closed, and are accepting sealed bids so that anyone interested in giving them a permanent home can register an interest. We’d particularly like to hear from anyone wanting to keep them together as a herd!”

Visitors can find the Experience Peak District & Derbyshire show garden at site number 112 on the RHS Chatsworth Showground until Sunday June 11. Anyone interested in submitting a sealed bid can do so on the Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire stand next to the garden, can contact info@marketingpdd.com or can call 01246 212924 for further details.

After the show has ended, the award-winning garden – built by JPH Landscapes of Sheffield – will be recreated at Renishaw Hall as one of its garden rooms, minus the cows, so that even more visitors to the area can enjoy and appreciate it.

Main show garden sponsors, Derbyshire-based CW Sellors Fine Jewellery, are launching their new, floral inspired Tuberose jewellery collection at the show. Other sponsors are Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire; Hope Cement, A Breedon Group Company; Peak District Premier Cottages; The Camping and Caravanning Club and The Bakewell Bakery.

Local produce for the picnic was supplied by The Bakewell Bakery; the English Wine Project, based at Renishaw Hall; Hartington Creamery; Mettrick’s Butchers of Glossop and Thornbridge Brewery.

Up to 90,000 visitors are expected in Derbyshire over the next five days as the RHS Chatsworth Flower Show opens in the county for the first time.

Derbyshire is gearing up for a big day of cycling when the OVO energy Women’s Tour comes to the county for the second year in a row.

The world’s top women cyclists will race through Derbyshire on Saturday 10 June 2017, starting in Chesterfield and taking in many of the county’s best-known market towns and landmarks before returning to Chesterfield for the finish.

Residents and visitors to Chesterfield will see the town centre decorated with a cycling theme as the Ovo Energy Women’s Tour comes closer.

Children from local schools have customised pink bicycles with their own decoration to celebrate the event, brought jointly by Chesterfield Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council.

The bicycles are on display at various points in Chesterfield town centre:

• Chesterfield Library – decorated by Brockwell Junior School
• Dent’s Chemist, New Square – decorated by Brockwell Infant School
• Marks & Spencer/The Pine Shop – decorated by Brampton Primary School
• Adorn Jewellers, The Shambles – decorated by Cavendish Junior School
• Boot’s – decorated by Spire Junior School
• Green & Benz Jewellers – decorated by Calow Primary School
• Fred’s Haberdashery – decorated by Cutthorpe Primary School
• Marks & Spencer – decorated by Poolsbrook Primary School
• Shentall’s Florist – decorated by Staveley Junior School
• H&F Tea Rooms – decorated by Hasland Infant School
• Pavements Shopping Centre – decorated by Holymoorside Primary School.

To find out more about the bike trail click here.

Some of the world’s top women cyclists will take part in the race on Saturday 10 June which begins outside Chesterfield Town Hall, Rose Hill at 10.30am.

The riders set off along an 81-mile route through the Derbyshire countryside taking in places including Belper, Bolsover, Crich, Wirksworth and Wingerworth as well as passing Hardwick Hall before what promises to be an exciting finish in Chesterfield market place at approximately 1.40pm.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s deputy leader, said: –

“The Women’s Tour is set to be a fantastic event and we’re encouraging people to come along and cheer the riders as well as take part in the activities in Chesterfield town centre.

“It will be a great opportunities for families to have fun together, see their cycling heroes and find out more about cycling and fitness for themselves.”

For information on road closures and car parking in the town centre on the day click here.

The 2017 OVO Women’s Tour in Derbyshire promises to be an amazing cycling spectacle – and we’d love to see how women and girls across the county have been inspired!

That’s why in the lead-up to Stage Four on June 10, as well as on the day itself, we want you to post your cycling snaps on social media using your smartphones.

The best image of women and girls that promotes cycling and encourages others to get out their bikes will win a Women’s Tour cycling jersey.

Remember – any kind of cycling counts, whether you are getting the bike out of the shed for the first time since school, or clock up the miles every chance you get.

Your picture could be riding with your family in the local park, or along one of Derbyshire’s many, easy access, traffic-free cycles routes.

You might be a keen mountain bike or track cyclist, have pictures of your daughter at a School Games cycling event or be gearing up for the Eroica Britannia Cycling Festival, which is taking place from June 16 to 18.

Whatever imagery you have, please share it with us so we can highlight to others the huge health and social benefits of cycling, as well as savings on travel costs.

Simply post your entries on the Derbyshire Sport, Cycling Derbyshire, Derbyshire County Council, Chesterfield Borough Council  or ChesterfieldUK Facebook or Twitter pages, using the hashtag #OVOWT.

Images will then be added to a gallery on Derbyshire Sport’s 2017 OVO Women’s Tour website page, where you can also find when and where the race passes through your area, plus all the latest news.

The best picture will be judged by a panel from Derbyshire Sport, Derbyshire County Council and Chesterfield Borough Council. Its decision will be final.

Closing date for entries is Wednesday June 14 at 5pm and the winner will be announced soon after.

You can also keep up to date through the Women’s Tour pages of Derbyshire County Council and Chesterfield Borough Council, who are joint sponsors of stage four through Derbyshire.

Their valued support is part of the push to make Derbyshire the most connected and integrated cycling county in England by 2030, as outlined in The Derbyshire Cycling Plan.

The county wants to be recognised as a world class cycling destination for all, with more people of all ages and abilities on two wheels on a regular basis for leisure, active travel, commuting and sport.