News from producers around Derbyshire

Horticulture staff and students at Derby College have won an award for the second year running at the prestigious BBC Gardeners World Live show at the NEC.

The team, based at the College’s Broomfield Hall land-based campus, again teamed up with the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Derby and District Group to design and build an entry for BBC Gardener’s World Live 2017 – following their resounding success in last year’s show.

The show celebrates its 50th anniversary - coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the formation of the Derby Branch of the MS Society.

Derbyshire farm shop Croots has been named the winner of the People’s Choice Award for the Midlands at the Family Business United Awards 2017.

The farm shop and café at Duffield was also chosen as runner up in the Midlands Family Business of the Year Award category.

Family-owned funeral directors G Wathall & Son will be inviting people to its branches in Derby city centre, Ashbourne, Borrowash and Alvaston on Thursday June 15 to help raise money for research into dementia.

The company is taking part in the Alzeheimer’s Society’s annual Cupcake Day and will be serving tea, coffee and cakes for visitors between 10am and 12 noon with every crumb of money raised going to the UK’s leading dementia charity.

A group of 12 Derby College students have completed a work placement programme in Holland as part of their studies.

Sport, Public Services and A level students based at Broomfield Hall and the Joseph Wright Centre spent a week in Sint Michielsgestel near Eindhoven.

Creative Arts students at Derby College’s Joseph Wright Centre will showcase their talents at a free public exhibition on Thursday June 15 and Friday June 16.

Students on Art & Design will exhibit their work at the Joseph Wright Centre in Derby’s Cathedral Quarter which will be open to the public between 10am and 2pm on both days.

World superbike ace Alex Lowes and current leader of the British Superbike Championship Leon Haslam have officially opened Derby College’s refurbished Fitness Centre at the Johnson Building in Pride Park.

A giant 20ft walking tree will be among the diverse range of cutting-edge street theatre that will bring the city centre streets alive during this September’s Derby Festé.

Arbor – who looks like a tree but moves like a human – is the creation of award-winning theatre company Smoking Apples who are this year’s chosen commission for the annual festival.

East Midlands Orchestra Sinfonia Viva will return to Derby Cathedral on Wednesday June 28 for a poignant performance as part of Derby Remembers - a season of cultural events and activities to commemorate the First World War and the city’s connection to the conflict.

The concert, starting at 7.30pm, will feature excerpts from Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem – focusing on the chamber orchestra elements and Wilfred Owen’s poems about the First World War.

East Midlands Orchestra Sinfonia Viva has called on support from the University of Derby for help in organising and promoting its busy summer programme.

The University’s Employer Engagement Team matched the Orchestra with students Rebecca Purcell (21) and Erin Hancox (20) who have been working alongside the Viva team based in Shaftesbury Street as part of a paid internship.

Rebecca has just finished her Business degree at the University of Derby and Erin has been studying Graphic Design.  Both are due to graduate this summer.

Derby College will hold its first free event on Monday June 12 for people living with dementia and their carers.

The Dementia Café will be held at the Engine Shed restaurant at the College’s Roundhouse campus in Pride Park between 2pm and 4pm.