Rufford Colliery was a coal mine located near Rainworth, a village in Nottinghamshire, England.[1] Its first shafts were sunk in 1911.[2] In February 1913, fourteen workers at the mine died when a water barrel "containing some tons of water was precipitated down the shaft on to some men who were working at the bottom" of one of shafts.[3] The mine was operated by Bolsover Colliery Company from 1915 to 1946, the National Coal Board from 1947 to 1987, and the British Coal Corporation from 1987 to 1993.[1] The mine ceased operation in 1993.[4]
After mining
In 2011, a project by Veolia to create a waste incinerator was refused by the government after public protests starting in 2006. Previously, the Forest Town area of Mansfield was considered as a possible location.[5][6]
Initially approved by Nottinghamshire County Council and expected to process 180,000 tonnes (180,000 long tons; 200,000 short tons) a year,[7][8] and with a company claimed potential to create electricity for heating, power and lighting for 15,000 homes and businesses, the scheme went to a public inquiry involving then-minister Eric Pickles.[9]
Rainworth Heath is an adjacent, wider area of natural heathland overlying sandstone strata, known as Bunter, under improvement.[11][12] It is one of the last remaining areas of heathland in Nottinghamshire, and has areas of both dry and wet heath.[13][14][10]
^Habitat action plan for lowland heathland Nottinghamshire Heathland Strategy Steering Group at Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Group, March 2008. Retrieved 4 February 2024
^Rainworth Heath Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 5 February 2024
^Rainworth Heath nottinghamshirewildlife.org. Retrieved 5 February 2024
