Nottinghamshire County Council has unveiled its annual list of facts and top 10s for 2021 to highlight the range of services it provides to residents and businesses across the county including here in Hucknall.

Despite the pandemic, the council has continued to support communities and provide essential services to the public in a Covid safe way.

This year nearly 6,000 residents have received help from the council's smoking cessation provider; their gritting teams have spent more than 340 hours on the roads helping to keep motorists safe; and the Meals at Home team has delivered 1,000 hot meals a day to customers.

Between January and November, 162,893 visitors flocked to Robin Hood's legendary home, Sherwood Forest Country Park– with August proving to be the most popular month when 38,175 people visited the world-famous destination.

A whopping 53,000 tonnes of waste were recycled or composted from county council owned recycling centres including the one on Wigwam Lane in Hucknall.

There were 4,534 births registered in Nottinghamshire. The most popular boys' names were Harry, Archie, Noah, Oliver, George, Alfie, Freddie, Charlie, Tommy and Jack, while the most popular names for girls were Olivia, Harper, Amelia, Ava, Isla, Ivy, Mia, Poppy, Grace, Rosie and Daisy.

Nottinghamshire's libraries were visited by 520,213 people, with 1,310,264 items of stock borrowed and 14,009 new members signing up to use the council's library services.

Over 12,000 residents had their say on the future of the county in the Big Notts survey – the biggest ever public engagement undertaken by the county council.

Councillor Ben Bradley MP, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: "Our council services play an invaluable role in supporting communities across the county and I am proud to say that the last 12 months have been no different in what has undoubtedly been another difficult year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Despite the challenges we have faced, it has been a year in which we can look back on with a great deal of pride. 2021 saw the launch of the inaugural Nottinghamshire Day in August, which proved to be a huge success and will now be an annual event we can all look forward to moving forward.

"We also carried out the biggest ever public engagement in the summer through the Big Notts survey when we invited residents to tell us their priorities and have their say on the future of our county.

"2022 looks to be another busy year for us; we're building two new schools in Rushcliffe – providing much needed new facilities for growing communities – and continuing at pace on the Gedling Access Road, which will unlock development opportunities, create employment and deliver affordable housing.

"We're putting Nottinghamshire at the centre of better rail connections with big plans for Toton and the Robin Hood Line , while we're lobbying successfully for a Freeport for the East Midlands – attracting major business and innovation to the county.

"2022 will also see us welcoming the world's best cyclists to the county when the Tour of Britain returns to Nottinghamshire in September, while we're also making plans to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee with a series of events.

"I can assure residents that I and my colleagues will continue to work to make the county a place people want to raise their families, grow their businesses and live enjoyable and healthy lives.

"Finally, I would like to wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all – especially all our frontline staff, who have yet again gone the extra mile this year to provide support and essential services to communities across our county."