Residents say the large community and surrounding countryside is why they love living in a small town on the Nottinghamshire border. Willoughby on the Wolds is on the Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire border and does not have its own shop, post office or pub.
Yet despite the lack of local amenities, villagers say they “wouldn’t really want to live anywhere else.” Asked why she moved to the village, animal chiropractor Emma Punt, 45, told Nottinghamshire Live: “I came here 12 years ago because my mum is here, so the family and community aspect.
“It’s a nice community and it’s a nice area of Nottinghamshire. During the lockdown there was a great sense of community and it was a great place to be.”
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“There was a lot of bartering, so people would trade zucchini for tomatoes and that kind of thing. It’s the perfect place to live and work.”
Retired Lois Kirk, 62, has lived in the town for more than 25 years. When asked what she liked most about Willoughby on the Wolds, she Lois herself said: “The community, and also the peace and quiet.
“I walk my dog a lot and it’s wonderful to be able to get outside, and there are so many walks here.” Although the village does not have a pub, Lois explained that “the bowling club is a bit of a social club as they are licensed for Friday nights.”
A 55-year-old resident, who did not want to be named, said: “What I like most about the village is the fact that it has a real community feel without being intrusive, so everyone respects each other’s privacy, but the people are always there.” if you need help, it’s a friendly place.
“It’s a nice place with nice people; I really wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.” Speaking about local services, he added: “We used to have a store. We used to have a post office that closed.
“We have the town hall and church and that’s about it, as everything else is just a short drive away. We have very good access to Loughborough, Leicester and Nottingham, and East Midlands airport and motorway are not far away.”
The business owner, Anthony Clements, 56, has lived in the town for 13 years. He said: “It’s quiet here and the community is fantastic.
“Everyone is very friendly and there are lots of nice walks, and the village also hosts events from time to time. However, there are not enough services here as there are no shops or pubs.”
Virtual assistant Sam Palmer-Granville, 47, said she moved to the “lovely town” when she found a house at the “right price in a lovely location.” After being in the town for almost a year, Sam said her favorite part about it is “the community feel – it’s a lovely town with great neighbors and a good community.”
Sam added: ‘Twice a month we have a village breakfast in the town hall which has been run by volunteers for ten years. Everyone is welcome in the village and people from other villages – it’s a great place to sit and talk to people. that you have not met before and meet with friends”.
He added that as a member of the bowling club in the village, there are also many events and social nights organized, so there is always plenty to do. Mortgage broker Carol Dutton, 59, has lived in the town for more than 12 years.
She said: “Everyone was very welcoming when we came here and there’s a town hall that does a lot of different things. It’s a very friendly town, it’s just great.”
“We’ve had stores in the past here, but there were problems with theft because it’s very isolated. You need a car to live here, which is not a problem for us.”
A 90-year-old resident, who did not want to be named, added: “I’ve been here all my life. It’s not the same as it used to be, years ago we had a butcher and a bakery and a corner store and all of that is gone. “.
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