Cheshire East Ranger Service have organised a host of events for July.
Wednesday, 25 June – Introduction to Climbing at Windgather Rocks
A chance to experience the thrills of climbing in this introductory climbing session with Moorland Adventure. Suitable for anyone over the age of 9. Booking and payment in advance is essential. Cost £20.
Time: 7pm to 9pm Meeting point: Windgather Rocks, Side End Lane, Kettleshulme, SK23 7RF (SJ995777) Leaders: Moorland Adventure Information: 01625 573615
(Healthy walk – Event / Partnership event / Places limited – please book in advance / Please wear suitable boots and clothing / There is a charge for this event)
Thursday, 26 June – Evening Meditation and Deep Rest in Nature at Tegg’s Nose – June
Join Amanda, from Lets Step In, for a soothing evening in nature with beautiful views at Tegg’s Nose Country Park for meditation and deep rest.
Unwind as the day slows and nature prepares for night. Surrounded by the stunning countryside you’ll be guided through a series of nature-based meditation practices ending with deep rest. Awaken your senses, come into the present and connect with nature to soothe your nervous system, support your mind and nourish your whole self. Setting you up for a restful night’s sleep.
Suitable for beginners and beyond.
We’ll gather in the car park and walk together to where we’ll spend the session. I’ll be sprinkling in learnings about meditation between the practices and helping you with your practice throughout. Bring a cup to enjoy tea and conversation at the end or continue to sit in silence and take in the views. This is space for you to use as you need.
Booking and payment in advance is essential. Cost £12.
Time: 6.45pm to 8.15pm Meeting point: Tegg’s Nose Country Park Visitor Centre, Buxton Old Road, Macclesfield, SK11 0AP (SJ950733) Leader: Amanda from Let Step In Information:Email Amanda from Let Step In
(Car parking charge / Easy walking grade / Healthy walk – Event / Partial accessibility – level or ramped access / Partnership event / Places limited – please book in advance / Please leave your dog at home / Please wear suitable boots and clothing / There is a charge for this event)
Tuesday, 1 July – Outdoor Fitness Class at Astbury Mere Country Park
Are looking for a fitness class during the week that’s outside and you can bring your child?
Open to everyone even if you are wanting to add extra training to your week or wanting to get fit after having a child in a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. No matter what fitness level you are the class can be tailored to suit all abilities.
The sessions vary each week depending on numbers and the weather. They can include full body toning, cardio sessions, core work and flexibility.
Suitable for anyone over the age of 18. No booking necessary, just turn up and pay as you go £6 per person.
This event repeats every first Tuesday morning of the month.
Time: 10:00am to 11:00am Meeting point: Astbury Mere Country Park, Sandy Lane, Congleton, CW12 4FR (SJ846627) Leaders: Personal Trainer Kelly Morley Information: 07803 245590 or email Kelly Morley
(Car parking charge / Children must be accompanied by an adult / Healthy walk – Event / Partnership event / Please leave your dog at home / Please wear suitable boots and clothing / Refreshment stop, opportunity for refreshments / There is a charge for this event)
Tuesday, 1 July – Green Helpers Macclesfield – 1 July
The Bollin Valley Partnership Rangers have teamed up with the Green Spaces for Wellbeing initiative for a new series of sessions in Macclesfield!
Join us to help make Macclesfield Riverside Park an even more wonderful place for people and wildlife. We have lots of hands-on activities planned across the park to enhance its natural feel and boost biodiversity. Think meadow creation, planting trees and hedges, litter picking, bulb planting and much more.
This is an ongoing programme throughout the year, so you can sign up at any time. The programme is fully funded which means there is no cost for you. For adults 18+. Sign up for 6 sessions with the option to extend to 12 sessions later.
Due to the nature of these activities, these sessions are suitable for people with moderate/good physical fitness and mobility. Unfortunately, they are not wheelchair accessible.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL.
THIS EVENT REPEATS EVERY TUESDAY IN JULY.
Meeting point: Macclesfield Riverside Park Visitor Centre, Beechwood Mews, off Manchester Road, Tytherington, Macclesfield, SK10 2SL
Time: 1pm to 3pm Leaders: Green Spaces for Wellbeing and the Bollin Valley Partnership Information:Email the Everybody Healthy Team or ring 01270 685589
(Healthy walk – Event / Moderate walking grade / Partnership event / Places limited – please book in advance / Please leave your dog at home / Please wear suitable boots and clothing)
The third in a series of annual Himalayan Balsam bashing events. Help us to manage the threat of this invasive plant in the Bollin valley and get the ‘bashing bug’! This one is in the Bowdon area with help from Friends of Bowdon Bollin and Trafford Wildlife Trust.
Please bring thick gardening gloves along and we recommend you wearing long sleeves and trousers. Suitable for anyone over the age of 8.Time: 10am to 1pm Meeting point: Bow Green Farm, Bow Lane, Bowdon, WA14 3BY Leaders: Bollin Valley Partnership Ranger Emma Houghton and Friends of Bowdon Bollin Information: 01625 374790
(Children must be accompanied by an adult / Ideal for families and accompanied children / Partnership event / Please leave your dog at home / Please wear suitable boots and clothing / Strenuous walking grade / Wildlife walk – Event)
Wednesday, 2 July – Fancy a Paddle – Three
A chance to learn a little bit about canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding on the beautiful Rudyard Lake. The event is delivered by Moorland Adventure. Full instruction equipment and buoyancy aids will be provided.
Booking and payment in advance is essential. All participants must be older than 8 years old and be “water confident”.
Cost £20 per person. Minimum of 4 attendees required for this event to take place.Time: 7pm to 9pm Meeting point: Rudyard Lake, Rudyard, ST13 8RN (SJ950580) Leaders: Moorland Adventure Information: 01625 573615
(Car parking charge / Partnership event / Places limited – please book in advance / Please leave your dog at home / Please wear suitable boots and clothing / There is a charge for this event)
Tuesday, 8 July – Introduction to Climbing at The Roaches
Another chance to experience the thrills of climbing in this introductory climbing session, with Moorland Adventure. Suitable for anyone over the age of 9. Booking and payment in advance is essential. Cost £20.
Meeting point: The Roaches, Roach Road, Nr Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 8UB (SK00416212) Time: 7pm to 9pm Leaders: Moorland Adventure Information: 01625 573615
(Children must be accompanied by an adult / Healthy walk – Event / Partnership event / Places limited – please book in advance / Please leave your dog at home / Please wear suitable boots and clothing / There is a charge for this event)
Wednesday, 9 July – Wildflowers and butterflies of Jacksons’ Brickworks Local Nature Reserve
A leisurely morning walk enjoying the wildflowers and butterflies of the reserve. The wildflower meadows look superb at this time of year and include several different species of orchid. A slow-paced walk of around 1.6km (1 mile).
Booking and payment in advance essential. Adults £7.50, children 16 or under go free.
Time: 10am to 12pm Meeting point: Jacksons’ Brickworks Car Park, Pool House Road, Higher Poynton, SK12 1TY (SJ945844) Leaders: Cheshire East Council Countryside Ranger Pete Dowse Information: 01625 383700
(Bring binoculars if you have them / Children must be accompanied by an adult / Easy walking grade / Healthy walk / Event / Ideal for families and accompanied children/ Partial accessibility – level or ramped access / Places limited – please book in advance / Please leave your dog at home / Please wear suitable boots and clothing / There is a charge for this event / Wildlife walk – Event)
Come along for a morning stroll around the wildflower pastures and meadows of Dane-in-Shaw Pasture Site of Special Scientific Interest and also through the woodlands of the Biddulph Valley Way, enjoying the summer wildflowers and chatting about some of their uses and folklore.
Booking and payment in advance essential. Adults £7.50, children 16 or under go free.
Time: 10am to 1pm Meeting point: Henshall Hall Drive (park on road just before canal), Congleton, CW12 3TA (SJ876622) Leader: Cheshire East Council Countryside Ranger Carolyn Sherratt Information: 01477 534115
(Children must be accompanied by an adult / Moderate walking grade / Places limited – please book in advance / Please wear suitable boots and clothing / There is a charge for this event / Wildlife walk – Event)
A chance to learn a little bit about canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding on the beautiful Rudyard Lake. The event is delivered by Moorland Adventure. Full instruction equipment and buoyancy aids will be provided.
Booking and payment in advance is essential. All participants must be older than 8 years old and be “water confident”.
Cost £20 per person. Minimum of 4 attendees required for this event to take place.
Time: 7pm to 9pm Meeting point: Rudyard Lake, Rudyard, ST13 8RN (SJ950580) Leaders: Moorland Adventure Information: 01625 573615
(Car parking charge / Partnership event / Places limited – please book in advance / Please leave your dog at home / Please wear suitable boots and clothing / There is a charge for this event)
This is the annual ‘Bioblitz’ at Riverside Park. In partnership with the Mersey Rivers Trust, join experts discovering the birds, wildflowers, minibeasts and water life that can be found within the park.
Drop-in activities throughout the day include butterfly walks, pond and river dipping, environmental art and wildlife stands in partnership with Mersey Rivers Trust.
Suitable for anyone over the age of 5.
Time: 10am to 2pm Meeting point: Riverside Park Ranger Centre, Beechwood Mews, Beech Lane, Macclesfield, SK10 2SL (SJ914745) Leaders: Bollin Valley Partnership Ranger Emma Houghton and the Mersey Rivers Trust Information: 01625 374790
(Bring a packed lunch / Bring binoculars if you have them / Children must be accompanied by an adult / Easy walking grade / Ideal for families and accompanied children / Partial accessibility – level or ramped access / Partnership event / Please wear suitable boots and clothing / Refreshment stop, opportunity for refreshments / Wildlife walk – Event)
Thursday, 17 July – Evening Meditation and Deep Rest in Nature at Tegg’s Nose
Join Amanda, from Lets Step In, for a soothing evening in nature with beautiful views at Tegg’s Nose Country Park for meditation and deep rest.
Unwind as the day slows and nature prepares for night. Surrounded by the stunning countryside you’ll be guided through a series of nature-based meditation practices ending with deep rest. Awaken your senses, come into the present and connect with nature to soothe your nervous system, support your mind and nourish your whole self. Setting you up for a restful night’s sleep.
Suitable for beginners and beyond.
We’ll gather in the car park and walk together to where we’ll spend the session. I’ll be sprinkling in learnings about meditation between the practices and helping you with your practice throughout. Bring a cup to enjoy tea and conversation at the end or continue to sit in silence and take in the views. This is space for you to use as you need.
Booking and payment in advance is essential. Cost £12.
Time: 6.45pm to 8.15pm Meeting point: Tegg’s Nose Country Park Visitor Centre, Buxton Old Road, Macclesfield, SK11 0AP (SJ950733) Leader: Amanda from Let Step In Information:Email Amanda from Let Step In
(Car parking charge / Easy walking grade / Healthy walk – Event / Partial accessibility – level or ramped access / Partnership event / Places limited – please book in advance / Please leave your dog at home / Please wear suitable boots and clothing / There is a charge for this event)
Family wildlife walk around the top of Tegg’s Nose Country Park to look for and learn more about some of the park’s resident butterfly species and, if we are lucky, seeing the scarce local speciality, namely, the Wall butterfly
Booking and payment in advance essential. Adults £7.50, children 16 or under go free.
Time: 11am to 1pm Meeting point: Tegg’s Nose Country Park Visitor Centre, Buxton Old Road, Macclesfield, SK11 0AP (SJ950733) Leaders: Tim Ward and Julia Harding from Butterfly Conservation and Cheshire East Council Countryside Ranger Martin James Information: 01625 374833
(Bring binoculars if you have them / Car parking charge / Easy walking grade / Healthy walk – Event / Ideal for families and accompanied children / Places limited – please book in advance / Please leave your dog at home / Please wear suitable boots and clothing / Refreshment stop, opportunity for refreshments / There is a charge for this event / Wildlife walk – Event)
Bats are one of the UK’s most misunderstood animals. Come and dispel a few myths and find out more about these fascinating creatures as we take a short stroll in Teggsnose Wood and alongside Teggsnose Reservoir.
Bring a torch. Booking and payment in advance essential. Adults £7.50, children 16 or under go free.
Time: 9pm to 10.30pm Meeting point: Tegg’s Nose Country Park, Buxton Old Road, Macclesfield, SK11 0AP Leaders: Cheshire East Council Countryside Ranger Martin James Information: 01625 374833
(Children must be accompanied by an adult / Easy walking grade / Ideal for families and accompanied children / Places limited – please book in advance / Please leave your dog at home / Please wear suitable boots and clothing / There is a charge for this event / Wildlife walk – Event)
Healthy, organic, tasty and free. Bilberry, blueberry, blaeberry, whin; whatever you want to call them they grow wild all over Tegg’s Nose Country Park and all you have to do is bring a container and get picking.
Totally Wild UK, will be on hand to explain the best places to look and will provide more information about where to source great local food. They’ll also be showing you how to make your own bilberry jam!
There is no charge to join us to pick bilberries during the event but if you would like to participate in the jam making, please book a place for the event so we can ensure we have enough jam pans and sugar.
Please bring your own 200ml jar as we will not be providing these!
Cost for jam making £1.00 per person. Suitable for anyone over the age of 5.
Time: 1pm to 4pm
Meeting point: Tegg’s Nose Country Park Visitor Centre, Buxton Old Road, Macclesfield, SK11 0AP (SJ950733) Leaders: Cheshire East Council Countryside Ranger Martin James and Totally Wild UK
Information: 01625 374833 (Car parking charge / Children must be accompanied by an adult / Ideal for families and accompanied children / Moderate walking grade / Partnership event / Places limited – please book in advance / Please leave your dog at home / Please wear suitable boots and clothing / Refreshment stop, opportunity for refreshments / There is a charge for this event)
Wednesday, 23 July 2025 to Friday, 25 July 2025 – Moorland Adventure Summer Kids Activity Club – Week One
A great way to experience some varied exciting activities in the countryside with local experts Moorland Adventure! Each day focuses on different activities and will give you a taste of adventure! Suitable for anyone between the ages of 8 and 16. Booking and payment in advance is essential. All day 2 participants must be “Water confident”.
Day 1 – Wednesday 23rd July – Climb and Abseil at Tegg’s Nose Day 2 – Thursday 24th July – Canoeing, Kayaking and Paddleboarding at Rudyard Lake Day 3 – Friday 25th July – Bushcraft and Tree Climbing at Tegg’s Nose
Cost £38.50 per day.
Activities run from 9.00am to 4.00pm but to allow for maximum flexibility, you can drop off your child from 8.30am and collect at any time between 4.00pm and 5.00pm.
Book your places before the 9th of July for a 15% discount – use coupon code summer15-2025-1 when booking your tickets.
Please bring a packed lunch and drinks with you each day.
Days 1 and 3 Meeting point: Tegg’s Nose Country Park Visitor Centre, Buxton Old Road, Macclesfield, SK11 0AP (SJ950733) Day 2 Meeting point: Rudyard Lake, Rudyard, ST13 8RN (SJ950580)
Time: 8.30am to 5pm Leader: Moorland Adventure Information: 01625 573615
(Bring a packed lunch / Car parking charge / Partnership event / Places limited – please book in advance / Please wear suitable boots and clothing / There is a charge for this event)
Monday, 28 July 2025 to Friday, 1 August 2025 – Moorland Adventure Summer Kids Activity Club – Week Two
A great way to experience some varied exciting activities in the countryside with local experts Moorland Adventure! Each day focuses on different activities and will give you a taste of adventure!
Suitable for anyone between the ages of 8 and 16. Booking and payment in advance is essential. All day 2 and 4 participants must be “Water confident”.
Day 1 – Monday 28th July – Archery and Orienteering at Tegg’s Nose Day 2 – Tuesday 29th July – Canoeing, Kayaking and Paddleboarding at Rudyard Lake Day 3 – Wednesday 30th July – Climb and Abseil at Tegg’s Nose Day 4 – Thursday 31st July – Canoeing, Kayaking and Paddleboarding at Rudyard Lake Day 5 – Friday 1st August – Bushcraft and Tree Climbing at Tegg’s Nose
Cost £38.50 per day.
Activities run from 9.00am to 4.00pm but to allow for maximum flexibility, you can drop off your child from 8.30am and collect at any time between 4.00pm and 5.00pm.
Book your places before the 14th of July for a 15% discount – use coupon code summer15-2025-2 when booking your tickets.
Please bring a packed lunch and drinks with you each day.
Days 1, 3 and 5 Meeting point: Tegg’s Nose Country Park Visitor Centre, Buxton Old Road, Macclesfield, SK11 0AP (SJ950733) Day 2 and 4 Meeting point: Rudyard Lake, Rudyard, ST13 8RN (SJ950580)
Time: 8.30am to 5pm Leader: Moorland Adventure Information: 01625 573615
(Bring a packed lunch / Car parking charge / Partnership event / Places limited – please book in advance / Please wear suitable boots and clothing / There is a charge for this event)
A bold new exhibition is set to open at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House this summer that introduces a new view of the author and her work (Thursday 3 July to Sunday 9 November). I’ve Never Read Elizabeth Gaskell follows a residency completed by three young writers who have spent the spring months being inspired by Manchester’s only literary house. The writers are Georgia Affonso,Princess Arinola Adegbite and Guruleen Kahlo and the project has been supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with The Writing Squad and Manchester City of Literature.
I’ve Never Read Elizabeth Gaskell will be an immersive exhibition that flows throughout the Georgian villa, with the writers’ words illuminating the experience. Georgia, Princess and Guruleen have spent a great deal of time at the house, including in the dining room where Elizabeth wrote – to enjoy the views across the garden and warmth of the sun, and because she didn’t have her own study like her husband. This focal point is where the narrative begins. Creatively the approach is very contemporary, with the aim of engaging new visitors to the house who, like the writers, might also be discovering Elizabeth’s fascinating story for the first time. There will be author ‘profiles’, ‘biogs’ and QR codes to connect to the work, alongside the objects that have inspired the writers.
In her short stories Guruleen slices through the history of the house; from the laughter of a family home to the present day. And within it themes of equality, motherhood, loss and transformation are tenderly woven. Guruleen says, “when I discovered that Elizabeth wrote short stories herself, partly because of the interruptions from the children and everything happening around her, the idea really called to me.” In the stories we meet Elizabeth the author, wife, mother and mistress and see the turmoil that goes with this as she contemplates the contrast with her husband’s quiet study space and navigates the necessities of running a busy house, whilst meeting writing deadlines. There is much that will resonate with readers.
The stories are a reminder of the demands that Elizabeth encountered and also hint at why her legacy has taken time to embed; her papers destroyed after her death at Elizabeth’s own instruction and the house later abandoned. Guruleen is completing her final year at Manchester Metropolitan University, where she is studying English and Creative Writing. “I’ve loved the experience of being in the house” she says “It feels so different to any other historical house or museum. I’ve been able to sit at the very table that Elizabeth wrote at and interact with the house as if the Gaskell’s have just gone away.” Guruleen is from Birmingham and now lives in Manchester.
In Georgia’s writing she overlays a personal experience of what could have been a barrier to her becoming one of the writers in residence, which is that she had mixed memories of visiting historical properties as a child and found the experience suffocating. But those reservations have been dismissed thanks to “how warm and welcoming the house feels to me”. And so in her play we are taken on a house tour. The inspiration for this comes from her time spent with the volunteers, whose insights, gossip and myths she has found intriguing. But this isn’t the only house tour, with glimpses of Elizabeth Gaskell’s House run in parallel with the tour of the house of a lost loved one against a narrative that weaves the two worlds.
The surroundings that Georgia writes about are observed in painstaking detail and the emotions they evoke are vivid, just as they are in Elizabeth’s writing. Visitors will be able to listen to Georgia’s play in audio as part of the exhibition experience, which for Georgia continues a journey that has already seen her work commissioned by BBC Radio 4, having completed a degree in Music and Drama from the University of Manchester (2016). Georgia is from Oxfordshire and now lives in Manchester.
In Princess’ poetry you can feel the connection to Elizabeth: the person, the author. There is empathy with her fellow writer and a recognition of the different roles that Elizabeth needed to play in her life. “Elizabeth was middle-class and she didn't have to write about working-class people” says Princess, “but she cared about writing about working-class people, and enslaved people. And learning about that, her belief in those topics, was really interesting to me as someone who comes from a very marginalised background but also cares about people that don't look like me.”
Elizabeth was writing over 150 years ago, but in Princess’ words the commonality is clear: ‘we must be many women’. And, from not having read or known about Elizabeth in her poetry she finds ‘Each of her words are rooms I can rest within. How language opens becomes a door I can walk through.’ Princess has written seven poems which visitors will be able to experience in areas of the house that reflect their inspiration and themes, including the garden that Elizabeth’s writing table overlooks. Prior to being a creative writer and performer, Princess studied English Literature at the University of Liverpool. She is from Salford and now lives in Manchester.
Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-1865) lived at the house on Plymouth Grove from 1850 to 1865 with her husband William and daughters, Marianne, Meta, Florence and Julia. Her life saw her attending grand social events like the opening of The Great Exhibition (1851) and hosting visitors including Charles Dickens and Charlotte Brontë. But Elizabeth also was an observer of the working classes in ‘miserable living’ conditions and ‘crowded dwellings’ and the position of women in society, who she wrote about in novels including North and South and Mary Barton. Elizabeth not only wrote to bring about the social justice that she believed in, but was actively involved. She set up early forms of soup kitchens, ran sewing classes during the strikes of the Cotton Famine, and helped young unmarried women who had been imprisoned because of their circumstances.
Supporting the project’s aims and aspirations is a steering group made up of volunteers and trustees. 20% of Elizabeth Gaskell’s House trustees are aged 18-25 and 10% of its volunteers. A third of the staff team is under 30.
Young Trustee of Elizabeth Gaskell’s House,Rose Palmer, says, “It’s been thrilling to see Elizabeth’s story and the house through the eyes, words and emotions of our writers in residence. Elizabeth was an absolute trailblazer and it’s this spirit that has connected her to Georgia, Princess and Guruleen. I hope that through their work more people will be intrigued by Elizabeth and come along to the house to experience her world. I’ve Never Read Elizabeth Gaskell is the perfect exhibition through which to make that discovery.”
Georgia, Princess and Guruleen are all part of The Writing Squad, which seeks to nurture the next generation of writers and has been mentoring them throughout their residency. Manchester City of Literature is also a project partner, which through its work celebrates Manchester’s literary heritage, creativity and voices, both within the city and internationally.
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is open every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 11:00am to 4:30pm. Entry is £8.50 for adults and free for children under 16, when accompanied by an adult. Tickets are valid for 12 months from purchase and can be pre-booked via www.ticketsource.co.uk/elizabeth-gaskell-house. For further information visit www.elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk
Elizabeth Gaskell's House, 84 Plymouth Grove, Manchester M13 9LW
A bold new exhibition is set to open at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House this summer that introduces a new view of the author and her work (Sunday 6 July to Sunday 9 November). I’ve Never Read Elizabeth Gaskell follows a residency completed by three young writers who have spent the spring months being inspired by Manchester’s only literary house. The writers are Georgia Affonso, Princess Arinola Adegbite and Guruleen Kahlo and the project has been supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with The Writing Squad and Manchester City of Literature.
Elizabeth Gaskell 1832
I’ve Never Read Elizabeth Gaskell will be an immersive exhibition that flows throughout the Georgian villa, with the writers’ words illuminating the experience. Georgia, Princess and Guruleen have spent a great deal of time at the house, including in the dining room where Elizabeth wrote – to enjoy the views across the garden and warmth of the sun, and because she didn’t have her own study like her husband. This focal point is where the narrative begins. Creatively the approach is very contemporary, with the aim of engaging new visitors to the house who, like the writers, might also be discovering Elizabeth’s fascinating story for the first time. There will be author ‘profiles’, ‘biogs’ and QR codes to connect to the work, alongside the objects that have inspired the writers.
In her short stories Guruleen slices through the history of the house; from the laughter of a family home to the present day. And within it themes of equality, motherhood, loss and transformation are tenderly woven. Guruleen says, “when I discovered that Elizabeth wrote short stories herself, partly because of the interruptions from the children and everything happening around her, the idea really called to me.” In the stories we meet Elizabeth the author, wife, mother and mistress and see the turmoil that goes with this as she contemplates the contrast with her husband’s quiet study space and navigates the necessities of running a busy house, whilst meeting writing deadlines. There is much that will resonate with readers.
The stories are a reminder of the demands that Elizabeth encountered and also hint at why her legacy has taken time to embed; her papers destroyed after her death at Elizabeth’s own instruction and the house later abandoned. Guruleen is completing her final year at Manchester Metropolitan University, where she is studying English and Creative Writing. “I’ve loved the experience of being in the house” she says “It feels so different to any other historical house or museum. I’ve been able to sit at the very table that Elizabeth wrote at and interact with the house as if the Gaskell’s have just gone away.” Guruleen is from Birmingham and now lives in Manchester.
In Georgia’s writing she overlays a personal experience of what could have been a barrier to her becoming one of the writers in residence, which is that she had mixed memories of visiting historical properties as a child and found the experience suffocating. But those reservations have been dismissed thanks to “how warm and welcoming the house feels to me”. And so in her play we are taken on a house tour. The inspiration for this comes from her time spent with the volunteers, whose insights, gossip and myths she has found intriguing. But this isn’t the only house tour, with glimpses of Elizabeth Gaskell’s House run in parallel with the tour of the house of a lost loved one against a narrative that weaves the two worlds.
The surroundings that Georgia writes about are observed in painstaking detail and the emotions they evoke are vivid, just as they are in Elizabeth’s writing. Visitors will be able to listen to Georgia’s play in audio as part of the exhibition experience, which for Georgia continues a journey that has already seen her work commissioned by BBC Radio 4, having completed a degree in Music and Drama from the University of Manchester (2016). Georgia is from Oxfordshire and now lives in Manchester.
In Princess’ poetry you can feel the connection to Elizabeth: the person, the author. There is empathy with her fellow writer and a recognition of the different roles that Elizabeth needed to play in her life. “Elizabeth was middle-class and she didn't have to write about working-class people” says Princess, “but she cared about writing about working-class people, and enslaved people. And learning about that, her belief in those topics, was really interesting to me as someone who comes from a very marginalised background but also cares about people that don't look like me.”
Elizabeth was writing over 150 years ago, but in Princess’ words the commonality is clear: ‘we must be many women’. And, from not having read or known about Elizabeth in her poetry she finds ‘Each of her words are rooms I can rest within. How language opens becomes a door I can walk through.’ Princess has written seven poems which visitors will be able to experience in areas of the house that reflect their inspiration and themes, including the garden that Elizabeth’s writing table overlooks. Prior to being a creative writer and performer, Princess studied English Literature at the University of Liverpool. She is from Salford and now lives in Manchester.
Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-1865) lived at the house on Plymouth Grove from 1850 to 1865 with her husband William and daughters, Marianne, Meta, Florence and Julia. Her life saw her attending grand social events like the opening of The Great Exhibition (1851) and hosting visitors including Charles Dickens and Charlotte Brontë. But Elizabeth also was an observer of the working classes in ‘miserable living’ conditions and ‘crowded dwellings’ and the position of women in society, who she wrote about in novels including North and South and Mary Barton. Elizabeth not only wrote to bring about the social justice that she believed in, but was actively involved. She set up early forms of soup kitchens, ran sewing classes during the strikes of the Cotton Famine, and helped young unmarried women who had been imprisoned because of their circumstances.
Supporting the project’s aims and aspirations is a steering group made up of volunteers and trustees. 20% of Elizabeth Gaskell’s House trustees are aged 18-25 and 10% of its volunteers. A third of the staff team is under 30.
Young Trustee of Elizabeth Gaskell’s House,Rose Palmer, says, “It’s been thrilling to see Elizabeth’s story and the house through the eyes, words and emotions of our writers in residence. Elizabeth was an absolute trailblazer and it’s this spirit that has connected her to Georgia, Princess and Guruleen. I hope that through their work more people will be intrigued by Elizabeth and come along to the house to experience her world. I’ve Never Read Elizabeth Gaskell is the perfect exhibition through which to make that discovery.”
Georgia, Princess and Guruleen are all part of The Writing Squad, which seeks to nurture the next generation of writers and has been mentoring them throughout their residency. Manchester City of Literature is also a project partner, which through its work celebrates Manchester’s literary heritage, creativity and voices, both within the city and internationally.
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is open every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 11:00am to 4:30pm. Entry is £8.50 for adults and free for children under 16, when accompanied by an adult. Tickets are valid for 12 months from purchase and can be pre-booked via www.ticketsource.co.uk/elizabeth-gaskell-house. For further information visit www.elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk
The award-winning Buxton International Festival is an annual celebration of world-class opera, music, books and jazz with over 160 events to choose from every summer.
Here are five reasons to make Buxton your ‘go-to’ summer festival for 2025 (10-27 July).
1. Buxton – the beautiful spa town sits in heart of Derbyshire’s Peak District, worth a visit in itself. All the festival’s events are within easy walking distance of each other.
2. Operas Galore – In 2024, Buxton staged five new operas in four days and was nominated for an International Opera Award. 2025 sees a yet more impressive plans:
Ambroise Thomas’ Hamlet, conducted by Adrian Kelly with the Orchestra of Opera North
A double bill of Leonard Bernstein’s Trouble in Taihiti and Francis Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine, a Buxton International Festival and Norwich Theatre production
Opera Zuid production of Mozart’s The Impresario
La Descente d’Orphée aux Enfers, a Vache Baroque production
Shorts – four brand new 20-minute operas by composers
Jasper Dommett, Martin Green and Carmel Smickersgill
3. Jazz Weekender Tickets – Jazz Weekender tickets for just £175 offering 12 world-class gigs varying from jazz, blues, funk and Latin, plus an Oscar Peterson extravaganza. Stand-out artists include Ineza, Graham Clark Quartet, Emily Masser Quartet, Trio JDM, Baiana, Alan Barnes with an all-star band, Dean Stockdale Quartet, Emma Rawicz Quartet and Xhosa Cole Quartet.
4. Books – 33 book talks including Diane Abbott MP, Baroness Lola Young, Petroc Trelawny, Ben Macintyre and Jonathan Sumption.
5. Classical Music – World-class concerts every day from artists including Steven Hough, Imogen Cooper, Benjamin Grosvenor, Tallis Scholars, English Concert, Simon Keenlyside and Sarah Connolly.
Box Office – Tel 01298 2072190
Booking office opens at 10am on Tuesday 15 April 2025
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The countdown is on to Hale Barns Carnival with final preparations taking place ahead of this weekend’s unmissable event.
The massively popular annual carnival takes place this Saturday and Sunday 19-20 July with a new location in the grounds of The Bull’s Head and Holy Angels Churchon Wicker Lane.
Hale Barns brings the community together for two days of live music, entertainment and family fun including two ticketed evening concerts which both boast a line-up of award-winning tribute acts.
And today full details of all the attractions across the two adjacent sites are revealed, along with programme times for the amazing main stage line-up.
The live music takes place in the grounds of The Bull’s Head on both days.
On Saturday 19 July the carnival’s free daytime music entertainment starts at12noon with popular Indie covers band Parlaiz getting the party started, followed at 1pm by the irrepressible Hilda’s Flying Ducks, while at 2.20pm Soulvation takes to the stage, and the live music continues with rising star soprano Millie Royle at 3.30pm.
A special DJ setopens the ticketed evening concert at 5pm, before the brilliant Chic Out! takes to the stage at 6pm, with Paula Randell’s terrific Tina Turner tribute at 7.30pm. The Saturday evening concludes with a hotly anticipated appearance by Roxy Magicfrom 8.45-10pm.
Then on Sunday 20 July the free daytime music programme is launched at 12noon with a rousing Rock Choir appearance. Parlaiz returns to entertain the Sunday crowds at 1pm, with talented singer-songwriter Imogen Paige at 2.20pm and The Music Place Choir between 3-4pm.
Sunday’s special ticketed evening concert kicks off at 5pm with a DJ set, followed at 6pm by the Bootleg Bee Gees and a tribute to the legendary Dolly Parton at 7.30pm before at 8.45pm there’s a chance to go one step beyond with the Ultimate Madness. The music ends at 10pm.
Tickets for the evening concerts start at £28 for adults, with child concessions. There are also a limited number of special premium table tickets remaining.
Meanwhile the daytime events, which are free to attend and open from 12noon to 4pm on both Saturday and Sunday, promise fun for all ages.
Attractions in the grounds of Holy Angels Church include more than 30 stalls offering gifts, crafts and other local businesses, a pop-up café, traditional funfair rides and attractions, a kids’ inflatables, community stalls and children’s activities.
On The Bull’s Head site, in addition to the live music stage carnival goers will find large funfair rides to get the adrenaline pumping, a pop-up bar, entertainment area and car displays – sponsored by Howden Insurance – including classic vehicles, supercars, movie automobiles and cars from the stars.
There is also a Foodie Village with local food outlets including wood fired pizza from Wildfire Pizza Company, Gourmet Burgers by Humble Kitchen, authentic Thai and Jamaican cuisine and more.
And in addition, new this year Hale Barns Carnival will be a dog-friendly event, with well-behaved dogs on leads welcome with their owners.
Parking for the event is available at St Ambrose Prep School in Wicker Lane.
Hale Barns Carnival organiser Max Eden said today: “We’ve got a fantastic range of attractions at this year’s Hale Barns, and after all the team’s hard work preparing for this year’s event, I can’t wait for the gates to open on Saturday.
"There’s a packed programme planned for the daytime on both new sites in Wicker Lane, including great live music, family-friendly funfair rides, some amazing food and drink outlets and offers, a huge number of stalls to browse and a very special car display – and I’m absolutely delighted we’ve been able to make sure entrance to the afternoon remains free.
“Then on both evenings there’s a chance to really let your hair down and party at our two ticketed concerts, with a brilliant line-up of worldclass tribute acts celebrating stars including the Bee Gees, Madness, Tina Turner and Roxy Music. It’s going to be a memorable weekend.”
Hale Barns Carnival was founded in 2016 to provide a local large-scale event for all ages to enjoy and raise funds for community causes.
Thanks to the continued support of local residents and sponsors, the event helped make the long-awaited community hall a reality in 2023, and it has welcomed top talent over the years including 10CC’s Graham Gouldman, Rose Royce, Russell Watson, Martin Kemp, Katrina & The Waves and The Real Thing.
This year’s event is proudly supported by Benchmark Security, Howden Insurance, BeFibre, Manchester Airport and Full Circle Funeral Partners.
Royal Cheshire Showground, Flittogate Lane, Tabley
WE'RE TAKING THE ROOF OFF IN 2025
And here it is!
A line-up to compliment the hype.
Not only are we bringing back the usual full on bumper packed schedule for all ages, but this time it’ll be to the sounds of DODGY, EAST 17, ALISON LIMERICK, NIKKI BELLE , SWEET FEMALE ATTITUDE, BRANDON BLOCK and WOODY COOK!
Lose yourself for 4 days as we transform The Royal Cheshire Showground into the Northwests biggest Campervan family festival.
7:30 pmThe Pump Room, The Crescent, Buxton, SK17 6NH.
The Ensemble will play programme for Echoes of Art and Earth in the sunken bath in Buxton’s historic Pump Room.
The programme features pieces by contemporary composers who have been inspired by sculpture, imagery and environment.
Founder member and flautist, Tim Ward, said, ‘We have played in some fantastic venues including Manchester Art Gallery, The Lowry and Buxton’s own Devonshire Dome but we have never played in a bath before! You should also listen out for the blown bottles and whirly-tubes in one of our pieces, so do come and enjoy the buzz of the festival with us!’
Head over to Buxton on the evening of Saturday 26th July, at 7.30pm and enjoy something different.
Cheshire’s number one premium boutique festival is back, bigger and better than before, for summer 2025. Expect a star-studded lineup, including Ministry of Sound Ibiza Anthems ft Elle Sax & Friends, Peter Hook & The Light, Bez, Inspiral Carpets, and Tunde From The Lighthouse Family.
Following a successful launch last year, this firm favourite amongst Cheshire partygoers is returning on Saturday 2nd August for a day and night of world class performances. Featuring multiple stages including the all-new Indie Live Lounge, 5,000 partygoers are expected to attend this over-18, one-day event, with VIP tickets already sold out.
Nestled within 100 acres of picturesque countryside, Macclesfield’s impressive stately home Capesthorne Hall will be home to Cheshire Fest for a second time for a selection of dance, house, rock, indie music and more.
Headlining the main stage this year is Ministry of Sound Ibiza Anthems ft Elle Sax & Friends – the ultimate celebration of Ibiza hits live on stage, by the world’s biggest dance music brand. Ellie Sax is set to bring together some of the greatest dance names as she takes the audience on a journey through a day in the life on The White Isle, from dreamy pool parties and sunset clubs, to bouncing superclubs. Bringing the Balearic beats to the UK this summer, tracks will span the likes of Faithless, Eric Prydz, Becky Hill, The Shapeshifters, Daft Punk, and Robin S, Fisher.
Other artists set to take to the stage include Joy Division’s Peter Hook & The Light, as well as Happy Monday’s Bez, Tunde From The Lighthouse Family, DJ Billie Clements, Inspiral Carpets, Shade, Between the Lines, K-Klass, and more.
Elsewhere, the wellness tent will provide a serene haven for festival-goers, who can unwind, or partake in a rejuvenating juice detox. This year’s edition of the festival will also feature a brand-new Premium Lounge, in partnership with Bollinger.
Festival goers can also enjoy a silent disco, an international lager bar, and a street food village.
Tickets are now live and can be purchased on Skiddle, from £40.00 plus booking fee per person.
The Macclesfield 1261 Festival commemorates the 764th anniversary of the granting of the town charter in 1261.
But it’s not just a commemoration, it’s a key cultural event – a celebration of the town’s creativity and its communities.
To encourage community involvement and enrich the festival experience, Macclesfield Town Council are providing a funding stream, enabling local individuals, businesses, and groups to apply for financial help to contribute unique and engaging activities.
Macclesfield Town Council are offering up to £250 to use towards a project for the festival. Funding can be used to:
Host live music performances in bars, cafés, or public spaces.
Create costumes, props, or stage designs for performances.
Organise live art displays or installations in shops and other venues.
Support any other innovative and engaging activity that contributes to the festival atmosphere.
Activities should be free to access but revenue can still be obtained in usual ways by eg. cafe’s, shops etc.
Chatsworth Country Fair is one of England's most spectacular annual outdoor events. Held in the 1000-acre parkland surrounding Chatsworth House, tens of thousands of visitors from all over the country join us for a memorable family day out.
Enjoy three action-packed days of thrilling Grand Ring entertainment, inspirational cookery masterclasses, food, shopping and plenty of have-a-go activities, including a vintage fun fair, children's climbing wall, bungee trampoline and much more.
Bill Kenwright’s multi-award-winning production of Blood Brothers is heading for Buxton Opera House.
Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins separated at birth, who grow up on the opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with tragic consequences.
The international smash hit show plays in the Opera House from Tuesday 2 – Saturday 6 September 2025.
Vivienne Carlyle leads the cast as Mrs. Johnstone. Her performance earned her nightly standing ovations in the West End. Mickey and Eddie, are twin brothers Sean Jones and Joe Sleight, with Gemma Brodrick as Linda
Award-winning playwright Willy Russell’s epic tale of Liverpool life started as a play, performed at a Liverpool comprehensive school in 1981, before opening at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983.
The musical has since triumphed across the globe, completing sell out seasons in the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan. Few musicals have been received with such acclaim as the multi-award-winning Blood Brothers, scooping up four awards for Best Musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway.
It is considered 'one of the best musicals ever written' (Sunday Times). Bill Kenwright’s production surpassed 10,000 performances in London’s West End, one of only three musicals ever to achieve that milestone.
One of Macclesfield Hospital’s consultants will take to the stage in aid of raising funds for East Cheshire NHS Charity.
Jochen Fischer, a Consultant Orthopaedic and Upper Limb Surgeon, is hosting ‘An Evening of Rock Music’ at Broken Cross Social Club later this year with his band the Imperial Bees, as the headline performance.
Based in Macclesfield, the three-piece band were formed two years ago with drummer Jochen and guitar players Sabine Kussmaul and Joe Wolverson.
Support bands include Melodic Groove Rock band and The Filters.
Jochen said: “We’re thrilled to be organising this event and to support such an important cause.
“East Cheshire NHS Charity plays a crucial role in supporting our local healthcare services to help them go above and beyond for patients, families and staff.
“I’d encourage the community to get involved and attend this event as it’s a fantastic opportunity to enjoy live music while making a meaningful contribution.”
Taking place on Sunday 7th September, tickets are £18 and must be purchased online, with doors open at 5.30 pm and music from 6 pm.
Food, which is included in the ticket price, will be provided by Henry’s Café.
To get involved in fundraising for East Cheshire NHS Charity, as an individual, group or workplace, get in touch with the fundraising team by emailing ecn-tr.ecnhscharity@nhs.net or by clicking here.
Run For Nature will take place on Sunday 21 September 2025.
All funds raised will go to supporting the zoo’s charitable conservation efforts to protect highly threatened giraffes.
Participants will take on a route that winds through the zoo. Runners will be able to enjoy glimpses of elephants, lemurs and other incredible species, before heading out into the picturesque Cheshire countryside.
The zoo is inviting runners of all abilities to take part, with a new 5 km run added to the 10 km and one-mile ‘Zoom’ fun run – for children aged 4–15.
With only 2,500 places up for grabs, the event is expected to sell out quickly – with runners supporting a very special cause – the zoo’s giraffe conservation efforts in Africa.
All proceeds will go directly towards protecting Nubian giraffes, which have seen drastic population declines in the wild due to habitat loss, poaching and conflict with humans. The money will support the zoo’s vital conservation work in East Africa, which is safeguarding the species for the future.
Runners will also receive a wooden medal at the finish line and free entry to the zoo for the remainder of the day, giving them the chance to relax and celebrate their achievement among 30,000 amazing animals.
Sarah Jones, Fundraising Lead at Chester Zoo, said:
“We’re thrilled to be bringing back Run For Nature for a third incredible year. We’ve now doubled the distance runners spend inside the zoo, so they’ll pass by even more iconic animals – a really special experience you won’t get anywhere else.
“Not only that, but each person will be supporting our giraffe conservation projects in East Africa, which include monitoring populations in the wild, supporting anti-poaching efforts and working with communities to safeguard vital habitats. This work has already seen the safe translocation of several Nubian giraffes to protected national parks in Uganda to help the species thrive.
“Whether you’re running the full 10km, taking on the 5km challenge, or joining in the Zoom run for kids, there really is something for everyone and each route is relatively flat, so be prepared for a new PB! Registration is now open for all three events, so just sign up online and we’ll post everything you need straight to your door – complete with your bib number and fundraising information. We’re expecting places to go fast, so don’t hang around!”
Top fundraisers will also be in with a chance to win a variety of prizes including annual zoo memberships, animal adoptions and special behind-the-scenes zoo experiences.
To register for Chester Zoo’s Run For Nature 10km, 5km, or Zoom fun run, visit: www.chesterzoo.org/run
Exercise, meet new friends and enjoy a pie and a pint with East Cheshire Hospice’s Pie and Pint Walk.
A 5 or 10 km countryside adventure, starting and finishing at Macclesfield Rugby Club. Whether you’re a seasoned rambler or a weekend wanderer, this is the perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors – and earn a well-deserved pie and pint at the finish line (beer for over 18s, soft drinks available too!).
Choose your route, grab your mates, your family – even your four-legged friends (on leads, please!) – and help raise vital funds for your local Hospice. Every step you take helps take care for patients and families across our community.
Well-behaved dogs are welcome but there are multiple stiles on the route which some dogs may struggle with.
Sadly, the walking route is not accessible for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
Sponsorship
As your entrance fee only covers the cost of the event, we do ask that everyone tries to raise at least £50 of sponsorship. Every penny raised really does make a huge difference in helping us to continue to provide care in your local community. Download a fundraising pack full of handy tips and ideas to support your fundraising and click here to make your own Pie & Pint JustGiving page.
Alternatively if you would rather not raise sponsorship, please consider choosing the option to add a £50 donation when you book your place.
The work we create at Wild Rumpus - be that large outdoor festivals and events, or more intimate creative interventions, invite people out of the real world and into fantastical wonderlands where anything can happen! Just So Festival is our most spectacular, technicolour celebration of this imaginary world, and for 2025 we have taken a pause, a moment to reconnect with its creative vision and to dream up what comes next.
This summer the woods, parkland and lakesides at Rode Hall - home to the festival, will be quieter, waiting patiently for the curious inhabitants of the Wild Rumpus world to emerge once again from between the trees in the joyous burst of magic, performance, circus, music, dancing and community.
We're relaunching Just So with fresh, glittering eyes. Right now as summer is almost upon us, we're busy dreaming, conjuring and distilling the essence of Just So, watching that special, iridescent wonder take shape as Just So Festival 2026.
We can't wait to see you!
Pre sale tickets are available now - sign up for access HERE to join in 2026 as the fantastical world unfolds!