The very popular Newton Spooky scarecrow trail returns this weekend in time for half term, running from the 24t- 31st October. This year, organisers Newton Primary School PTA have selected the theme of “Books and Films” , with a trail of 45 scarecrows to spot around Hoole and Newton. Maps cost £3 and will be available from Tuesday 19th October to purchase online or at Hoole Food Market . Last years event raised over £1600 for the school.
Chester Women’s Aid are appealing for volunteers to help fundraise on the 28th November with their first in person event for over a year, marking White Ribbon Day. The international event aims to bring an end to male violence against women and girls and raise awareness of domestic violence. This years event will be joined by The Deva Victrix Beard and Moustache Club, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, Chester Sexual Abuse Support Service ( CSASS) , Pop Vox choir and Women’s Self Defence Ellesmere Port. The event will take place between 11- 3 on Eastgate street outside the former Debenhams building. If you’d like to volunteer email chesterwomensaid@gmail,com to discuss.To make a donation visit https://www.justgiving.com/chesterwomensaid
Cars and Coffee had another successful event yesterday at Chester Lakes. The event was attended by 416 cars with another 100 spectators. There was 5 commercial local business partners and the event raised £232 for SHARE, who also attended the event supporting traffic and parking management. Cars and Coffee also appointed an in-house photographer for first time since 2016. To top it all off the event was visited by TVs Sarah Crabtree and Salvage Hunters Craig Hughes
The Countess of Chester Country Park is among the venues recognised for the key role they have played within the community with the award of a fifth consecutive Green Flag. The Green Flag Award scheme recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the United Kingdom and around the world. Alan Carter, Director of Operations at the Land Trust, said: “We are absolutely delighted that our sites have once again retained their Green Flag status. We are incredibly proud of all our sites and the role they have played within their communities over the last 12 months. They have been hugely important for the physical and mental wellbeing of the people who live and work around our spaces as well as being havens for wildlife and biodiversity. This recognition is also testament to the dedication and commitment of our managing partners and volunteers who make such an important contribution to so much of the great things that happen on our green spaces and I hope they are as proud of this award as we are.”
The Works Department at Chester Cathedral have announced the award of funds from the Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund (CRF), with the money allocated towards the restoration of the historic Abbey gatehouse. The work will be carried out by external contractors alongside members of the Works Department. Repairs to the grade I listed building will begin in the next month. A total of £198,559 has been awarded to complete the work. The Very Revd Dr Tim Stratford, Dean of Chester Cathedral, said: “Abbey Gateway is an important part of both the Chester Cathedral site and the visible heritage of the City of Chester. Its imposing structure provides not only the main vehicular and pedestrian access to the Cathedral estate but is also an on-street reminder of the Cathedral’s pre-Reformation Abbey status. Indeed, its prominent position on site – as well as the sheer scale of the project – has meant a large conservation project has not been possible in recent years. We are therefore immensely pleased to receive this funding from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund to enable this project to address the needs of the building and invest in our heritage.”
Ellesmere Port Social who launched their social media accounts in early 2017 to provide news coverage and promote a more positive view of the town and its future have announced their first event. The Market Warehouse will take place on Saturday 6th November 12-6 ( in the warehouse area next to the market) and will offer a day of street food, drink, music and a makers market. Said the account holder: “This has been a long time in planning and we’re really happy we can bring this event to the town. Thank you to the market and the council for their support and who we we have a shared vision for a better, busier Ellesmere Port Town Centre”. For further updates follow @themarketwarehouse on instagram.
In other news from the Port: Pupils at Whitby Heath Primary School in Ellesmere Port have launched a new Parent Parking Charter to help alleviate parking problems outside the school gates and to encourage more active methods of travel for the school run. The children have worked with the Council’s Road Safety Team, local Police Community Support Officers and parents to develop the new charter, which will challenge the way people travel to school and alleviate problems caused by inappropriate parking. This project is in addition to both the cycle and pedestrian training that has taken place at the school, to encourage parents and pupils to walk/cycle/scoot to school to improve their health at the same time as reducing the number of cars outside the school at pick up and drop off times. The road safety initiative sees parents, drivers and school visitors make a pledge to reduce congestion and conflict outside school as well as raising awareness of parking safely on surrounding local roads. The school ran a competition to find slogans for the four parking charter banners that are now displayed around the school. The winners were: Declan, 6B – ‘Children are here don’t park near!’ and ‘Park away from this school and be cool’; Leo, 1A – ‘Park your car like a superstar’ and Nazib, 6B – ‘Don’t park here stay clear!’ “Parents or carers and visitors will be asked to sign a pledge to stick to all the rules set out in the new Parent Parking Charter. ” said Cllr Karen Shore. “The aim is to see a safer environment outside the school gates for our children and neighbours, and to encourage more active methods of travel to get to school, which in turn will benefit all members of our community.”
Whitby Heath Parking Charter group
The latest exhibition from Cheshire Archives is now online an explores Cheshire’s historic connections to slavery and the Transatlantic slave trade , as well as the local Abolitionist movement. The exhibition is part of the “Hidden Histories” series which highlights lesser known stories from the local past. To view the exhibition visit https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/858c4eff3fd24e929ad41068d0911fcc
The Archives are also working on a Migration Photo Appeal with CHAWREC, and researchers from the University of Chester. The organisations are working together to make a photo display about the history of migration in Cheshire, which will be hosted at the Unity Centre. They want this photo display to reflect the diversity of Cheshire’s communities and to be based on images from people from and with connections to migrant communities. If you have photos which relate to any of the themes listed below, or know someone who might do, please get in touch with Daniel.edmonds@cheshiresharedservices.gov.uk, or alternatively you can drop images off at the Unity Centre’s reception- all images will be scanned and returned to you. The themes included within the display are: •The emotions involved in travelling across borders to Cheshire. •First arriving in a new country. •Feelings of belonging to a new place and to another country of origin. •Food as a reminder of home. •Clothing which can help people feel connected to Cheshire or to their country of origin. •Experiencing changes in weather and surroundings. Please don’t hesitate to email Daniel if you have any questions about this project or how your information will be used”
Chester city centre is set to be spooky and sweet this October as a programme of family friendly events launches in celebration of Halloween, with the popular Trick or Treat Trail relaunching for the half term week from the 25th to 31st of October. The trail will span across over 40 businesses in the city centre. At each location, treats will be given out, as they would be with traditional trick or treating. Children are also given the opportunity to spot spooky hidden items along the way to complete their trail form. The forms are available to collect from the Visitor Information Centre (VIC) on Town Hall Square, from any of the participating locations, or can be downloaded. Completed sheets should be handed back to the VIC for a chance to win the grand prize of a hamper worth £500! Prizes in the hamper come kindly donated by over 20 businesses with a mix of gifts for all the family, ensuring grown ups also get a treat this Halloween. Emily Ghazarian, marketing and events manager, Chester BID: ‘It is so important to us to re-launch the events families of Chester enjoyed pre-pandemic and make our children feel a sense of happy normality again. The Trick or Treat Trail offers a brilliant chance for those families who aren’t ready to start trick or treating in their own neighbourhoods yet. The message is – Chester businesses are ready and waiting to invite all Halloween guests, and they especially will love to see those in fancy dress!’ Alongside the trail will be other spooky events including a free screening of Coco at the atmospheric Grosvenor Museum on October 30th. For a full list of Halloween events in Chester see https://experiencechester.co.uk/halloween/
Hoole Food Market are fundraising for Claire House Hospice with their giant pumpkin competition. Offering a guess the weight competition and a raffle. the giant pumpkin has been grown and donated by Ian Hurst and family from Hurst Bros. Produce Merchants. COVID security will be maintained via touch entry to the raffle and Guess the Weight. The pumpkin will also be professionally carved by Jamie Jones, also known as Pumpkin Freak, before being delivered to Claire House Children’s Hospice, ready for their Halloween Party for the enjoyment of all the children there. Full details : https://hoolefoodmarket.co.uk/the-claire-house-giant-pumpkin
Finally the much missed festival of Diwali, the Hindu festival of light returns on Saturday 23rd October to Chester city centre. The parade will begin at 1130 from the Unity Centre prior to a performance in Eastgate street at 1230.
The Chester blog 