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COGNEWS
Connecting Staffordshire Moorlands
Over 800 Ad-Free Articles Across 50 Searchable Topics


Tap Classes - Open to Everyone!
May-June 2026 Outside are inviting Moorlands folk for a joyful series of weekly tap dance sessions led by experienced teacher Teresa Pattison, designed to be creative, social and full of fun. Open to complete beginners and improvers, these relaxed classes focus on rhythm, movement and wellbeing – no previous experience needed. You can dance standing or seated, and everyone is welcome. Sessions take place in an accessible, ground-floor space, with time to stay for refreshments
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2d1 min read


Pride in the Moorlands Weekend Announced
Pride in the Moorlands 2026 is to take place this year on the 26th –28th of June. A spectacular weekend is promised for this community-let LGBTQ+ celebration of life, creativity and joy across the Staffordshire Moorlands. You can - follow the Pride Torch Relay as it travels through Cheadle, Biddulph and Leek, symbolising unity, visibility and pride, before culminating in a full day of celebration in Leek on Sunday 28th June. Across the weekend, expect a brilliant programme o
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2d2 min read


Cheadle Flower Club Blooms Towards Summer
Cheadle Flower Club welcomed members to their April meeting introducing David from Sunny House Farm Nursery in Tean, Ali from Checkley who is a cut flower grower and Elie an ecologist from Keele University. David started the meeting with a discussion on growing sweet peas, advising visitors to grow them in deep pots, sow the seeds in October prior to planting the following year, dig a deep trench if planting in the garden lined with superphosphate and fish, blood and bone fe
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May 62 min read


Unveiling the Staffy Trails
Staffordshire Day this year, Friday 1st of May, will see the launch of the Staffordshire Trail. Thirty unique giant sculptures created by local artists and inspired by local youngsters will connect Staffordshire spaces to our beloved breed of dog. This lovable character can be found along the trails detailed below. You can visit them all or just the ones that pique your interest, providing another great reason to visit places in our amazing county! You can also download an ap
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May 28 min read


A Spirit of Hope Returns to Cheadle
Discover Events | About the Cheadle Spitfire During the Second World War, the people of Cheadle raised enough money to purchase a Spitfire aircraft. It was called the "Spirit of Hope," and with sufficient funds remaining, they purchased a speedboat too. It was a coming together of local folk giving something up to help a common purpose important to all. It's also a remarkable tale of how a small town achieved big - something Cheadle has been doing for many years and still i
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Apr 303 min read


Exciting Line-Up Revealed for Festival of Brilliant 2026
The Festival of Brilliant returns to Biddulph this summer and is going “all in” for the National Year of Reading. Announcing the first of its line-up of authors, illustrators, poets, and performers, the festival takes place at Biddulph Old Hall on 10th July for schools and community groups, and 11th July for families. A brilliant line-up of authors will bring stories to life across the festival weekend. Former Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho returns to the festival, invitin
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Apr 292 min read


Staffordshire Walking Festival Kicks Off This Week
Final preparations are underway for the annual Staffordshire Moorlands Walking Festival. Free guided walks and related events are taking place from 24 April to 4 May 2026. The 11-day celebration offers over 60 free and low-cost walks and activities across one of England's most scenic regions, including routes for all ages and abilities. New additions to this year's programme include a trail run around Tittesworth Reservoir, three half-marathon walks, and four evening talks co
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Apr 201 min read


OUTSIDE Arts Grants £24,000 to Support Moorlands Artists
Arts programme OUTSIDE has awarded 30 Creative Community Commissions to artists, community groups and organisations across the Staffordshire Moorlands. The successful funding applications, totalling over £24,000, were selected by OUTSIDE’s advisory group and youth advisory group made up of local residents, and will support a wide range of arts activity to take place over the next year in the district’s towns, villages and rural areas. Funded projects span all kinds of art for
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Apr 153 min read


Easter Greetings!
Wishing you and yours a pawfect Easter! from the COGNEWS team. Thank you CC for creating this lovely spring image of NEWSHOUND all ready for his Easter celebrations! Easter Greetings! - Created 3rd April 2026
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Apr 41 min read


What's on this Easter in Staffordshire
If you’re planning days out over the Easter holidays, there’s plenty happening right across the county. From theme parks to animal adventures and garden trails, here are some highlights to enjoy with the family. As seen in COGNEWS Monthly Alton Towers Resort Enjoy big rides like Oblivion and Wicker Man, revisit Nemesis: Reborn, or head to CBeebies Land, where the brand‑new Bluey ride 'Here Come the Grannies'! Opens from 28 March. Apedale Railway Hop on a steam train and take
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Apr 35 min read


Right To Play Event
Osprey Close, Leek, ST13 6DD 30th March 2026, 11am-4pm Free to attend, no booking required. Just drop in and stay as long as you wish. Come along and PLAY at Osprey Close in Leek! Who is it for? For all the family. All ages welcome. Children under 6 should be supervised, children under 13 should be accompanied. Right To Play by Pif-Paf is a collaborative self-built play world with den building, balance, swing and jump play and a “Long Table Mud Kitchen”. Families of all age
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Mar 291 min read


The Creation to be Performed in Leek
Phoenix Singers Leek, in conjunction with All Saints Church Leek, are performing The Creation by Joseph Haydn with The Phoenix Festival Orchestra and soloists from the RNCM in All Saints Church Leek, ST13 5PT. This will take place on Saturday, 30th May 2026, and tickets will be £20 (u18 Free) and is part of the Leek Arts Festival 2026 programme. Tickets are available online on the All Saints website and can also be purchased from Leek Post Office and Picture Book or from the
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Mar 261 min read


Cheadle Flower Club Prepares for Spring
Cheadle Flower Club Chairman, Sheila Jones, welcomed members and friends to a ‘Spring Workshop’ for their February meeting. Sheila was also the host for the evening with a demonstration of creating a spring door wreath. Everyone was provided with a wicker woven wreath, together with a huge selection of silk flowers, spring bunnies, Easter eggs, butterflies, and ribbon for decorating their wreath. Sheila demonstrated how to wire and hold the flowers in place and also how to u
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Mar 11 min read


Photography Project to Celebrate Moorlands Women - Nominations Now Open
Community arts programme OUTSIDE is launching a new photography project with artist Ruby Nixon to celebrate women across the Staffordshire Moorlands, marking International Women’s Day in March 2026. The project is inviting nominations for women who make a difference in their communities – in big or small ways. This could be through their work, volunteering, creativity, leadership, advocacy, or everyday acts of care and support. OUTSIDE wants to recognise women whose contribut
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Feb 281 min read


Bring Staffy to Life in the Upcoming Art Trail
Staffordshire’s new mascot, Staffy, is getting ready to hit the county in the upcoming Staffy Art Trail – and Staffs County Council want local people to help bring him to life. There is an opportunity to put your own spin on one of three designs that will appear on three of the ten 5ft statues in the countywide trail. You don’t need to be a professional artist – just a great idea and a love for Staffordshire. They are looking for designs that capture what Staffordshire mean
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Feb 231 min read


No Flowers on Valentine's? - Visit Claire's Community Pantry...
If you feel a little let down by a partner, husband, or boyfriend this Valentine's Day, then it is no problem for you if you live in Cheadle, because if you are a signed-up member of Clair’s Pantry, you will get free beautiful flowers with your purchases. The picture above does not do justice to the wonderful smell coming from the volunteer’s car (Vicky), who was met exiting a local supermarket. Clair’s Pantry is open Friday, Saturday, and Tuesday each week between 9 am–4 pm
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Feb 191 min read


JCB Apprentices Create Unique 80th Anniversary Listening Bench
JCB APPRENTICES have created a unique 80 th anniversary project at the company’s World Headquarters that invites the public to tune into its past, present, and future. The team of 15 young engineering, manufacturing, and business apprentices designed the innovative ‘listening bench’ for the grounds of the company’s Rocester factory – giving employees, visitors, and the local community the chance to sit, relax, and hear JCB’s story. The bench, designed in the style of Jos
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Feb 92 min read


Outside Announces New Arts Grants
Outside Arts have announced that applications are now open for Creative Community Commissions of up to £1,000. If you are an artist, community group or organisation based in and delivering creative activities with communities in the Staffordshire Moorlands this could provide a welcome funding boost. They are hoping to support a range of projects through small scale commissions, up to £1,000 that help increase the range of arts and culture available for communities across t
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Feb 32 min read


Everything You Need to Know About Writing & Creating for COGNEWS
Thank you for deciding to collaborate with us in creating something for CheadleCOG.com. We really appreciate having you on board.
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Jan 315 min read


Explore Creative Cheadle's Craft Workshops
Cosy Crafters The Knit Network Winter Workshops Make do & Mend Workshops Quirky Potter Workshops To book in please email or text 07493 160410 All workshops take place at the Tudor House Building - Redeezine and Creative Cheadle on the High Street near to St Giles the Abbot Church. New faces are always welcome and the group hopes to see those who have been before return to crafting. Feel free to bring a friend. Updates will be issued with times and additional
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Jan 123 min read

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