This may be a strange subject to talk about on a local news outlet, but it affects local residents where it hurts most: their pockets. We are lucky enough to have a building society in our town that keeps our savings safe for that summer holiday which we are thinking about in all this cold weather. But if you have money elsewhere, there may be a problem coming soon. The United States is at a record high level of debt, and one of the factors that keeps their currency stable is
A lot has happened across Staffordshire's woodlands, heathlands, and heritage sites this year – and Staffordshire's countryside team has been at the heart of it. Their hard work helps protect rare wildlife, care for our landscapes, and preserve Staffordshire’s rich history. Thanks to them, our countryside remains a beautiful and vibrant place for everyone to enjoy. Here are just some of the highlights from this year: 2,390 trees planted Around 97,500 trees surveyed 10,904
Mistletoe isn’t just a festive tradition - it’s a vital part of Staffordshire’s winter ecology. It most often grows on apple, lime and poplar trees, and it prefers open, well‑lit settings such as orchards, parkland and churchyards rather than dense woodland. It's an evergreen plant provides food for birds like mistle thrushes and blackcaps, helping wildlife survive the colder months. Its presence signals healthy, connected habitats, exactly what the Local Nature Recovery Stra
People in Staffordshire can grab a household bargain or Christmas gift and support a community group or charity at the same time at a series of pop-up sales events run by the county council. At all of Staffordshire’s household waste recycling centres, good quality reusable items are donated to county charities, care leavers who are setting up a new home or sold at one of the regular Rescue Me pop-up sales. People can pick up a wide variety of bargains of items including kitch
Monday 1 December, 10.30 - 12pm Enjoy a festive nature tots session with Christmassy activities to get into the spirit of the season ! To book: https://www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk/events/2025-12-01-christmas-nature-tots-wolseley-centre Christmas Nature Tots at The Wolsey Centre Stafford - created 29.11.25
After a dreadful start to November weather-wise, we've experienced continuous rain leading to flooding, as shown in this photo. It was taken at the junction with the A52 as we leave Cheadle, just before the Churnet Valley Railway Station. If you choose to drive through a flood, it's recommend to use a low gear and proceed slowly to prevent water from being drawn into the engine. For electric vehicles, it's still advisable to drive slowly to avoid insulation faults or moisture
Two Puddings for 2 people for 2 days Ingredients 120g self raising flour 75g natural yoghurt 30g caster sugar half a tsp of vanilla extract 2 eggs 50g low fat spread 1tbsp runny honey or to taste Assorted frozen or foraged fruit of your choice Method Place the frozen fruit in a pudding basin with the honey and microwave for 2 minutes Add all other ingredients to the blender and blend until mixed. Stir the mix with a metal spoon and blend again. Add half the mix to the top of
2025 has been tough for breeding barn owls in Staffordshire, with very few chicks recorded in comparison to previous years. This mirrors a national trend which is possibly linked to the long, dry summer reducing vole numbers which are the owls’ main food source. Barn owl by Jon Hawkins Despite this, Staffordshire Wildlife reports that their nature reserves remain vital refuges for birds of prey. Here’s how they are helping: Nest boxes installed with guidance from the Barn O
