A near miss incident at The Roaches occurred on Monday, 22 June. Thankfully, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) were quick on the scene to extinguish the blaze. With bird nesting season at its peak, this fire could have easily devastated breeding curlew, meadow pipits, and birds of prey. The Roaches - image Leo Senior The Roaches and the surrounding moorlands are home to many ground-nesting birds such as curlew, meadow pipits and lapwings, as well as special plants

POV: Yesterday my water butt arrived only to discover that it was too large to be able to move around it. The engineer told me that I was the third one that day that he couldn't fit. Here is a little bit of information to save time and trouble for all involved: The Water but is a similar footprint to your brown wheelie bin only quite a bit taller. So if you're not sure if you've room put your wheelie bin in the space and see if you can move around it and you're happy with the

I grew from an acorn picked up beneath the oak tree by the telephone mast in the long-stay car park during the pandemic lockdown of November 2020. Roy Hedges found two acorns and planted them in pots, where they spent the winter in his greenhouse. By spring 2021, my sibling and I had become tiny saplings. We grew quickly, and by spring 2023 we needed larger pots. Sadly, my sibling did not survive the move, but I have thrived in my new pot. Roy realized I could not stay with h

In August 2006, JCB Dieselmax, driven by Wing Commander Andy Green OBE, set a world diesel land speed record of 350.092 mph – a record that still stands. 20 years after rewriting the record books with the JCB Dieselmax car, the company is returning to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah to attempt a new speed record – this time using hydrogen power. They are targeting a new land speed record with a 32-foot car powered by its own hydrogen engines. The Staffordshire-based manufac

The Depot Charging Scheme - Grant The Depot Charging Scheme helps fleets switch to zero‑emission HGVs, vans and coaches by funding 70% of depot charging infrastructure costs (up to £1 million), with applications open from 25 March to 30 June 2026 or until funds are exhausted. You can find out more here: https://find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants/depot-charging-scheme-1 How to Switch Your Business Fleet to Zero Emissions - created 8th June 2026

sben have announced that the improving Green Spaces Pilot Programme is officially underway, with the first businesses already accepted and beginning their journey to transform underused outdoor spaces. Funded by Staffordshire County Council, the programme is supporting local SMEs with grant funding and expert advice to create greener, more biodiverse environments that benefit both people and wildlife. Although spaces on this pilot are limited, demonstrating demand now could h

Wildlife in the Staffordshire Peak District is set to benefit from a new Government habitat fund. Gun Moor image by Susan Freman A visit to Gun Moor on a summer evening offers far-reaching views over The Roaches and surrounding Staffordshire Moorlands. As flowering cotton grass shimmers in the breeze, visitors might be lucky enough to witness a rare natural spectacle: the male woodcock taking to the dusk sky, flying across his territory in straight lines while grunting, all i

The Local Nature Recovery Strategy Needs Your Input Staffordshire County Council's Local Nature Recovery Partnership is inviting residents, communities, farmers, landowners, and businesses across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to have their say on plans to restore and protect our natural environment. The new Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) sets out how we can improve habitats, protect wildlife, and enhance green spaces across the county. Developed with local partners,

sben are offering a free workbook is designed to help small and medium size businesses to understand the potential risks of impactful weather. While you cannot prevent flooding, heatwaves, storms, or droughts, you can reduce their impact through preparedness, targeted investments, and effective planning. Get your free copy here: https://sben.co.uk/funded-support/adapting-your-business-to-impactful-weather/ Help Your Business Adapt to Changing Weatherr

Event Date: Wednesday 1st July 2026, 08:00am - 11:00am Venue: Aston Marina Doors open at 8:00am, with activities beginning at 8:30am and the event concluding at 11:00am. Enjoy a light breakfast on arrival and refreshments throughout the morning as you build valuable new connections. The event includes networking activities, 15 stands showcasing skills, training, apprenticeships and careers. Register Here: https://sben.co.uk/event/sben-annual-networking-event-2026/ sben Annual

On Friday, 29th of May, our editor spotted the new food waste bins being delivered to local residents in Cheadle. So if you've not received yours yet, they are on their way, as Cllr Charlotte Atkins, Cabinet Member for Services, said last month: “To help people prepare, we’ll be issuing food waste caddies to all households from mid-May, which will include full details of what the changes mean and what people need to do. The opt-in garden waste collection subscription scheme w

Last November, ten of the UK’s leading experts briefed an invited audience of over 1,200 politicians and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and the media. The briefing set out the implications of climate and nature breakdown for health, food systems, national security and the economy. Now a 45-minute film will take the message into communities across the UK from this April. Screenings in village halls, cinemas, faith spaces and workplaces will bring constituents, ci

Cecilly Brook volunteers Anne Beardmore & Adrian Paddocks setting up for Nature in Your Neighbourhood On the 16th of April 2026, the exciting Nature in Your Neighbourhood Project officially began at Cecilly Brook, in Cheadle. This is part of a five-year project funded by The National Lottery Community Fund to monitor habitat health and how much boosted biodiversity benefits local people and the planet. The lottery grant of £752,000 started in 2024 and includes partners such a

A regular reader of COGNEWS commented to me that the Iran war has cost her more to fill up her car this week. She tried to fill up with regular diesel, but there was none. So she had to fill up with premium, costing £1.89 per litre. Because she is on a budget, she was limited to just £20 for the top-up—a mere 10.5 litres, barely enough to get to work and back for a few days. What can be done about the high energy costs we are experiencing now? Our government has put a cap on

Making the Most of our Changing Environment

"You've been Cogged!" is a peek into someone else's world. It's something the team at COG has the opportunity to do on a regular basis, and hearing those stories, appreciating the work and life of the person, celebrating them even, is something we're honoured to be able to do. We've worked together to create a new segment focusing on the role individual people play in their local communities, often unheard but essential for the mechanism to work, just like the humble COG. We

This year, Staffordshire Libraries are focusing on recycling, re-use, food waste, everyday waste management , and sharing simple actions that can make a big difference. All month long, you'll find posts featuring useful resources and collaborations with partners throughout the county to provide practical advice on minimizing waste in daily life. There’s something for everyone, with events and activities ranging from recycled crafts for little ones to relaxed reading cafés

Councils across England now required to collect food waste each week - the district council has announced that preparations are underway to commence this service in the Moorlands at the end of June. Residents will need to present any food waste separately from garden waste. At the same time, the Council and its waste and recycling collection partner Alliance Environmental Services (AES) will be introducing an opt-in subscription scheme for collecting household garden waste. E

Emma Chatwin is a local lady, married, a mum of four, 34 years of age, and standing for the Green Party. COGNEWS caught up with Emma at Cheadle's Summerhouse Coffee Shop. Here's how it went. Emma Chatwin, Green Party Candidate She told us that she wishes to be proactive and loyal to the people of the town and to do her best to help the community, but she does recognise the limitations town councillors have. She works as a quantitative analyst and is very good with numbers. He

On Thursday, 19th March, at the Guild Hall, Cheadle, a small group of residents was treated to a free event provided by The Friends of Cecilly Brook and Hales Hall Pool. It was a talk given by Jody from Baddeley Green Hedgehog Rescue Centre. She described how hedgehogs help to increase biodiversity and are our garden friends. Hedgehog Facts | Hedgehog Babies | 5 Things We Can Do for Garden Hedgehogs | What to do if you spot a hedgehog in daylight | Rhian's Story