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

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

Cheadle Town Council met in their Leek Road Chambers at 7 pm on the 7th of April, 2026. The main item for discussion was a report regarding a meeting that had taken place between the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor (both district councillors), the chief executive of the district council, Andrew Stokes, and Cllr Paulette Upton to discuss potential asset transfers that could take place as part of the reorganisations, which will result in the demise of the district council next year. St

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

Making the Most of our Changing Environment

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

Events and Activities | Visits and Partnerships | Encouraging Young Visitors | How the Space is Used | Our Incredible Volunteers | How the Library Came to Be | What Next? Events and Activities The library is always trying to provide innovative events and activities that attract a wide range of community members to use the library. Some are more traditional events, such as Baby Bounce and Rhyme, and Jigsaw loans, but also a more varied range of initiatives, suc

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

The use of privately owned e-scooters on public roads is against the law, and local officers recently responded to a teenager seen riding an electric scooter on a public highway. The youngsters parents were spoken with and, they voluntarily handed the scooter to police for disposal. This was done to protect their son from the dangers of the road, as well as to prevent potential offences and avoid him having a criminal record which could affect his future life choices. Sta

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

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

Dates: Friday 10th July (schools & community groups) and Saturday 11th July 2026 (families) Location: Biddulph Old Hall Who it’s for: Everyone! Especially children across the Staffordshire Moorlands The Festival of Brilliant is back for 2026 - a joyful celebration of children’s books, stories and creativity, shaped by local young people, artists and book-lovers. After two brilliant years at Biddulph Old Hall, Staffordshire Libraries are excited to return during the National

Young people aged 11-14 from across Staffordshire have voted for their favourite read published in the last 12 months and selected a shortlist of 4 titles to win Staffordshire Teen Fiction Book Awards 2026! Explore the shortlisted titles by clicking on the links below to borrow through our online catalogue or eBook service - Library members can borrow each title for free! · The Last Dragon on Mars, Scott Reintgen · The Girl with the Red Boots, Alex Wheatle ·

Cheadle Pensioners Group is to host its first meeting of the year, which will also be their AGM. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31st, at 7:00 PM. It will be held at the Cheadle Cricket Club on Tean Road. A Fish and Chip supper will follow, marking the beginning of another busy calendar of activities for the group. Cheadle Pensioners to Host 1st Meeting of 2026 - created 25th March 2026

Churchill Road Recreation Ground Development - Tenders In It was reported to the meeting that the Churchill Recreation Ground tenders have been approved, and work could start as soon as April for the park upgrade. No details were given at the meeting to councillors on how this would be managed or communicated to residents. Cheadle Cemetery - Ecology Plan Improvements Needed Even though planning permission has been granted for the cemetery extension—see SMD/2023/0361 on the St

When you were young, if you came from a family, you all had jobs to do, like fetching milk from a farm in a billy can or going to the woods to collect sticks for the fire. Scrubbing floors or polishing them because they were red tiles. You had to sit at the table for breakfast, which was always porridge that had been soaking all night. For dinner and tea, we had to eat what was given to us or go without. Sunday, we were not allowed to cut our nails as it was supposed to be ba

As we move into spring, many of us start planning home improvements—unfortunately, this is also the time rogue traders become more active. These criminals often target homeowners with doorstep scams, claiming urgent repairs are needed to roofs, driveways, or gardens. They pressure residents into quick, cash‑only decisions, carry out poor‑quality work, or disappear entirely after taking large upfront payments. Be Alert: Common Warning Signs “Urgent Repairs Needed” - They cl

Hedgehog Facts | Hedgehog Babies | 5 Things We Can Do for Garden Hedgehogs | What to do if you spot a hedgehog in daylight | Listening for Hedgehogs | Contact the Rescue Centre | Download Your Help-a-Hedgehog Sheet Hedgehog Facts Lifespan is 5–6 years. Hibernation takes place after five nights of sub-zero temperatures. They are quite clean animals; if they have fleas, the species will not jump onto humans. Seeing ticks on them will mean they are not well. He

Which can still be organised in time and don't have to be expensive. Take a Walk Taking a walk gives you time together where all modern distractions vanish. You can take your fur babies and your human ones. You can have a plan or just amble along. You can take drinks and snacks or even a picnic. You could consider making a special family walking tour . Take Her for a Drive If you drive and have a car, consider taking your mum out. You could act as her chauffeur, opening the d

On behalf of everyone who has benefited from having a mum, a mother figure, a dad who did mum's job, etc., we'd like to say a big thank you—with heartfelt gratitude. Mothers are not perfect; you lot don't come with a manual, and she/he never received any training or even a warning label! Mums are just like you: imperfect, unsure, figuring it out as they go along, and yet somehow managing to achieve awesomeness without really understanding how or realising that they have. For