Preserving Our County's Natural Beauty
Plus new music venue for Hanley is on the cards, 6 Towns Radio Community Awards return, auditions open for a new Take That musical to be shown in April in Stone
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🎊 Championing Staffs Countryside. Staffordshire County Council has been busy creating new habitats to help endangered species and preserving Staffordshire’s natural beauty. One of the standout achievements last year was the planting of 1,200 marsh violets, a vital food source for the rare small pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly. The team also installed 17 new bat boxes across the county. More than 1,200 residents joined guided walks at Apedale, Chasewater, Cannock Chase and Greenway Bank country parks, including the deer rut walk, bat and butterfly walks and fungus forays. Fancy a walk? Some ideas here.
🎸 New Music Venue for Stoke? A new mid-sized music and entertainment venue is a possibility as part of Stoke council’s City Centre Plan, which is poised to bring about a long-term transformation of Hanley over the next 10 to 15 years. The council is looking at how some of the city’s existing buildings can become events spaces, such as the China Halls at the Spode site. The proposals will be considered by the council's cabinet tomorrow. More info as we have it!
📻 6 Towns Radio Community Awards Return. Know someone or a business who deserves recognition for their commitment to our area? Nominate them! You can vote in the Heart of Gold Award; Community Group of the Year; Oatcake Shop/Restaurant/Pub/Takeaway of the Year; and Local Music Act of the Year (original, tribute and/or cover). The deadline for nominations is 07/03, with the shortlist revealed and final voting opening on 14/03. Place your nominations here.
🏘️ Council Drops Amenities Charge. Stoke-on-Trent City Council will withdraw its proposed amenities charge, which would have placed an additional financial burden on council tenants, following opposition from residents and Allison Gardner, MP for Stoke-on-Trent South. The council has confirmed all services covered will continue to be delivered without additional costs to tenants.
🕺 Auditions Open for New Take That Musical. Stone Revellers is auditioning for The Band, a new Take That musical that tells the story of five teenage girls who find their friendship tested then rekindled 25 years later. There are opportunities for all talents and backgrounds (minimum age 16) and the last audition is tomorrow (14/01) at 7:30pm at St Michael’s Hall in Stone. You’ll need to sing a Take That song (bring a backing track), and perform a brief acting segment. The show is on from 02/04-05/04 at Crown Wharf Theatre, Stone.
👾 Fortnite Recreated in Staffsverse The UK’s first university campus recreated in computer game Fortnite has been launched by University of Staffordshire. Developed by staff and students over two years, StaffsVerse is hosted as a Fortnite island and is a place where students, staff, and the global community can engage, connect and explore. Visitors can play mini games while navigating the university’s three main campuses, which have been virtually recreated in impressive detail. University of Staffordshire is home to the UK’s largest games department and was recently awarded ‘Best Educational Institution’ at the TIGA Games Industry Awards.

Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week
🥳 Funding for People’s Parade Celebration: The centenary year is here - and you were keen to find out about the People’s Parade, which just secured some funding
🎤 Our Podcasts are Back! Listen hear for founder James’ chat with creative agency Dissident’s founder James Moore or listen to all seven episodes here on YouTube.
📅 The Knot Life: did you know you can list your events for free at The Knot Life? More and more readers are doing it - get yours on too!
Unsung Heroes ⬇️
🏃♀️ Dave Juggins. The 75 year old gold medal duathlete can run a 5km in 21 minutes.
👗 Anya Parker James. Read about the designer that built a fashion career here.
👨🎨 Ian Parker: Mouth painter Ian has illustrated a kid’s book and is a full-time artist.
👩⚕️ Ruth Chambers: The retired GP won an OBE for improving health outcomes.
🥨 Good Vibes Only: A Word from Helen, Writer at The Knot
How’s your January? Let’s face it, it can be a pretty difficult month – we’re skint after Christmas, feeling a bit sluggish from all those selection boxes and there’s not much to look forward to. But as you should know by know, we at The Knot like to stay positive even in the darkest (literally!) month of the year. It may have been snowy but it’s also been sunny, and we’ve been enjoying making snow angels, throwing snowballs, going sledging with the kids and snapping pics of blue skies and snow.
It may have been tricky to get around this past week, but spending time outside in the snow has also proved really uplifting, and that’s why we’re chuffed to hear that Staffs County Council is celebrating a year of conservation success, restoring heathland habitats, grassland and planting trees. Spring will be on its way before we know it…
Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):
Mon 🌤️ 6°(4°) Tue ⛅️ 10°(2°) Wed ☀️ 7° (0°) Thu ☀️ 7° (2°) Fri 🌤️ 7°(2°)
Sat ⛅️ 7°(3°) Sun ☁️ 8°(5°).
Sunrise 13/01 ☀️08:16 Sunset 13/01 🌅 16:19