Show Your Support for the Staffy Trail 🐶

Plus Tunstall's historic clock is chiming again, Staffs-based video company scoops two awards, and JCB installs bench that tells the story of its history…

The Knot and Helen Dalley

Feb 16, 2026

Good News 🎉

🥨 🐶 Staffy Sculptures Are Coming! To mark the 10th anniversary of Staffordshire Day on 1 May 2026, Staffs County Council has set up the Staffy Trail, a 10‑week installation running across Stoke-on-Trent, Tamworth, Stafford and Lichfield that will feature 10 large 3D sculptures of Staffy, Staffordshire’s new visitor mascot. It’s being delivered by art trail specialists Making Trails, which is working with local artists and schools to design each sculpture. Staffordshire County Council and the Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) are now calling on businesses to purchase, sponsor or part‑sponsor the sculptures. Each piece will form part of a wider interactive route, supported by an app to help people discover unique places and stories. The sculptures will be in place for at least 10 weeks from Staffordshire Day this year, with potential to extend into the summer.

Ten 3D sculptures will be located in places of interest across the county on the Staffy Trail this May to mark Staffordshire Day

🚽 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK - Richard Peter 🚽

If you watched Dragon’s Den last Thursday, you might have noticed the appearance of Stafford-born entrepreneur Richard Peter, CEO and co-founder of CompoCloset, who set up an off-grid toilet company in a bid to provide a better alternative to traditional chemical toilets. Alongside company co-founder Erica Pugh, Richard introduced the startup’s latest product, the S1 Dry Flush Sealing Toilet, to Dragons Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Steven Bartlett and guest Dragon Susie Ma. During their pitch, the pair explored how sealing and urine-diverting technology can make off-grid sanitation cleaner, more convenient, and easier to manage in remote settings. Catch the episode here.
Stafford-born entrepreneur Richard Peter appeared on Dragon’s Den last week with his brand CompoCloset
🚴‍♀️ Awards for Staffs Video Company. Reels in Motion has secured Gold for Best Use of Video from the Sport, Travel, Leisure and Tourism Sector and Silver for Best Documentary Style Video at the 2026 Lens Awards for its documentary project Closing the Gap about junior cycling. Created with Team PAU, the pilot episode of an eight-part documentary series explores the realities of junior cycling in the UK, highlighting the barriers young riders face when accessing elite-level sport. Filmed at the Junior Tour of Mendip and featuring Sir Bradley Wiggins, the project has already sparked strong engagement within the cycling community.

Reels in Motion’s documentary about junior cycling, Closing the Gap, scooped gold and silver accolades at the 2026 Lens Awards.

🔔 Tunstall’s Clock Now Chiming Again. Originally erected in 1893, Tunstall’s historic Grade II listed Clock Tower is chiming once more after a specialist clock repair company was enlisted to work alongside Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Repairs and Maintenance Service. The city council is considering options for other restoration work around the Clock Tower as part of the Levelling Up-funded public realm proposals, with £4.5 million to regenerate its public spaces.

Tunstall’s Grade II clock tower is chiming again! Pic: Stoke-on-Trent City Council Facebook Page

⛪️ Minton Tile Reveal in Liverpool. Renowned for their decorative and durable designs, Minton tiles make us proud to be from Stoke. Usually protected beneath a wooden covering to preserve its intricate craftsmanship, the Minton floor at Liverpool’s St George’s Hall one of the finest examples of Victorian design in the world. Visitors can see this stunning architectural treasure when it unveils its magnificent Minton tile floor for an extended public reveal from 17/07 to 02/09 2026. Comprising 30,000 hand crafted tiles, the mosaic is set to captivate with its rich colours, classical motifs and remarkable level of preservation.
🚜 Hear JCB’s History. A team of 15 young engineering, manufacturing and business apprentices have designed a ‘listening bench’ for the company’s Rocester factory, providing employees, visitors, and the local community the chance to sit, relax and hear JCB’s story. The bench, designed in the style of Joseph Cyril Bamford’s first ever product – a tipping trailer made out of wartime scrap – has built-in speakers that play recordings at the push of a button.

Lord Bamford with some of the apprentices involved in the bench project

🥨 A word from Helen, editor/writer at The Knot

After the buzz of Stoke-on-Trent’s centenary celebrations in 2025, the news agenda has felt a little quieter of late — which is why it’s exciting to see the county preparing to mark the 10th anniversary of Staffordshire Day on 1 May 2026. Leading the celebrations will be a very special new mascot, Staffy, created especially to commemorate this milestone year.

With opportunities starting from just £100 to feature on the trail’s app, the council is encouraging businesses to put themselves in front of what is expected to be many thousands of visitors. Officials point to the success of Burton’s Barrel Roll art trail, which generated more than £600,000 in additional revenue for local businesses, and are aiming to deliver the same — if not greater — economic impact across Staffordshire.

Businesses interested in sponsorship or taking part in Staffordshire Day activity can visit the Staffordshire Day 2026 business pages or get in touch via email. Sponsorship opportunities will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis, with 15/03 the final deadline for expressions of interest.

Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What’s the real story behind Stoke’s migrant population?: We spoke to refugees in Stoke and the organisations that help them to discover what life is really like for them
🦇 Go Batty at Biddulph Grange: Lots of you were keen to join the bat walk at Biddulph Grange Country Park on 27/04, with input from Staffordshire Bat Group
🎤 Have your say on council restructuring: There’s more info here on how to make your voice heard before the shake-up of local councils across the county

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