StokieLEGO Set to Build Centenary Logo With Donated LEGO Bricks From Locals
Plus Shugborough gets UK's first forest garden, Newcastle launches flag competition, Aston Marina debuts floating overnight stays and celebrating VE Day…
Good News 🎉 Want local business news? Visit Daily Focus
🧱 Stoke Commemorated in LEGO. A local LEGO influencer with more than 2,600 followers is set to build the city’s centenary logo with donated bricks from the Sneyd Green Community Facebook page. Neil Walker, aka StokieLEGO, hopes to build a structure measuring in at 81cm x 81cm, with the kiln and spitfire coming out of it for a 3D effect. Council designer, Becky Smith, will be helping him check each stage of the build to make the proportions are right. Neil’s still looking for LEGO pieces, so if you’d like to donate some to this fab project, email him!
🧪 🖥️ THE KNOT’S PERSON OF The WEEK – AURELIA BREZOWSKA 🧪 🖥️
A computing student from the University of Staffordshire has been crowned Young STEAM Personality of the Year at the Inspirational Youth Awards. Aurelia Brezowska, 21, co-founded the Women in STEM Society and led the Computing Society at the university. As a department representative for Computing, she’s advocated for better learning experiences, diversity and employability, driving a 30% increase in student engagement. Through Byte Queens, Aurelia works to bridge the gender gap in tech and she conducts cybersecurity Q&A sessions in state schools. Good work Aurelia!
🏴 Waving the Flag for Newcastle. A vibrant flag installation with the theme “People and Place” is set to transform the high street, Ironmarket and Castle Walk this summer. Locals are being invited to submit designs, which are welcome from all age groups (there’s three categories: up to 9 years; 10-17 years; and aged 18 and over). One overall winner from each group will receive a prize worth £150, while chosen artworks from those submitted will be exhibited. There’s more info here – email your entry by 23/05 and design your tribute to Newcastle!
Could you design a flag for Newcastle? It’ll be displayed in town!
🪴Shugborough Site of National Trust’s First Forest Garden. Work is underway to redesign the walled garden and open access to closed areas Shugborough’s historic gardens, which will include developing the National Trust's first Forest Garden, Arcadia. Located in the historic slip gardens, it will feature 80,000 plants that can build resilience to pests, disease, and the effects of climate change. “Arcadia will be one of largest of its kind in the country, and aims to encourage visitors to try their hand at forest gardening at home,” says the estate’s senior gardener Lizzie Fellows. It’s expected to open in Spring 2026.
🚤 Aston Marina Launches Floating Overnight Stays. Those looking to extend their dining experience or wedding reception at gorgeous Aston Marina can now stay overnight aboard Dragonfly, a spacious and beautifully designed wide beam boat that can sleep up to four guests. With more than 600 square feet of space, the boat features an open-plan living area with fully equipped kitchen (we love the breakfast bar), luxe bathroom and double bedroom. Plans for a proposed hotel at the site are still under review, says director Helen Clayton.
🎖️Celebrating VE Day’s 80th Anniversary. Residents, community groups and businesses are being invited to celebrate 80 years since Victory in Europe Day on 08/05. Events in Staffs include a weekend of celebrations at the National Memorial Arboretum that take inspiration from the iconic street parties of 1945 and a VE Day Ball at Fenton Town Hall soundtracked by the Trent River Big Band. How can you get involved? Prepare a community garden, host an event and get the kids to draw pictures to put in windows. Share photos on the VE and VJ Day webpage and on socials with the #VE80 hashtag.
Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week
🥨 What Next for The Knot? James bared his soul and you responded in kind
☕️ Stoke Aims to Break World Record with Largest Tea Party for Centenary: Have you signed up yet to host a tea party and help Stoke break a record?
📅 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
It’s been a quite a week for us here at The Knot. Most of you will have read our founder James’s post (What Next for the Knot?), a bold and vulnerable account of how he’d thought about shutting it down. We’ve been absolutely bowled over by your response. In just one day, 20 of you became paid subscribers and we’ve received countless messages of support telling us to keep on going. Better still, one amazing person, who would prefer to remain anonymous, has made a donation that will enable us to keep going for another year.
Here are just some of the messages we’ve received from you:
“I’m an avid reader of The Knot and would hate to see it close. Your voice is so refreshing and edifying”
“I like to start my work day with a coffee and make a note of all the good stuff happening in the area”
“I always read the Monday morning edition - it's a great round-up that puts me in a good mood for the week ahead’
“The Knot adds to the overall value of the area”
“Please don't ever give up. What you're doing is important and special. I love your articles and positivity.”
Reading all those lovely comments was seriously emotional, so big thanks to all who responded. I’ve been a journalist for more than 20 years and putting The Knot together has been one of my best-ever gigs. It’s a real salve for the soul writing about all the amazing people, developments, events and more going on in the city and we'll keep delivering our positive, ad-free, clickbait-free news and happenings to your inboxes every Monday and Tuesday.
If you’re reading this as free subscriber, it would be ace if you could consider becoming a paid subscriber for just £5 per month (upgrade here). You could also become a patron or even help build The Knot with our founder, James.
Moving forward, we hope to offer young writers the opportunity to complete some work experience at The Knot as we continue our quest to shine a light on the great and the good in our city. If that’s you, then drop us a line.
Thank you again, Knotters, for reminding James why he started this amazing thing in the first place and why we need to keep going.
Keep reading, keep sharing, and keep being brilliant.
Love, Helen x
Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):
Mon 🌧️ 13° (4°) Tue ⛅️ 15° (7°) Wed ⛅️ 15° (5°) Thu ☁️ 15° (5°) Fri ⛅️ 15° (5°)
Sat ⛅️ 16° (5°) Sun ⛅️ 17° (6°).
Sunrise 21/04 ☀️05:58 Sunset 21/04 🌅 20:19
