Balsam Bash bringing ‘new growth’ to Bury park
Himalayan Balsam is one of the UK’s fastest-spreading invasive plant species. Residents and volunteers teamed up to uproot the plant at Prestwich Clough’s tenth Balsam Bash. Bury Council has launched ‘Bury’s Big Balsam Bash’ for its second year to combat the spread of Himalayan Balsam. The plant was introduced to the UK in 1839 for its attractive pink flowers. However, since 2017, it […]
Creative Community to host Small Press Fair in Manchester
An arts and culture venue in Manchester is hosting a small press fair on the 3rd and 4th of July. SEESAW, in collaboration with award-winning independent publisher Fly on the Wall Press, and Manchester City of Literature, is hosting the Manchester Press Fair event to celebrate the city’s independent literary scene. Friday evening will feature […]
Public wrongly believes UK migration is increasing despite the sharpest fall in over a decade, data finds
CC: Tim Sheerman-Chase https://www.flickr.com/photos/68932647@N00/54388424113/ Net migration to the UK has dropped to its lowest point in over a decade, yet many people still believe the numbers are rising. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), UK net migration fell sharply by 80% between 2023 and 2025. Deputy Director of Migration Statistics, Sarah Crofts writes on […]
Hundreds Gather for Appley Bridge Duck Race Charity Event
Hundreds of people gathered in Appley Bridge on Saturday May 9th for the return of the village’s much-loved Duck Race, a biennial charity event bringing together residents and visitors from across the area. Held at Heron’s Wharf along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, the event saw numbered rubber ducks launched into the water by Appley Bridge Scouts […]
Rediscovering Cycling: The Charity Offering Freedom to Those With Disabilities
With 40% of people with a disability unable to access any form of exercise, Sport England is finding creative ways to bring the sport to them. Wheels For All is a charity based in the North West which aims to make cycling as accessible as possible for those with a wide range of disabilities, and […]
Is Equipment the Problem?: A Review of Injuries in Women’s Football
New studies have linked a lack of specialised equipment with female footballers being three times more likely than their male counterparts to suffer a debilitating injury to their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). ACL injuries have become a much more common part of football, but especially in the women’s game, where the Women’s Super League has […]
North West still records highest number of alcohol-specific deaths in England, ONS finds
A data release from the Office for National Statistics has revealed that North West England continues to record the highest number of alcohol-specific deaths in the country. Alcohol-specific deaths are defined as deaths caused exclusively by alcohol consumption. Released on 11 May 2026, the yearly ‘Alcohol-specific deaths in the UK’ dataset logged 1,232 deaths across […]
Bury teenager set to tackle UK’s highest skydive for local animal sanctuary
A 17-year-old from Bury is set to tackle a 15,000 ft skydive in Lancaster to raise money for a local animal sanctuary. Dylan Spensley, who works as a canine care associate at Farm Cottage Boarding, Tottington, will make the leap tomorrow (24th May 2026) at Black Knights Skydiving Centre in Cockerham. He hopes to raise […]
Bank Holiday Weekend Blooms with Manchester Flower Festival
Manchester will enjoy a transformation as the city welcomes the Manchester Flower Festival to kick off the bank holiday weekend. Temperatures are expected to soar to 28°C this weekend, the perfect weather to see this year’s theme of Green Manchester in its full floral glory. Displays around this theme are set to be in Exchange […]
How accessible is a Premier League stadium?
Credit: Howard Cohen It is often said that Football is for everyone – but disabled supporters have long faced a battle for access to stadiums, including issues such as transport, inaccessible ticketing systems, or inadequate parking and toilets facilities. Beyond this, research shows disabled supporters can often feel social excluded or marginalised in stadiums, facing […]