Yearly Archives: 2025

More Knutsford market traders have joined the Knutsford voucher scheme ahead of “Taste of the Market”.

Polka, Thai Kitchen, Cheshire Party Store, Market Hall Barber, Knutsford Mobile, Slipped Discs and The Market Café have joined the Market Hall Butcher in accepting the Knutsford voucher. This means the current full complement of traders accept the voucher giving shoppers a wonderful variety and choice of where to spend them.

The Knutsford voucher was launched in 2020 and currently 50 different businesses accept the scheme. The voucher can be ordered via the Discover Knutsford website or in person at the town council offices. They come complete with a gift card and each business is paid back in full.

On Saturday 28^th June at 11am for one hour, the Market Hall will host a ‘Taste of the Market’ with   Knutsford Royal May Queen, Jemima Woolf, attending. There will be tastings from Thai Kitchen, The Market Café, Polka and Knutsford Market Hall Butcher.

May Lynch of Thai Kitchen, said, “We are loving trading at Knutsford Market Hall and getting to know the Knutsford community. Taking part in the voucher scheme is a natural step for us and we are looking forward to showcasing some Thai tapas on 28^th June and of course meeting Knutsford May Queen!”

Sandra Curties, Town Centre Manager said, “We are looking forward to welcoming the May Queen to the market hall and inviting visitors and residents to sample the foodie delights within our wonderful, refurbished hall

Discover Knutsford, the place brand developed by Knutsford Town Council, will be exhibiting at The Cheshire Show once again this year.

The exhibition is part of the partnership the council has with the Cheshire Show. This contra-deal is designed to enhance the visibility of Knutsford and attract a wide audience of visitors to explore the town’s unique offerings.

Discover Knutsford can be found at The Shoppers Mews during The Cheshire Show which takes place on 17^th and 18^th June. At the stand visitors will be able to find out more about this historic market town and its attractions including its independent shopping, food tour Taste Knutsford, the Knutsford Voucher and the town’s annual event’s programme. There will also be a competition to win a night’s stay at centrally located The Silk Rooms and the Chef’s menu for two at stunning Minshull Street restaurant Linden Stores.

Sandra Curties, Town Centre Manager, said, “We are delighted to take Discover Knutsford ‘on the road’ to the show once again. We enjoy promoting the town to a wide audience and showcasing our wonderful shops and visitor attractions. A huge thanks to Linden Stores and The Silk Rooms for donating our prizes. We are truly thankful to the Knutsford Hosts whose team of volunteers, make attending these events possible”.

For more information on The Royal Cheshire County Show visit their website www.royalcheshireshow.org and for more information on Knutsford follow Discover Knutsford on Instagram @discoverknutsford and Facebook Discover Knutsford.

Discover Knutsford, the innovative place brand and website developed by Knutsford Town Council, has been shortlisted for a Best Marketing and Branding Scheme at the upcoming Association of Town and City Management (ATCM) awards. This significant recognition highlights the success of a project funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.

The Discover Knutsford initiative involved a two-pronged marketing approach, harnessing local talent to capture the town’s unique charm. Bella Marketing and Design were instrumental in developing the distinct ‘place brand,’ while McClaren Jones Marketing brought the vision to life with a comprehensive destination website

Sandra Curties, Town Centre Manager, said. “Developing a place brand and visitor website had been a long-term aim of the council and we were delighted that the Shared Prosperity Fund made this possible. Working with two local agencies ensured the character of our town was perfectly captured to attract both visitors and residents. We are delighted to be shortlisted for these prestigious awards.”

Bella Marketing and Design led the creation of the Discover Knutsford brand. Tessa Blakemore, Creative Director at Bella Marketing and Design, commented, “Our creative studio really enjoyed working with the team at Knutsford Town Council to create the new brand identity. Our designers produced a contemporary, stylish brand which takes inspiration from the traditional architectural features and colour palette of the environment. It was important to respect the heritage whilst positioning Knutsford as a forward-thinking, multi-faceted place to visit. The emblem of the archway invites visitors to look beyond the obvious and discover everything our vibrant town has to offer.”

This new brand is now consistently applied across all marketing collateral, including a comprehensive branding guide that informs social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), leaflets, posters, banners, and a full suite of exhibition materials.

Sandra Curties continued, “The exhibition collateral has proved extremely helpful when attending events such as the Cheshire Show, Knutsford Christmas Markets, and the RHS. It created a visual impact for our information hub, enabling people to find out about our town. In addition, events such as Flash Fashion, Knutsford Music Festival, and Wellness Week are now unified under this umbrella brand, helping to create a consistent identity for the town.”

Leveraging the new branding guide, McClaren Jones Marketing developed the user-friendly “Discover Knutsford” website. Anita Jones, Managing Director at McClaren Jones Marketing, shared, “Developing the destination website for Knutsford was a truly special project for our team. Not only was it our inaugural collaboration with the council, but it was also a chance to build something impactful for our very own local town. The site is now the definitive resource for residents, visitors, and businesses, comprehensively showcasing Knutsford’s many attractions and inviting people to ‘take a closer look.’’

The winners will be announced in awards ceremony in Bradford on Wednesday 18^th June.

The website can be viewed via  www.discoverknutsford.com and is complemented by Discover Knutsford’s growing presence on social media where regular updates and inspiration are shared with the community. Visitors are encouraged to follow @discoverknutsford on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and features.

A tree planted in 1953 to mark the coronation of the late Queen Elizabeth II has been rededicated to her memory on the 72^nd anniversary of her coronation, 2nd June.

The Heath in the 1950s was different to how it is now. Throughout the early 1940s it was home to American troops and the site had few trees, making the tree a prominent sight. Over the years, the woodland section of the Heath developed and more oak trees began to grow, possibly seeded from the Queen’s Oak itself. Holly also became widespread and eventually obscured the tree from view, and as a result it had been forgotten.

The tree was rediscovered in October 2021 by Rob Eyre, who was surveying tree to catalogue the trees in public spaces for the Town Council. Rob found a tree surrounding by six-foot iron railings and surrounded by holly, but at the time no-one was sure what it was for other than that it appeared to be a memorial tree.

The mystery was solved two years later by volunteer researchers Jenny Collis and Mary Gracie of the Knutsford Heritage Centre who found the 1953 coronation programme in the Town Council’s archive. The programme stated that an oak tree would be planted along with a line of ash trees in Ladies Mile.

Pam Walker, Manager of Knutsford Heritage Centre said “’Knutsford Heritage Centre is delighted that, through research by two of the Centre’s volunteers, another small part of the town’s history has been re-discovered and restored”

With the mystery solved, Friends of the Heath and Cheshire Wildlife Trust, who manage the woodland on behalf of Tatton Estate, began clearing the area around the oak tree to make it visible once more. Friends of the Heath installed new posts around the tree.

Nick Johnson, Chair of Friends of the Heath said “We are thankful to the ‘Friends’ who gave their time, effort, and skills to restore this special Oak to the public gaze. May it thrive to remind us of our heritage and the dedication and work of one of our greatest monarchs”

On Monday 2^nd June 2025, Town Mayor Cllr Bryan Hartley re-dedicated the tree to the late Queen. Speaking at a small gathering with Friends of the Heath, Knutsford Heritage Centre and Tatton Estates, Bryan paid tribute to the late Queen, saying “Today, as we unveil this new plaque, we rededicate the Queen’s Oak — in lasting memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II whose reign was defined by duty, dignity, and a deep connection with the people of this country”

“We hope this tree continues to stand not only as a marker of that historic Coronation, but as a living symbol of continuity, community, and the strength of nature and memory combined”.

Planting an oak on the heath to commemorate the coronation of the new monarch was a tradition at least dating back to King Edward VII when a tree was planted at the Manchester Road side. The trees for Kings George V and George VI have been lost, and a tree was planted to mark the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.

Henry Brooks of Tatton Estates said “It was a delight to be able to see the Coronation Oak today for the unveiling of the plaque, thanks for the research work from Knutsford Heritage’s Volunteers and the clearing and fencing done by the Town Council, Friends of the Heath and Cheshire Wildlife Trust. The mayor’s speech was a poignant reminder of the life of service our late Monarch Queen Elizabeth II. I was honoured on behalf of the Estate to join our community in commemorating Her Majesty”

On Saturday 17th May, ITV presenter Katy Rickitt compered the highly anticipated Flash Fashion catwalk show, which drew large crowds of residents and visitors to The Lost & Found. The event organised by Knutsford Town Council collaborating with Knutsford businesses was a vibrant celebration of local style and creativity.

The show was attended by Tatton MP Esther McVey, who praised the event, stating:
“I really loved the fashion show; it was really slick, a stunning venue and Katie Rickitt was a brilliant compere. Best of all it was a great showcase for the businesses of Knutsford and was a really fun event”

Following the catwalk, guests explored Knutsford’s independent boutiques, many of which hosted exclusive in-store experiences. These included special promotions, beauty and wellness pop-ups, and complimentary refreshments, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere throughout the town.

The runway show featured collections from more than 16 independent retailers, including fashion boutiques and preloved shopping. It showcased the diversity, quality, and distinctive style that Knutsford’s shopping scene is known for.

Participating stores included:

• Kanoa Living
• Cocaranti
• Redress at Dexter and Jones
• Blossom Boutique
• Paris Ladies Boutique
• Bare Necessities
• Willow Boutiques
• Chalk 33
• Milania Boutique
• Roberta Beauty Redefined
• Zapatos
• Clare and Illingworth
• L’Atelier London
• Lanigan and Hulme
• The British Red Cross
• The Edit
• Satya Sanctuary
• Children’s Adventure Farm Trust

The event was introduced by sponsor and Knutsford-based personal stylist Laura Davies, who commented:

“Flash Fashion is always a super special event as all of our boutiques come together to showcase the incredible style our town has to offer. As a personal stylist, I’m very passionate about helping woman create wearable wardrobes that they love and part of that is about quality, uniqueness, and a memorable shopping experience, all of which can always be found in our independents. Thank you to everyone attending and to our boutiques for making the event special once again”

Flash Fashion remains a key fixture in Knutsford’s events calendar, championing the town’s thriving retail community.

The sun was shining on 17^th May for the Knutsford Bee Day event which took place on the Moor.

The event was held to mark World Bee Day (20^th May) and was the launch of a new walking trail across the town.

The Knutsford Bee Day event was organised by Knutsford Town Council as part of it’s Nature Action Plan. In 2025, the council aims to inspire residents to take action to support pollinating insects, including the UK’s most prolific pollinator, bees.

The day featured talks from pollinator experts, the launch of a summer photography competition and the opportunity to find out more about what simple actions we can all take to support pollinators.

Town Mayor, Cllr Bryan Hartley said “The atmosphere was as sweet as honey, and every guest I spoke with was absolutely buzzing with delight. It was a hive of activity, and the enthusiasm was truly contagious.”

The event was held to launch the Knutsford Bee Trail, a 3.5 mile walk connecting Knutsford’s wildlife sites, from the Heath to St John’s Wood.

“This trail is all about raising awareness of what we can all do to support pollinating insects which are vital to our ecosystem and our food supply,” said Cllr April Johnson, lead member of the town council’s Nature Action Plan.

The walk features a number of informative signs that highlight action being taken in the community, and things that can be implemented at home. The panels also highlight the importance of pollinators to the eco-system.

“There are so many practical things we can all do in our town to make a huge difference to wild bees and other pollinators. We want them to thrive here. We look forward to seeing you on the trail and together as a town pledging to do more to support our bees” April added.

Trail maps can be found online at www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/bee-trail or picked up from local shops and the Council Offices. The Town Council website also features more detailed guidance on action that can be taken at home.