Knutsford Town Mayor Councillor Peter Coan with Knutsford Librarian, Lise Hough

Knutsford Library Inspires Young Readers with Community Grant

Knutsford Library has received £450 through Knutsford Town Council’s Community Grant Scheme to help inspire young readers through this year’s Summer Reading Challenge and a programme of creative activities.

The library has a fantastic programme of events designed to keep children reading throughout the summer, encouraging them to read for pleasure while continuing to develop their literacy skills. Reading for pleasure from an early age builds a powerful foundation for a child’s future, improving brain development, vocabulary and mental wellbeing.

According to research by the National Literacy Trust, children’s and young people’s enjoyment of reading and daily reading habits have risen for the first time in five years after reaching a 20-year low in 2025. Programmes like the Summer Reading Challenge play an important role in encouraging children to discover a genuine enjoyment of reading in their own time, helping to build lifelong reading habits.

Lise Hough, Librarian at Knutsford Library said “Knutsford Town Council’s community grant will mean that Knutsford Library will now be able to hold one or two exciting children’s events to accompany our annual Summer Reading Challenge scheme. The scheme is open to all and encourages children to read purely for pleasure over the summer holiday, maintaining literacy over the long school break while, hopefully, fostering a love of books.”

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge theme is ‘Read to the Beat’. The theme inspires children to explore the connection between stories and music, discovering how both ignite imagination and creativity. In line with this year’s theme, upcoming events at Knutsford Library include cheerleading sessions, the opportunity to craft a hand drum and even a Disney sing-along activity!

Library services and spaces are designed to meet community needs by providing free access to books, e-resources, information and computers. In doing so, they support learning, improve literacy and contribute to the health, wellbeing and resilience of the local community. Cheshire East libraries, including Knutsford Library, aim to become the venue of choice for enabling and connecting residents to enrichment within their lives.

To find out more about library services, or to join the Summer Reading Challenge, please visit https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/libraries/nearest-library/knutsford_library.aspx, call 01625 374873, or visit Knutsford Library’s Facebook page.

The Town Council’s Community Grant Scheme provides grants of up to £1,500 to support community projects and activities within Knutsford. Funding priorities include providing services/opportunities for young people or older people, providing new or improved assets or services for the community and enhancing the profile or reputation of the Town.

The next deadline for Community Grant Scheme applications is 11th September. For more information visit: https://www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/services/community-grants.

Town Mayor Peter Coan and Cemetery Groundskeeper Fergal Owens holding Green Flag Award

Knutsford Cemetery retains prestigious Green Flag Award

Knutsford Cemetery has once again been recognised as one of the country’s best-managed green spaces after retaining its prestigious Green Flag Award.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

Knutsford Cemetery is one of a record breaking 2,391 in the UK to achieve the award this year – a fantastic testament to the hard work, passion and dedication of the cemetery groundskeeper and the Town Council team who care for this peaceful green space, ensuring it is maintained to the highest standard for residents and visitors.

Town Mayor, Cllr Peter Coan, said: “Retaining the Green Flag Award is a wonderful achievement and a reflection of the dedication shown by our groundskeeper, Fergal, and everyone involved in caring for the cemetery. Fergal works tirelessly to keep the grounds looking their very best, while also taking the time to help residents and families locate the graves of loved ones with kindness and compassion. We are incredibly proud to have retained this prestigious award and hope it inspires even more of our green spaces to achieve the same recognition in the future.”

The Cremation Garden at Knutsford Cemetery
Knutsford Cemetery and Tabley Hill Chapel

Since the Town Council took over management of the cemetery in 2020, it has invested in improving the quality of the grounds and ensuring the safety of the memorials, creating a welcoming and tranquil environment where people can remember loved ones and spend a quiet moment of reflection.

Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “Parks are essential public spaces that support our wellbeing, our communities and our economy. Yet for millions of people, particularly in the most deprived areas, local parks simply don’t feel safe or welcoming. With public services under pressure, investing in parks is not a luxury, it’s a practical, preventative solution and one of the most visible ways to improve people’s quality of life.

“Knutsford Town Council have shown what can be achieved when green spaces are properly supported and managed. As we celebrate 30 years of the Green Flag Award, we want every community to have access to green spaces like this that are safe, welcoming and maintained to a high standard.

Congratulations to everyone involved.”

Knutsford Cemetery on Tabley Hill is open to the public throughout the year. Residents and visitors are welcome to explore the grounds, pay their respects to loved ones, or spend a few quiet moments in the chapel while the groundskeeper is on site.