Businesses in Knutsford Nominated as Most Loved

Local businesses from across Knutsford have been nominated as most loved as part of national ‘Love Local Day’. The annual event which began in 2019, takes place on February 14th and recognises the UK’s most loved local businesses. 

Businesses from Knutsford which were nominated include Blossom Boutique, Dexter and Jones, Hal Whittaker Toy Shop, Kanoa Living, Neki Café, Real Fruit Creamery, Tatton Perk, Woods Butchers and Morgan Edwards.

Adam Keppel-Green, Town Clerk at Knutsford Town Council, said “Our local businesses all add so much to the town, so it is great to see people have taken the time to nominate them as part of this national campaign.“

Thousands of nominations have poured in from across the UK over the last few weeks from over 200 towns and cities. Nominations for Love Local Day have highlighted the friendliness, helpfulness and exceptional service that local businesses have provided during the most challenging times for local communities, high streets, markets, towns and city centres.

Princess Street’s Kanoa Living was recognised as one of the top 20 most loved businesses across the UK.

Dr Jackie Mulligan, Founder of ShopAppy – the organisation behind the UKs Love Local Day campaign explains “Love Local Day has provided a great outpouring of love for these Great British businesses at a time when it is good to give them a boost of morale and spend. The last months have provided a perfect storm for our high streets, but we know there is tremendous love for local businesses in our communities. Many of these businesses provide conversation, a safe space, expertise and great products and services on our doorstep and have adapted so much to keep us safe over the last two tumultuous years. The day celebrates all that these businesses do for our communities”

Group of volunteers at the tree planting

600 trees breathe new life into Dogwood

Over 600 trees were planted by volunteers on Saturday 29th January as part of Knutsford Town Council’s Nature Action Plan.

With support from The Tatton Group, the Town Council organised a planting day beginning at the entrance to Dogwood which leads from the Moor to Tatton Park. The new trees will bolster the existing mature trees and eventually replace those that are lost naturally. 

Adopted in March 2020, the Nature Action Plan sets out the council’s commitment to improve Knutsford’s biodiversity and natural habitats and supports the council’s efforts to tackle climate change. Planting trees across the town is a key aspect of the plan, which not only increase the biodiversity value of local areas but capture carbon from the atmosphere.

The whips (very young saplings), which were provided by the Woodland Trust and The Conservation Volunteers, were planted by a team which included volunteers, students from Knutsford Academy and town councillors. Within a few hours hundreds of trees had been planted which will eventually grow into larger specimens and will capture tonnes of carbon through their lives.

Bob Allen, The Planning and Facilities Officer at Knutsford Town Council, said: “It was excellent to see support from the community and everyone that came made huge efforts to endure the wind and the rain to make a positive difference to the town for years to come. Trees are an important source of oxygen for us all and we want to encourage tree planting wherever possible!”

The Town Council is now preparing its second phase of standard (1.5m-2m) tree planting on open spaces across the town.

To find out more about tree planting or the Nature Action Plan you can visit www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/natureactionplan

Mayor reading his script

The Mayor’s Christmas Message

The Mayor’s message from the Knutsford Crib Service 2021

I am very pleased that this year we can hold this crib service in person, rather than having to record something for viewing on-line. Albeit a few issues with our technical support have meant a few last-minute improvisations.

 I would like to thank our clergy, Cheshire Brass, and the children of St Vincent’s Primary for the parts they will play in this afternoon’s event. But each of you has a role to play by join in the Carols – the words are on your sheets.

It has become a tradition that the Town Mayor gives a Christmas address as part of the service, and I do not intend to stop that now. But before I share with you my thoughts about Christmas 2021, I need to announce something that is happening for the first time this year, but which I very much hope will become a tradition. 

Once the crib has been blessed, after we have listened to the readings, carols, and prayers, instead of heading off into the night we are all invited to share a mince pie and a glass of mulled wine and engage in conversation with each other.

This invitation comes from the Knutsford Cateneans who want to say a big thank you to all those NHS personnel, carers and volunteers who gave so tireless for others during the months of the Pandemic. I will not explain who or what the Cateneans are, but it is thanks to this organisation’s generosity that we in Knutsford have a crib on display in public view.

Turning to the crib, I recognise some may consider having such an overtly Christian symbol displayed in public might be offensive to those of other faiths or none. But I have to say that I disagree with such negativity.

Firstly, however secular our society may have become, we have to recognise that same society was built over many centuries upon Christian principles which help form the foundations of our legal system, and which still prevail today.

Secondly many of those people who live in Britain today from other cultures, will include people from several other Christian-majority countries. Additionally, this scene depicts the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a child born into the Jewish faith and seen as a Prophet by Islam. While many of the tenets of faith and patterns of good living are shared by a panoply of other faiths too.

However, the main reason why I would challenge the view that it could cause offence, is because of the underlying message that sits behind the images presented to us and that is a profound message of Love and the power this has to enrich all our lives.

We see not just the natural love of a mother for her child, and the love of a man for his wife, though some may ask what kind of love possessed Joseph to take his heavily pregnant wife on such a perilous journey. But love is also shown in the kindness of the inn keeper who provided shelter for the desperate young family.

Then there is the love of the Shepherds, who we are told left the sheep they were charged with caring for (another form of love) to witness something they probably didn’t really understand but they knew was very important. If we consider the wisemen (or Magi) who we are told came to ‘adore’ (also an expression of love) the long-promised special child, they had read about and seen prophesised in the stars.

This shows in various guises the love of humans for each other and that’s before we consider the more miraculous and mystical aspects of the story, and the fundamentals of every Christian belief that this child is the Son of God – given as the Saviour of his creation; the World. A God who it is said so loved the World that he gave his only son as its redeemer.

So, whether you share my belief in what this crib represents or not, I challenge you not to recognise in this depiction of the nativity scene some aspect of the love, I have referred to, somehow evident in your own lives.

Were you not loved unconditionally as a small child? As an adult have you not known and shared love with another person like that between Mary and Joseph? Have you never experienced the kindness of strangers, if not the unquestioning love of the Shepherds or the adoration shown by the Magi?

Therefore, this Christmas I ask you to look at this crib, to consider the various forms of love depicted by these figures. Then, to recall a time when you were truly loved and to find a way this Christmastime of giving that love to someone else.

On Christmas Day I have been invited to join Knutsford Lions at the Welcome Café, where they will be providing a turkey dinner and company to some of the Town’s Senior Citizens, who would otherwise be alone.

This group of volunteers will be giving up a significant part of their day in a collective act of love; something the Knutsford Lions have been doing for many years; albeit adapting the delivery when circumstances required.

But before I step too readily on the toes of the various ministers of religion present, I’d like to express my love for this Town and for everyone who lives here, by wishing you all and those who you love a very Happy Christmas and a sincere hope that the New Year will bring you your own heart’s desire.

Happy Christmas.

1 … 6 7 8