[Supporters of Marple and Hawk Green bands are seeking help in realising a dream to build a practice room.
In 1986 they bought a plot of land behind Regent Cinema. They have raised £50,000 and want to apply for an HLF grant for the rest, but to qualify they need to demonstrate wide community access. So they are looking for other groups who will want to use the building.] If you can help contact the fund on 427 7020 or 427 1023.
Garden centre arrangements for flower show
North West's first ever Primrose Festival is launched. Around a hundred different varieties of the humble flower go on display at Barton Grange Garden Centre on Chester Road this weekend. The festival lasts until Sunday February 12.
Stockport is top film location
First, the BBC turned to Stockport Council's Piccadilly office block, Stopford House, to provide the setting for a 1970's police station in its new series Life on Mars. And last Thursday, Stockport Bus Station provided the backdrop for a dramatic chase scene starring Patrick Stewart in Granada's investigative thriller Eleventh Hour.
Recent projects in the borough also include: 'Most Haunted', 'Cash in the Attic', 'Escape to the Country'.
'Let's challenge discrimination'
Libraries across the borough joined the UK's sixth annual Holocaust Memorial Day.
Set up to remember all the victims of the Holocaust and Nazi persecution and to reflect on more recent genocides, the event on January 27 helped to educate people about the dangers of antisemitism, racism and discrimination.
Winning author born in town
A Stockport author has won the Whitbread Book of the year. in the closest-ever vote in the history of the prize, Hilary Spurling, born in Stockport in 1940, scooped the award for the second volume of her biography of the French painter Henri Matisse called Matisse the Master.
Big light goes out
The retrospective application for the Merseyway light has failed.
[I am glad of that. It was not particularly attractive and it was an extreme case of light polution.]
Last service at St Augustines, Cheadle HeathThe bishop of Stockport, the Rt Rev Nigel Stock, was among guests as St Augustines Church, Cheadle Heath, recently for its final service after more than 100 years.
The church on St Augustine's Road, has shut because repair costs meant it was no longer viable to maintain. The congregation, led by Rev Helen Scarisbrick, will now meet at nearby churches.
[I wonder what will happen to the building. I have never been inside, but the outside is intriguing. It has a tower with a with a half timbered structure at the top.]
Work on new 'eyesore' home is stopped
Work to build a luxury home has been suspended after it was found to be larger than allowed - leaving Bramhall residents staring at a giant stell 'eyesore'.
[The owners have until 12 Feb to either reduce the size of the structure or else appela to the planning inspectorate.]
Helping make the bats mobile
Forty boxes were fitted at Chadkirk Country Park by the Cheshire Wildlife Trust and Cheshire Bat Group. Chadkirk was recently designated as a Local Nature Reserve. It possess a range of diverse habitats, including ancient woodland and rivers which are used by bats as roosting sites and feeding grounds. However, there's a lack of suitable natural holes which limits the number of bats present.
More rare birds seen in borough
The transformation of the former industrial sites of Reddish Vale into a country park has done much to help the return of many species of birds.
Henry Campbell Ricketts, Stockport Parks' technical service manager said: "We have been trying to manage the land in a more sympathetic way; replacing ornamental flower beds with more nectar and berried plants."
For more information on how to encourage population growth in these birds call nature development officer Zara Paris on 474 4560.
Villages to 'go for gold'
[Marple Bridge is planning to build on its second place in last year's North West in Bloom competition, Small Town category and is aiming to come first.] To helf in any way contact bid co-ordinator Pat Harris on 449 0707.
Star Letter Attracting new visitors
I was pleased to see the article in this week's Stockport Times about the sighting of a flock of 200 lapwings of Adswood tip...
[This letter says that birds in Adswood and elsewhere are flourishing.]
