Latest news with #Boltonians
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Boltonians urged to 'embrace nature like never before' this month
A wildlife charity has urged Boltonians to 'embrace nature like never before' during June. The Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT) has billed its annual 30 Days Wild event as the "UK's biggest nature challenge", as it encourages children and adults to connect with their surroundings. From planting wildflower seeds to listening out for different types of birdsong, each activity is free and aims to help people discover the fauna and flora that often go unnoticed under their noses. "It can be something simple like feeding the birds in your garden - at the moment I have 20 or 30 starlings visiting every day and that's pretty wild,' said LWT's head of campaigns and communications, Alan Wright. 'You could go for a walk in the country to identify trees, birdsong and wildlife. [There's] lots of song thrushes and roe deer around at the moment. 'Popular activities include getting up early for a noisy dawn chorus or getting involved in bat walks on nature reserves.' Now in its 11th edition, 30 Days Wild has grown from a modest 15,000 participants in its first year, with more than a million people having taken part in the events since its inception. The LWT expects at least 5,000 people across Lancashire, Greater Manchester and North Merseyside to take up the challenge. It also coincides with the Manchester Festival of Nature in Heaton Park, which takes place this year on Sunday, June 29. 'Activities can be at both ends of the energy scale - lying on your back and looking up at clouds for an hour or climbing a hill, while walking the dog,' Alan added. 'Every activity will be good for your mental and physical health. 'It also means more people are getting out appreciating the brilliant wildlife on your doorstep, especially if you are visiting Longworth Clough near Belmont, Summerseat Nature Reserve in Bury, Bolton's brilliant parks or following the Kingfisher Trail between Bury and Salford.' This year's 30 Days Wild features two branches – one child-friendly option and another aimed at adults, with everything from activity guides and competition badges to daily idea emails for those who sign up on the charity's website. 'It is important that we persuade more than one in four people take actions for nature to help reverse the biodiversity crisis affecting our planet," Alan said. 'Taking part in 30 Days Wild is helping to save the world.'
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Two huge BBC radio stars join Celebrity Gogglebox and promise 'no filter'
Fellow Boltonians Vernon Kay and Paddy McGuinness have signed up together for the new series of Celebrity Gogglebox, which kicks off on Friday Two Radio 2 stars are teaming up for the first time to appear on Celebrity Gogglebox - and have promised to have 'no filter' when it comes to sharing their opinions. Fellow Boltonians Vernon Kay and Paddy McGuinness, both 51, will be sitting alongside each other when the show returns to Channel 4 on Friday. Vernon told the Mirror he was planning to let his guard down when it came to his comments. "Can't wait to be on Celebrity Gogglebox with Paddy as we both love the show, and always have. It's proper feel-good telly, and I reckon me and Paddy will bring the full commentary package – strong opinions, big laughs, and a serious lack of filter.' Paddy agreed that he was delighted to take part in a series he'd been watching for years. 'I'm delighted to be doing Celebrity Gogglebox with Vernon. I've been on there enough times behind the camera, finally I get a chance to talk about other shows. I've been a fan of Gogglebox for ages, so to be part of it with a fellow Boltonian is belting. As you'd expect with Vernon and myself it'll be full of cultured, intellectual chat. Let the armchair punditry commence!' The pair have plenty in common - not only are they the same age, from the same place, and work for the same radio station, they have both taken on huge sporting challenges for Children in Need in recent years. In 2023 Vernon raised more than £6million with his ultra ultra marathon while last year Paddy pulled in more than £10million by cycling 300 miles on a Raleigh Chopper. And when it comes to TV they really should know what they're talking about - Paddy's former shows include Top Gear, A Question of Sport and Take Me Out - plus Peter Kay comedy Phoenix Nights - while Vernon fronted All Star Family Fortunes, Splash and T4. Many of the regulars will be back for Celebrity Gogglebox including Rylan Clark and his mum Linda, Denise Van Outen and Johnny Vaughan, Gok Wan and Fearne Cotton, Gyles Brandreth and Lulu, Nick and Liv Grimshaw, Clare Balding and Alice Arnold, Mo Gilligan and Babatunde Aleshe and Martin and Roman Kemp. Also new for this series are Inbetweeners star James Buckley and his wife Clair. The 37-year-old actor, best known for portraying Jay Cartwright in the hit sitcom, announced this weekend that he and his wife of 13 years were joining the show. In a video he quipped: 'We are joining the Gogglebox family. We're going to be watching some great TV and some not so great TV.' James and Clair, who met on social media and have two children together, have already won fans over with their podcast, At Home With The Buckleys, which looks at "the wild ride that is modern marriage, parenting and adulting"'.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'As Boltonians we are produd to have built our manufacturing business here'
A Bolton food manufacturer said it was a "privilege" to host Bolton's 2024-25 Mayor for his final official engagement Blazing Limited is a company that makes a range of sauces, rubs and breading – which were praised by Cllr Andy Morgan before he handed on the chains of office. He was joined by the then-mayoress Karen Holdsworth for an exclusive tour of the factory and tasting session. Cllr Morgan said: "If your taste buds are feeling brave, Blazing is the name to know, go look for them on social media and online." Cllr Morgan lost in the sauce (Image: Blazing Limited) The behind-the-scenes look at the production process showed how the sauces were crafted from scratch through automated filling and labelling lines before moving onto the final stage of distribution. Have a story? Get in touch at The Farnworth-based business are proudly rooted in Bolton and support food service businesses across the UK and Europe. Founder and director of Blazing Limited, Mohammad Idrees, said: "We are proud to be Boltonians and even prouder to have built our manufacturing business here in Bolton. "It was a privilege to host the Mayor and Mayoress and share the story of our journey, growth and passion for delivering top-quality food products." Cllr Morgan visited the food manufacturer as his last official engagement (Image: Blazing Limited) READ MORE: Spinning Gate Shopping Centre in Leigh 'bucking the trend' READ MORE: Bolton car boot sale in top 10 across the whole UK READ MORE: The Courthouse in town centre announces closure after eight years The company started its journey started in 2016 in a kitchen "where a unique and memorable tasting Peri Peri Sauce was born." They said that from there, the business expanded, now making products from wings sauce to coating to mixes. They said that they are unique "in a way that we manufacture great quality products for each foodservice sector" and that they build businesses "through innovation and creativity" in how they "develop, jobs" target="_blank">work and deliver".
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
' I found a family that not only gave me a home but also believed in me'
A young woman who was fostered from the age of 15 said she was so lucky to have found a family that believed in. Codie has spoken about how being fostered helped her to look to the future to raise awareness of the need for families to step forward and help people like her. Bolton's independent fostering agency, Next Stage for Fostering, has highlighting two stories of two foster families, as well as Codie who has benefited from care to highlight the differences wanting to foster can make. The individuals were inspired to begin fostering for different reasons, but what unites them all is the fact they changed the course of young children's lives by opening their homes. The stories aim to inspire an interest from Boltonians, as more carers are urgently needed to provide children in care with a loving, stable home. Codie (Image: Supplied) Codie entered foster care at the age of 15, when she was considered "lucky" to have found not just a loving home, but one she could share with her two younger siblings. The stability this gave her allowed Codie to think ahead of her future and now at the age of 22, she is studying for a degree as she works towards a career in social care. She said: "I know how lucky I am. "So many teenagers struggle to find foster placements, but I found a family that not only gave me a home but also believed in me every step of the way. "Without them, I would not be where I am today. "They have made a real difference in my life, and I will always be grateful for that." She was fostered by Alix and Lisa – a couple that have been fostering for some time and requested fostering siblings to avoid them being separated. Alix and Lisa (Image: Supplied) Alix said: "Fostering is not just about offering a roof over someone's head – it is about giving them a family, a future and a sense of belonging." Lisa said: "They have all now achieved massive milestones, including Codie learning to drive, going to university and getting a degree. "It has been amazing to watch them thrive and support them all along their individual journeys." Another family that started fostering is Kirsten and Dave. Kirsten, Dave and the children (Image: Supplied) They did this alongside raising their own children, unsure of the impact it would have on their family. Kirsten and Dave said: "At first, we were nervous about how it might affect our own children, but it has only brought us closer. "They have learned patience, empathy and resilience. "They have seen first-hand the difference a stable, loving home can make in a child's life, and they feel proud to be part of that change." According to the Fostering Network, more than 6,500 foster families are urgently needed across England. Next Stage for Fostering said: "Alix, Lisa, Kirsten and Dave prove that fostering is more than just providing children a home – it is about offering security, care and a sense of belonging."
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Butcher which is cut above is after the town's top prize
A Bradshaw butchers is up for the Bolton News Best Farm, Deli or Butchers Shop Award 2025. Atkinsons, 54 Longsight, has been serving meat products for the last 120 years and is supplying Boltonians with products for their barbeques this summer. They pride their products on being "as natural as can be". Paul Bamford, manager, has worked at the store for four-and-a- half-years, said when asked what the best thing: "Everything really, it's all done right, the beef, the lamb, we do all our own bacon. Read more: Read more: "It's all as natural as can be. In terms of development, we make a lot of ready meals, we're busy, and we've been going for about 120 years now. "We've got a good customer base, and we're as good as you're going to get. "Even in the winter when the weather is rubbish, we get lots of people coming in for beef and stuff to add to their Sunday roasts." One customer said: "I used to live near and shop here regularly. In the area recently and I didn't think it was possible but it's even better now with the fruit and veg table outside. Fantastic butcher. Great quality and choice." Another added: "The produce is always of the highest quality. The two Sirloin steaks and large pork sausages made for a wonderful New Years Eve dinner with tenderstem broccoli and a baked potato." Another said: "Wow, brilliant product range, happy staff who make you welcome, it's lovely to have a traditional old feel butchers shop, go there, you won't be disappointed. Thank you all for a job well done." Pick up of a copy of today's paper to vote
