February events

NowStone the crows!This month sees the return of Tatton Park’s annual Scarecrow Festival (Saturday 13th to Sunday 21st February). Tatton’s gorgeous gardens are always a sight to behold, so the chance to see them dotted with scarecrows of all shapes and sizes is surely not to be missed. With activities and a Bring and Dress a Scarecrow Day on Saturday 20th February, this is an excellent way to occupy the children during half-term while enjoying a stroll in Tatton’s splendid grounds. Closed Monday 15th February. For more information call 01625 374400 or visit www.tattonpark.org.uk

Bargain huntChester Antiques and Fine Art Show will celebrate its 21st year at Chester Racecourse this month (Thursday 11th to Sunday 14th February). Hosted by Penman Antiques Fairs, this event is regarded as one of the best in the North West for anyone seeking or selling a valuable find. Around 50 antiques and art stands will be on show, with first-class catering at the racecourse’s wine bars and restaurants. For more information call 01825 744074 or visit www.penman-fairs.co.uk.

Playtime in LymmChildren and parents in Lymm are enjoying a little victory this month after the village hall playgroup gained approval for an outdoor play area. After a year of campaigning the parish council were finally convinced that a fenced off area at the front of the building could be turned into a safe and much-needed play area. Staff at the playgroup, which has stood in Lymm for 37 years, will no longer be restricted to taking just two children per adult out at a time. Playgroup chairman Joy Parkinson remarked: ‘It will be lovely to see all the children playing outside when it’s a nice sunny day.’

ThenThree years agoNorthwich school helps tsunami survivorsA team of 15 sixth form pupils and staff from St Nicholas Catholic High School in Northwich flew to India in February 2007 to help victims of the 2004 Asian tsunami. The school aligned itself with the charity Habitat for Humanity GB to help build homes for communities in Tamil Nadu in the southeast of the country. Sponsorship initiatives were organised to fund the trip and a local hire firm contributed by kitting out the group with work clothes and safety equipment for the building project.

Five years agoGarden wonder wins community awardA day care officer who worked tirelessly for two years to create a sensory garden at a centre for adults with learning disabilities was honoured with a community initiative award in February 2005. Peter Alexander enlisted users of the Cheyne Hall day service centre in Nantwich to help create an intricate garden based on the five senses. The team raised over �12,000 in voluntary contributions as funds for the project, which went on to win an RHS Bronze Award.

10 years agoKnutsford bar swears by good mannersThe K Bar in Knutsford caused a stir when it banned its customers from swearing in February 2000. No swearing signs were put up around the bar and anyone using too colourful language was politely asked to leave. Management told the Knutsford Guardian that the rule had been brought in to promote a pleasant ambience in the bar, and added that it worked so well that the punters themselves were telling each other to keep it clean.

81 years agoHappy Birthday Patricia RoutledgePatricia Routledge has been both a star of stage and screen, best known perhaps for playing deluded socialite Hyacinth Bucket in the BBC comedy Keeping up Appearances. Born in Birkenhead on 17 February 1929, Patricia attended the town’s independent girls’ high school and later launched her acting career at the Liverpool Playhouse. Patricia went on to star on both the West End and Broadway before a string of TV roles. In addition to Keeping up Appearances – a sitcom where Hyacinth often referred to Cheadle to add to her airs and graces – Patricia famously played the title role in Hetty Wainthropp Investigates. Patricia continues to act and was awarded a CBE in 2004.