Good Morning, Cheshire 👋 

The first week of August is shaping up to be a summer classic! Whether you're chasing sunflowers by miniature train, enjoying sipping rum to reggae in Chester, or getting lost in Cheshire’s biggest forest trails, there’s something to get excited about.

In this week’s Cheshire Buzz:

• 🎉 Cheshire Fest, canal markets & live reggae events

• 🌅 Chester Zoo Afterglow: magical evenings with music & lights

• 🌻 Miniature train ride to sunflower fields at The Hayloft

• 🛍️ Knutsford & Chester Makers Markets return this weekend

• 🍨 Local Spotlight: Woodland walks & waffles in Brereton

• 🔥 Hot & New: 2 Knutsford restaurant openings + a castle relaunch

• 🌳 Hidden Gem: Delamere Forest trails, Gruffalo hunts & Go Ape fun

• 📌 Plus: Community updates, cinema mornings, science demos & more

Let’s dive in!

🎉 What’s On This Weekend

🎶 Cheshire Fest
2 Aug, Capesthorne Hall
Boutique live music festival: lush countryside stages, acoustic lounge, DJs and artisan food stalls.
👉 Details

🐯 Afterglow at Chester Zoo
1-17 Aug, Chester Zoo
A magical summer evenings light-glow festival with music, food, zoo habitats bathed in sunset hues & surprise pop-up performances.
👉 Details

🎶 Rum & Reggae at Alexander’s Live
2 Aug, Alexanders, Chester
A sun-soaked day of reggae beats, Caribbean cocktails and street food for laid-back Chester sunshine vibes.
👉 Details

🛶 Nantwich Floating Market
2-3 Aug, 10am-5pm, Nantwich Canal Embankment
Explore a vibrant waterside market as trading narrowboats moor up along the Shropshire Union Canal, selling handmade crafts, artwork, vintage finds and foodie treats.
👉 Details

🌻 Mini Train Ride to the Sunflowers
Open daily, 10am-4:30pm, The Hayloft Cheshire
Hop aboard the Whitfield Miniature Train and chug through the Cheshire countryside to a blooming field of golden sunflowers at The Hayloft. Add a farm cafe, goats, Shetland ponies, an undercover play area, and Cheshire ice cream-this place is a summer memory waiting to happen.
👉 Details

🚀 Ted's Space Adventure at Jodrell Bank
Wednesdays until 31 Aug, 11am
A lively show of music, rhymes and interaction designed for 2 to 7-year-olds. Included in admission.
👉 Details

🧼 Butter Slime Bonanza - Gootopia Cheshire
21 Jul-5 Sep, Gootopia Warrington
Kids create dreamy, stretchy, scented butter slime with expert guidance - includes take-home slime pots, games and sensory fun. Ages 3+.
👉 Details

🦎 Summer Holidays at Eureka! Science & Discovery
Ongoing, Seacombe, Wirral
Hands-on activities, live science demos, and animal encounters like meerkats and reptiles. Perfect for primary school kids and curious minds.
👉 Details

🌳 Summer of Play at Dunham Massey
Ongoing daily, National Trust
From barefoot walks and den building to giant garden games and wild art, Dunham’s summer offer is packed with nature‑based activities.
👉 Details

📌 Quick Bites

🎥 Kids’ Cinema Mornings - Chester Picturehouse holds family film screenings every Sat morning through August. Child-approved family time. 👉 Details

⛳ Travel Australia in 18 Holes - Tee off on a wild journey through the Outback at Adlington Golf Centres Australia Adventure Golf - Europe’s biggest mini-golf course! From Uluru to kangaroos, it's an epic, fun-packed day out for all ages. 👉 Details

🌳 BeWILDerwood Cheshire continues (open daily until 31 Aug) - woodland play, tree-top nets, storytelling and ziplines: ideal for wild kids and chilled parents. 👉 Details

🧺 Knutsford Makers Market - Sun 3 Aug, 11am-4pm. Packed with local makers, foodies, and family fun! Expect artisan goods, crafts, candles, art prints and more - plus street food favourites and live music. 👉 Details

🛍️ Chester Makers Market - Sat 2 Aug, 10am-4pm. Discover a curated mix of Cheshire’s best artisan makers at this lively monthly market. Browse handmade crafts, artwork, jewellery, and homewares while sampling street food and sweet treats. 👉 Details

🐄 Local Spotlight: Brereton Nature Reserve & The Little Cow Shed

Looking for a calm countryside escape that pairs natural beauty with sweet treats? Head to Brereton, where a peaceful woodland walk and a scoop of artisan ice cream are just minutes apart.

Start your visit at Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve, a 40-hectare haven of woodlands, meadows and a picturesque lake surrounded by a former sand quarry.

It’s a peaceful spot for walking, birdwatching, or simply lounging by the water. There’s a gentle 1.3km loop trail that’s perfect for families with little legs or a dog in tow, and picnic benches dotted along the way.

Once you’ve had your fill of fresh air, make your way just up the road to The Little Cow Shed - a farm-based dessert cafe serving up locally made ice cream, waffles, coffee, and cow-themed cuteness in every corner.

Their ever-changing menu includes favourites like Biscoff, Kinder and seasonal specials, and there’s even a mini play area to keep kids happy while you indulge.

Why We Love It - A countryside pairing made in heaven: a nature reserve for roaming and a cow shed cafe for recharging. What more do you need?

🔗 Brereton Heath Nature Reserve
🔗 The Little Cow Shed

🔥 Hot & New

🇬🇷 The Stolen Lamb, Knutsford - A brand new taverna-style restaurant has just opened its doors, bringing a taste of modern Greek and Mediterranean dining to King Street, serving mezze, slow-cooked lamb, grilled seafood, and seasonal sharing dishes. 👉 Details

🍽️ Peckforton Castle Restaurant Relaunch - Now open and taking bookings. The castle’s 1851 fine‑dining restaurant has received a major revamp - reservations are live for new menus in beautiful historic surroundings. 👉 Details

🦜 Meet the Animals at Reaseheath Mini Zoo - 1-4 Aug, Reaseheath College, Nantwich. A Pop-up animal encounters with reptiles, birds and fluffy friends. Bookings required. 👉 Details

🍽️ Li‑Ly, Knutsford - A champagne-and-canapes restaurant by chefs Aiden & Sarah Byrne. This boutique eatery offers a sophisticated all‑day menu with champagne brunches, small plates and an elegant evening wine bar. 👉 Details

🌟 Community Highlights

• £2.3m boost for EV charging across Cheshire East - New government funding will deliver around 175 electric vehicle chargepoints, with 15 sites coming this summer. (source)

• Green Flag recognition for Cheshire East parks - Eleven parks have been awarded the national Green Flag prize for quality and community upkeep. (source)

• Risley, Holcroft & Chat Moss named new national nature reserve - The reserve is now open to the public as a protected space for both wildlife and people to enjoy. (source)

• Commemorative events planned in Chester for Victory over Japan Day -
  Free public events in August will honour WWII history with music, tributes, and family-friendly remembrance. (source)

💎 Hidden Gem: Delamere Forest

Delamere, Northwich | Various trails & activities | All ages

If your idea of a perfect summer escape includes leafy paths, peaceful lakes, and a bit of adventure, Delamere Forest delivers it all, just half an hour from Chester and right on the doorstep of Northwich.

This sprawling woodland oasis is the largest forest in Cheshire and caters to just about everyone. Wanderers can choose from multiple walking and cycling trails, like the accessible Blakemere Moss Loop or the scenic Old Pale Hill, with sweeping views across seven counties on a clear day.

Kids will love spotting wooden Gruffalo sculptures hidden in the trees, and a dedicated Zog Activity Trail is running all summer for little explorers (trail packs available from the visitor centre).

Feeling energetic? Hire a bike, tackle the forest’s running routes, or swing through the canopy at Go Ape Delamere.

Prefer a gentler pace? The onsite cafe and picnic spots by the lake are perfect for a recharge. There’s even a train station right next to the forest, making this one of the most accessible nature escapes in the region.

Why we love it: Woodland walks, big-sky views, fairy-tale trails and fresh air by the lungful - Delamere’s the perfect summer day out.

🔗 Delamere Forest
👉 Check out the walking routes

That’s it for this week.

Quick question - What’s one place in Cheshire you think more people should know about? Hit reply and let me know!

Thanks for reading The Cheshire Buzz! See you next Thursday - same time, same inbox.