is year’s Feel good Festival (Fri 29tH-sat 30tH aug) will be packed with food, cultural activities and live entertainment. Celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott has been announced as one of the stars set to host live cooking demonstrations, with charttopping band Scouting for Girls headlining the festival on the Saturday evening. e free event takes place on the Esplanade, with a big main stage outside the town hall.
Queen’s Park, in Heywood, is packed full of things to do, with an activity centre, visitor’s centre, cafe, tennis courts and plenty of wildlife. is Grade 2 listed park is of major landscape and historical importance, with gardens and a lake to enjoy. Events are held every weekend and the park can also be the starting point for walks into the Ashworth Valley and along the River Roch.
Healey dell nature reserve sits in a picturesque part of the Spodden Valley. It is rich in wildlife, with delightful scenery, spectacular waterfalls and a fascinating archaeological history. A disused railway line is now a nature trail, with magnificent views from a 100-foot high viaduct. Please visit www.healeydell.org.uk. Rochdale’s award winning Arts and Heritage Centre, toucHstones (e Esplanade) has something for everyone, with a ‘hands on’ museum for all the family, four exciting art galleries and a local studies centre. In Local Studies, families can research their family history together, find out the history of your house or the area you live in. open 7 days a week.
e yesteryear Festival, organised by Springhill Hospice, will be held at at Collop Gate Farm, Heywood on Sat 2nd and Sun 3rd August. With a fairground, cra tent, beer tent, games, raffles and over 50 military exhibits, including a 52 tonne Centurion Tank in action, this weekend is set to be a great weekend for all the family.
HollingwortH lake, Littleborough, is a popular picnic spot! e Visitor’s Centre is home to a small museum, cafe and gi shop, plus lots of guides to help you explore the area. e Water Activity Centre also provides a range of activities for all abilities, including sailing, windsurfing and canoeing. “Pop, Rock and all at Jazz 2”, by Littleborough Arts Festival, takes place at the Rakewood Sports Centre, Rakewood Road, Hollingworth Lake on Saturday 5th July, at 7.30pm. Tickets at £5 each are available from Framework (30 Hare Hill Road), the Coach House and Rakewood Sports Centre.
www.rochdalestyle.com
23