A new festival has been arranged in memory of the late Caroline Flack, to celebrate her life and raise awareness for mental health issues.
Flackstock has been put together by a committee of Caroline’s loved ones, including her mother Christine and sister Jody, to raise money for four different charities.
The festival will be headlined with performances from Natalie Imbruglia, who recently won TheMasked Singer, Louise Redknapp, and Fleur East.
Bolton’s finest actor and comedian Paddy McGuinness will be among the celebrities making appearances.
Other famous faces appearing include Professor Green, Dermot O’Leary, Keith Lemon and Joel Dommett.
Paddy McGuinness will make an appearance at Flackstock.
Flackstock is set to take over the grounds of stately home Englefield House this July as part of summer concert series Heritage Live.
Natalie Pinkman, Dawn O’Porter, Anna Blue, Sarah Tyekiff, Leigh and Jill Francis have also been involved in dreaming up the intimate event.
Sponsored by McDonald’s, Flackstock will raise vital funds for Choose Love, Mind, Samaritans and Charlie Waller Trust.
Caroline’s mother Christine says of Flackstock: “My Caroline was never more herself or happier than at a music festival with her sister and her friends.
Flackstock will take place this summer.
“Flackstock is the wonderful idea of those who knew her best and the perfect way to remember her singing, dancing and most of all laughing.
“Not only is Flackstock the most positive way to honour Carrie, but charities that she loved will benefit from the proceeds.
“A big thank you to everyone involved for all their hard work – to Natalie for the mad idea, Giles Cooper Entertainment and Englefield House who saved the day, Live Nation and to all the brilliant sponsors.
“My family are so proud that so many people who knew Carrie loved her so very much.”
Ian O’Reilly, head of community and events fundraising at Mind, said: “Every donation that Mind receives through Flackstock will allow us to be there for even more people when they need us.
“This includes through services like the Mind Infoline, legal line and our online peer support community for adults, Side by Side. The money will also enable us to continue to campaign to improve services and provide information and support.
“We are honoured to be involved and we can’t wait for the festival to get started.”
Chester Zoo’s FREE family festival returns next weekend – with wildlife shows, live music, and more
Emily Sergeant
Watching live wildlife shows and building dens are just some of the things you can get stuck into at Chester Zoo next weekend.
That’s because the UK’s biggest charity zoo’s free family festival is returning for another year.
Scientists recently revealed that more than half of all UK species are now in decline, including hedgehogs, butterflies, and wildflowers, Chester Zoo has announced that its Nature Fest is back by popular demand next weekend – with the two-day event boasting a jam-packed lineup of interactive events for all ages.
Taking place across the zoo’s six-hectare nature reserve, conservationists hope the weekend-long event will connect festivalgoers with nature, all while raising awareness of precious UK wildlife.
Open to everyone for free of charge, Nature Fest will have hands-on activities, workshops, talks, and performances – including the interactive Hedgehog Hideaway adventure, which teaches participants how to make their gardens more hedgehog friendly.
Chester Zoo’s free family festival returns next weekend / Credit: Chester Zoo
There’s also opportunities to take on conservation volunteering tasks like habitat restoration, take part in interactive wildlife talks at the Picnic Patch, and even blend together art, music, and nature.
Now in its ninth year, the 2025 event is part of Chester Zoo’s Networks for Nature initiative, which recently received a £4 million boost from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to expand its community-led conservation work across the UK.
“Chester Zoo’s nature reserve is open to people all year round, but Nature Fest is a chance to shine a spotlight on this vital part of the zoo,” commented Ruby Merriman, who is the Estate Biodiversity Manager at Chester Zoo.
“As one of the most nature-depleted countries on earth, British wildlife needs just as much support as species abroad, and Nature Fest offers a way for aspiring conservationists to learn how to get involved.”
There’ll be wildlife shows, interactive hands-on activities, live music, and more / Credit: Chester Zoo
Christopher Ablett, who is the Community Volunteer Coordinator, added: “These experiences help people of all ages build a personal connection with UK wildlife and understand the role they can play in its protection.
“We want people to know that small actions matter, community makes a difference, connectivity is key and that, while UK wildlife is facing serious challenges, everyone can help, and you can find out how at Nature Fest.”
Nature Fest takes place on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September from 11:30am to 4:30pm.
The Nature Reserve is located at the far end of Chester Zoo car park and parking is free. You do not need to book either, so you can just turn up on the day.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
What's On
Ed Sheeran announces ‘intimate’ Manchester date later this year
Danny Jones
The king of contemporary male pop music, Ed Sheeran, is returning to Manchester for one of his biggest dates ever, as well as his venue debut.
Yep, Teddy’s coming to Co-op Live.
The 34-year-old solo star and songwriting extraordinaire hasn’t played a standalone Manchester show since 2023, when he played the legendary AO Arena barely a year on from playing four sold-out nights at the Etihad Stadium.
And now he’s back for more with his first-ever gig at the city’s newest and Europe’s biggest indoor entertainment space.
Confirmed on Wednesday, 3 September, Ed Sheeran is set to play just a small handful of huge headline spaces this winter, including dates in Paris, Munich, Coventry and Dublin, as well as here in Manchester.
Announced ahead of his new LP and eighth studio album, Play, of which we’ve already heard four new tracks: ‘Sapphire’, ‘Old Phone’, ‘A Little More’ and ‘Azizam’ – the latter of which went straight to number one and stayed there for five whole weeks after it dropped.
These upcoming shows will be an extra and rare chance to see Sheeran before his all-new ‘Loop’ stadium tour, which kicks off in Australia next January.
Revealing details about the limited number of EU dates via his own social media channels, Sheeran wrote: “Coming to play some shows in Europe. These shows will be more intimate than a stadium show, obvz, but still will be incredible.”
We don’t know how he plans to make a room as big as the Co-op Live arena ‘intimate’, but we’re looking forward to seeing what he has in store…
He went on to add that he loves “playing these venues so much”, urging fans to pre-order the new record if they want to get their hands on tickets ASAP.
Play releases on Friday, 12 September, and those who pre-order the album exclusively through Amazon.co.uk before 7pm BST this Sunday, 7 September, can put themselves in with a chance of securing pre-sale tickets.
Elsewhere, early access will also be available to official Co-op members next Wednesday (10/9/25) ahead of general admission going live on Thursday, 11 September.
You can get ready to grab your tickets for Ed Sheeran at Co-op Live on Sunday, 7 December HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
4th May 2022 
