National Trust site Tatton Park is still unable to fully reopen following a night of ‘chaos’ when Storm Arwen ripped through the region.
The popular attraction has been left without external power, forcing it to close its restaurants and shops, and scale back its One Snowy Night festive event.
Tatton Park in Knutsford was fully closed on Saturday and had to cancel its first day of Father Christmas meets.
The park has been able to gradually reopen some areas since then.
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We are open today but with limited facilities. We have an ongoing power cut which means we can't open shops or restaurants. Gardens and Farm will be open for festivities…see our website for more details… pic.twitter.com/hyTxRXz2cm
“Teams have been busy clearing up and repairing damage but an external power cut means we still have no mains power. Our electrical supplier, Scottish Power, are working on this, but it’s a changing situation by the hour and sadly out of our control.”
The parkland is now open again, as are the toilet facilities in the Stableyard, though the restaurants and shops remain closed.
Visitors are advised to book their parking in advance online or bring cash, as the power outage has left Tatton Park without tills.
One Snowy Night is going ahead but with no food and drink on offer – refunds are available.
Featured image: Facebook – Tatton Park
Cheshire
Chester Zoo shares video of ‘rare’ baby giraffe falling 6ft to the ground as it’s born
Emily Sergeant
Cameras and Chester Zoo have captured the moment a rare baby giraffe made its entrance into the world this past weekend.
And it’s fair to say, he certainly burst onto the scene.
In a birth that’s unlike many others and appeared to shock the surrounding long-legged residents, Chester Zoo has shared a video of the adorable new giraffe calf falling more than 6ft onto a bed of soft straw as he arrived into the world, after 14-year-old mum, Orla, gave birth last Saturday at 2:57am – which brought to an end to a 15 month-long (473 day) pregnancy
The incredible CCTV footage also shows the moment the newborn stands up and takes his very first steps and enjoys his first feed – a moment zookeepers say is “vitally important” for the bond between mum and baby.
Chester Zoo’s giraffe team manager Sarah Roffe explained that, while it may sound unusual, this 6ft-high fall is “a really important part of the birthing process” for giraffes, as it’s what helps to break the umbilical cord and stimulate the calf to take its very first breath.
“While tiny in comparison to mum Orla, her new arrival was born already towering above us at 6ft tall and weighing a hefty 72kg,” Sarah added.
She continued: “Following the dramatic birth, it’s vitally important that the calf gets to its feet quickly and ventures over to mum for its first feed, as it’s these precious early moments that help to cement that special bond between the two of them – and that’s exactly what occurred between Orla and her baby only minutes after his birth.
“It’s early days, but so far the calf is looking strong, healthy and very content, which is brilliant to see.”
Keepers at the UK’s biggest charity zoo have named the new male giraffe calf Stanley after Mount Stanley, which is the tallest mountain in Uganda in Africa.
Chester Zoo cameras captured the moment a rare baby giraffe made its entrance into the world / Credit: Chester Zoo
Uganda is where the zoo’s conservationists are fighting to boost giraffe numbers.
Right across Africa, giraffes are listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – which is the world’s authority on the state of the natural world – and although Rothschild’s giraffe numbers are now increasing due to conservation efforts, fewer than 2,500 remain in East Africa.
As their habitats have been lost to make way for mining, urban development, or agricultural farming, as well as poaching for their skin, tails, or meat, Rothschild’s giraffes are now considered one of Africa’s most at-risk mammals.
However, Chester Zoo says that in some parts of Uganda – where the zoo and its partners are actively working – numbers are steadily on the rise, and it’s thanks to decades of conservation efforts.
Keepers have named the new male giraffe calf Stanley / Credit: Chester Zoo
“Having a healthy new calf on the ground here at the zoo is therefore fantastic news for the threatened species breeding programme that’s boosting numbers in conservation zoos like ours,” added Mike Jordan – Director of Animals and Plants at Chester Zoo.
“In tandem with the breeding programme, our team of giraffe experts have been helping our long term partners… to protect, monitor and, in some cases, translocate giraffes from one area of Uganda to another.
Just over two decades ago the number of giraffes in Kidepo Valley National Park was in single digits, but with these conservation efforts it’s now a protected reserve that’s home to more than 70 adult Rothschild’s giraffes, with calves being born year on year.
“This is just one of the many successful conservation stories that our charity zoo is proud to be part of and really shows that there are good people out there fighting to save species from extinction.”
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
Cheshire
Police find drugs hidden at several pubs and bars in Alderley Edge and Wilmslow
The Manc
Cheshire Police has confirmed that officers have recovered drugs from several bars in Alderley Edge and Wilmslow.
As part of what is an ongoing operation to target recreational drug use across the region, on Saturday 30 July, officers from the Macclesfield local policing unit, with support from the Special Constabulary and police drugs dog, conducted checks at seven bars in the two affluent Cheshire towns.
Bubble Room, and Parea on London Road in Alderley Edge were searched, as well as The Grove, The Freemasons, Victors, Revolution, and Olivers in Wilmslow, police confirmed.
In Alderley Edge, three bags of Class A drugs were found inside the men’s toilets in the Bubble Room, and then, when the police drugs dog walked past Parea on the same road, two small bags of class A drugs were located and recovered.
Parea and The Bubble Room are two of the bars where drugs were recovered from / Credit: Parea and The Bubble Room (via Facebook)
The police dog searched the toilets in The Grove in Wilmslow and located drugs, and then, while officers were in the Freemasons, drugs were also recovered from behind a cushion.
“The checks we conducted showed there were some signs of recreational drug use and I want to make the public aware that this police activity will continue to be carried out unexpectedly,” explained Inspector Andy Baker, of Macclesfield local policing unit.
“It’s clear that we’re regularly pursuing the organised criminals who profit from the illegal supply of class A and class B drugs, however we also want to make the public aware of the wider implications that are caused by recreational drug use – including how you are playing a part in a criminal enterprise and assisting in fuelling the lavish lifestyle of organised crime.”
Inspector Baker also added that anyone who is aware of and may have seen drug activity taking place should let Cheshire Police know on the website here.
You can also report it anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Daisy Jackson -
30th November 2021 
