Have you noticed that a handful of colourful new benches have popped up across Salford over the past couple of days?
Been wondering where they’ve come from? Keen to know what the story is behind them?
Of course, benches are not something the residents and locals of Salford would usually bat an eyelid at considering there are so many dotted all around the borough, but it’s fair to say that these 20 colourful new additions that have been cleverly-designed to resemble the shape of a book, and are inspired by a range of different themes, are worth stopping to take a closer look at.
The new ‘BookBench’ sculptures are actually part of the first-ever Salford Literacy Trail – which began last week and will be running up until 9 September 2022.
The new art trail – which is in partnership with the National Literacy Trust and BUPA Foundation – has been described as a “unique collaboration” between local school children and artists, and features 20 eye-catching sculptures created by global public art producers Wild in Art.
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Wild in Art famously brought the popular Bee in the City art trail to Manchester back in 2018, and has a number of other award-winning art trails to its name.
The 20 new ‘BookBench’ sculptures are part of the first-ever Salford Literacy Trail / Credit: Wild in Art
Artists worked with children from 20 different primary schools across Salford to design benches that capture how their favourite books inspire make them feel.
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The BookBenches have placed at key locations across Salford, including near the Blue Peter Garden, around MediaCity, and at Salford Cathedral, Salford Museum and Art Gallery, RHS Bridgewater, and Salford Shopping Centre, for families to explore their local area, discover the benefits and joys of reading, and engage with stories together.
As you make your way around the trail, you will been able to find inspiration from the children’s favourite books, inlcuding The Boy Who Grew Dragons, Macbeth, The Memory Tree, and the absolute classic that is The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
The project is said to have been designed to “inspire a love of reading”, with each BookBench providing “a blank canvas for children’s creativity”, according to trail organisers.
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The trail has been described as a “unique collaboration” between local school children and artists / Credit: Wild in ArtArtists worked with children from 20 different primary schools across Salford to design benches / Credit: Wild in Art
The trail also aims to raise awareness of the positive links between reading and mental wellbeing, as research from the National Literacy Trust shows that children who are the most engaged with literacy are three-times more likely to have higher levels of mental wellbeing than their least engaged peers.
“We want to create an environment where every child in Salford has the opportunity to engage with stories and books that reflect their lives, offer them comfort, or an exciting escape,” said Mike Leyland – the National Literacy Trust’s Programme Manager for Salford Literacy Trail.
“We hope that the Salford Literacy Trail starts conversations in families, at schools and in communities about stories that have affected them, or that have shown them a different view on life, and encourages an even greater love of reading in everyone who takes part.”
Each BookBench has been individually-sponsored by local businesses.
These sponsorships, alongside the BookBench auction in the autumn, will raise vital funds for the National Literacy Trust to help it “champion reading” with local disadvantaged children.
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There is a downloadable map available online, along with fun activities for kids to inspire them with the magic of stories, and you can find out more about the Salford Literacy Trail 2022 on the trail’s website here.
Body of missing 15-year-old boy recovered from water at Salford country park
Emily Sergeant
The body of a missing 15-year-old boy has sadly been recovered from the water at a country park in Salford.
Officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called to reports of a teenager getting in to difficulty in the water at Clifton Country Park in Salford at around 4:51pm this past Saturday (27 June).
Since then, emergency services – including partners from Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (GMFRS) and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) – have been working together to locate the missing boy.
But despite their best efforts, a body was, unfortunately, located in the water yesterday (29 June).
The body was recovered from the water by specialists at North West Under Water Search and Marine Unit, GMP confirmed.
Formal identification is yet to take place, but police are supporting the family of the missing boy in the meantime.
“Saturday’s incident is truly heartbreaking,” commented Detective Inspector Dave Ogden, from the Salford CID.
“My thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of the young boy who has so tragically lost his life. While we are satisfied there are no suspicious circumstances, this incident is an incredibly upsetting reminder of the serious risks associated with open water.
“We understand people want to make the most of the warm weather, but we would urge everyone to stay safe and avoid entering reservoirs, rivers, canals or ponds.
“Please take care and enjoy the weather in a safe way.”
Featured Image – David Dixon (via Geograph)
Salford
Inside the Greggs outlet store where you can get a sausage roll for 55p
Daisy Jackson
There’s a Greggs Outlet store over in Salford where you can pick up the bakery chain’s top products for a vastly lower price than the high street.
We’re talking sausage rolls for just 55p, four-packs of jam doughnuts for £1.35, and filled baguettes for £1.50.
The items in store at the Greggs Outlet have all been saved from waste and redistributed to customers for a reduced price.
It could be that it’s come out the oven a bit wonky, not sold in a local Greggs shop, has been discontinued, or they’ve simply made too much.
Whatever the reason, you’re likely to find everything from yum yums and fresh bread to filled sandwiches and pastries.
Depending on what you choose to buy, customers can save more than 70% on what they’d paid in a typical high street Greggs bakery store.
Designed to provide ‘affordable food in areas of social deprivation’, a share of profits generated from Greggs Outlets is donated to the Greggs Foundation to distribute through the Greggs Foundation Community Grant Programme.
Inside the Greggs Outlet at Radclyffe Park, you can find steals like a four-pack of sausage rolls for £2.20, or 55p each – around a 60% discount.
There are also two-packs of Yum Yums for 80p (normally £1.70 each), big packs of fresh bread rolls for 30p, and four-packs of filled doughnuts for £2.
You can even pick up fresh sandwiches at Greggs OutletPacks of discounted sausage rollsThe shelves are stocked daily
Then in the fridges, you’ll find classic filled sandwiches sold at exceptional value, like a honey roast ham and egg roll for £1.50, a Mexican chicken flatbread for £1.50, a classic tuna sandwich for 80p, or a roast chicken mayo baguette for £1.50.
That’s all better than half price.
Greggs says on signs in-store: “We can offer you food at a reduced price because we may have made too much, it’s come out slightly misshapen, it’s been unsold at a local Greggs shop, it’s being discontinued or the weather has changed so we’ve over-ordered.
“Whatever the reason, you can be sure of one thing: all our food is tasty and fantastic value for money!”
Emily Sergeant -
18th July 2022 
