Totally Roarsome has decided to extend its stay in Cheshire, and will now be running all throughout the Easter holidays.
For the past couple of years, Totally Roarsome has taken the region by storm and has become one of the North West’s most popular outdoor events, with visitors flocking from far and wide after it first opened following the initial lifting of lockdown restrictions in mid-2020, and returned after popular demand in 2021.
Earlier this year, it was announced that the attraction would be returning and had found a new home for 2022’s event at the picturesque Arley Hall in Cheshire.
And now, it’s sticking around for more and will be open throughout the entire Easter half term.
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Unfamiliar with what Totally Roarsome is all about? Aimed at primary school children, and named as being one of the safest attractions for all the family in Greater Manchester, there will be more than 200 individual dinosaur and wildlife models making up the woodland trail this year.
Families will be able to get up close to the raptors, brontosaurus, spinosaurus, triceratops, stegosaurus, and more.
Totally Roarsome’s new home for 2022 is Arley Hall in Cheshire / Credit: Totally Roarsome
It’s not all just about the dinosaurs though, as there’ll also be other creatures and animals to keep the prehistoric beasts company too, from sea creatures and unicorns, to aliens and farm animals, and so much more.
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Groups enter every 15 minutes to space people apart, with the trail said to take between an hour and an hour-and-a-half to complete, and the path being suitable for pushchairs and prams.
If the chance to see all sorts of creatures in the wild wasn’t exciting and educational enough as it is, on entry, visitors are given a quiz sheet that features different levels of questions aimed at different age groups, and the answers are on the fact boards as you make your way around.
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There’s also hundreds of photo opportunities too.
The popular event has taken the region by storm and has seen visitors flock from far and wide the past two years / Credit: Totally Roarsome
Having already been open for weekend visits in February and March, Totally Roarsome will now be open everyday throughout the Easter holidays from 2-24 April 2022, with tickets selling fast and now available to book online.
Tickets will set you back £8.95 each, with under 2’s going free and a £2.50 booking fee per transaction, and they must be booked in advance.
You can find out more information about Totally Roarsome and grab tickets here.
Featured Image – Totally Roarsome
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69% of Manchester students want to try a plant-based diet – but ‘cost and inconvenience’ is putting them off
Emily Sergeant
Soaring costs, the inconvenience of the lifestyle, and the potential risk of isolation have been named as the top three barriers preventing Manchester students from giving veganism and plant-based diets a try.
According to a new study of students in Manchester byMeatFreed – an app connecting the plant-based community for students in key student cities across the UK – less than one in 10 say they would be able to commit to a fully plant-based diet, despite 69% claiming they want to try more plant-based meals, and a further 23% keen on becoming plant-based full-time if possible.
35% of Manchester students say they also like to eat more sustainably, and a quarter (25%) already making sustainable meal choices – but it’s not so easy for everyone.
And it’s all down to several different barriers standing in their way, according to the study.
MeatFreed’s recent study found that 48% of Manchester students named having less options for meals on-the-go as the main reason why they’re put off trying a plant-based diet, with a further 36% feeling it would be too tricky to eat out in restaurants and at takeaways.
20% also said they felt concerned they would be the only vegetarian or vegan in their friendship group or families – which could lead to an element of social isolation.
Plant-based app and community MeatFreed has now launched in Manchester / Credit: MeatFreed
With the rising cost of living crisis also sadly continuing to make its impact felt, 44% of Manchester students surveyed said they felt worried about the cost of a plant-based lifestyle, and another 43% said they felt a little anxious about how that could impact their diets.
Because of this, 60% of students believe their diets will change as the cost of food increases.
Yet despite all these identified hurdles, MeatFreed also found that a whopping 92% of students surveyed would like to see more plant-based options on the menu when they’re dining out, and so, to help them find the most sustainable meal options out there in our city, the MeatFreed app officially launched in Manchester last month.
This new app brings together discounts, menus, and offers for students from over 50 restaurants in Manchester, as well as offering rewards to users who choose more sustainable meal choices.
The app connects the plant-based community for students in key student cities across the UK / Credit: MeatFreed
“It’s not surprising that students are growing more concerned about the cost of living and rising food prices as it’s everywhere in the media and trying to find sustainable meal choices can be trickier than ever in all that noise,” admitted Patrick Huang – co-founder of MeatFreed.
“We chose to launch in Manchester as it’s one of the biggest student communities in the UK, and with so many Manchester students keen to try plant-based and more sustainable dishes, we wanted to help them discover the options they have right on their doorstep.
“And it doesn’t have to drain the student loan either.”
Mr Huang said the launch of the MeatFreed app is hoping to make the barriers of cost, inconvenience, and potential social isolation “distant worries” for Manchester students.
MeatFreed offers students in Manchester a community that’s open to anyone keen to try a more plant-based and sustainable diet – from flexitarians, to full-time vegans.
Brooklyn vibes and brilliant locals – why Manchester is attracting people from across the globe
Daisy Jackson
Manchester is one of the greatest cities in the world – and that’s not just our local bias talking.
Our hometown is consistently named as one of the coolest cities on the planet, as well as a must-see destination for global tourism.
But crucially, it’s also constantly receiving nods as being one of the most liveable cities in the world, ranking above cities like Barcelona and London.
Whether you were born here or drawn here, there are plenty of reasons that Manchester has become home to so many thousands of people.
Many now-locals have chosen to make Manchester their home, moving from across the globe to put down roots in our fair city.
And attracting swathes of people is Capital & Centric’s community-focused developments in the city centre, notably the historic Crusader and new build neighbour Phoenix.
The social impact property developers have restored the 180-year-old building into a block of one and two-bed apartments with exposed brickwork, original cast iron columns and wooden beams, and huge windows.
Those who live here include Yasu Jordan Sato, 34, along with his wife Mai and young son – Yasu was born in Japan and has since lived in LA and Paris working as an exterior designer in the motor industry, but it was Manchester that beat out those other international cities for the young family.
Yasu says that the comparisons often made between Brooklyn and Manchester are completely correct.
He said: “My brother lives in Brooklyn in New York and I always make the comparison between Manchester and Brooklyn. Certain parts look exactly like Brooklyn, it’s cool and the people are so warm and friendly.
“People complain about the weather, but honestly I found Paris more gloomy in comparison!”
Inside Crusader. Credit: Supplied
On their decision to move to Manchester, and Crusader, Yasu said: “It was a bit crazy. We’d never been to Manchester and knew very little about the UK. We’d been to London once. So we really didn’t know what to expect at all.
“We were really surprised with just how liveable the city is… it deserves the focus. I really feel people don’t know how great Manchester is, that includes some people who live here who probably take it for granted.
“We only really spoke basic French, so it’s been a dream to get here and meet new people. We love the food too! We love Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican, we’re spoilt for choice in Manchester and it’s all so accessible. All the good bits of a massive city without having to get the subway everywhere.
“We knew Crusader was for us. My wife loved the bricks and the history of the building. We’re settling into life as a family here too.
“People often find it strange we’re raising a child in the city, but that’s a very UK view. People do it all the time in America. With canals, green spaces nearby and the city on our doorsteps, it’s perfect for us.”
Dino, who lives in Phoenix. Credit: Supplied
Another international resident is Dino, who lives in the industrial-style Phoenix. He moved to Plymouth from Athens aged 17 to study – and then headed to Manchester ‘at random’, choosing it over Birmingham or London.
It’s all worked out for him, with Dino saying that the salary ceiling in the north no longer seems to apply to Manchester.
Dino said: “I moved to Manchester from Greece as a student around 15 years ago and since then have lived all over the world but, when it came to buying a home and settling down, it was always going to be here.
“It really is a home away from home. I love the people, the positive vibe and the amazing social scene.
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“A lot of big companies moved up from London after Covid so it’s got the job opportunities too. If they’d have been around I would never have left all those years ago for work. There’s no salary ceiling anymore in Manchester so you’re keeping talented people in the city.
“Living in Piccadilly East I’ve got everything on my doorstep and it’s a really friendly and safe community. I’ve got to know loads of my neighbours and it’s a nice feeling to know they’re around if I need anything or just want to hang out. Athens is where I was born, but Manchester is my home. It truly is a piece of heaven.”
Donavan Hervig. Credit: Supplied
Donovan Hervig, 50, has lived in some pretty big cities in his life, including Tennessee, Northern Virginia, New York City, and in South America, but when his young son settled in North Wales with his mother he turned to Manchester.
Then he found himself spoilt by cultural and artistic diversity, friendly people and mild summers.
Donovan set up the US-based online travel agency Ideal South America, which he is able to manage from Manchester despite concerns around time zones.
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He said: “I’ve been in the UK over seven years now and finally have dual citizenship. It’s been a long road, but well worth it! Manchester is not far by car or train from my son in North Wales and it’s got the best of everything you want from a city but it’s compact, walkable and the people are easy to talk to. It’s diverse too; with people from all over Europe, and the world.
“It’s easy to meet family, friends or even potential customers, without having to travel far. I’ve lived in New York City – which is amazing – so much to see and do. But like London, it’s much more expensive and takes an hour to get anywhere!
Inside Phoenix. Credit: Supplied
“These days I prefer somewhere smaller, a bit more laid back, less expensive and easier to get around … to me that’s Manchester. And the entertainment scene is still brilliant too! Football, arts, music – you name it. And the airport is well connected for international travel as well – second only to London.”
Donovan moved into his two-bedroom apartment in Crusader in May 2022, where he’s perfectly-placed to make the most of the surrounding food, drink and live music scene.
Donovan has made the most of the surrounding communities – live music and drinks in the Northern Quarter, the square at Ancoats, food at Mackie Mayor and even Oxford Rd.
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He continued: “After viewing houses in south Manchester where I was living, my teenage son and I started warming to the idea of living in the city centre instead. More convenient and modern – a different experience.
“If we found the right place – we thought it’d be brilliant for me and us both – a good change. But we didn’t want to sacrifice too much space either. We viewed some small, cramped apartments in the Northern Quarter… no thanks!
“Then we saw the flats in Crusader and… wow! So much more spacious, and in an interesting historical building, with a sense of community (owner occupied) and cool vibe.
“We’re really enjoying it here. I can pick up my son at Piccadilly just around the corner and we can walk to restaurants, the cinema and Man City matches – no public transport! I can easily walk to the office, meet friends for nights out and receive out of town visitors.”
Residents from both Phoenix and Crusader can relax in the mill’s stunning hidden courtyard, once a dirty, concrete car park and now a green oasis kitted out with BBQs and fire pits.
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It was a major attraction for residents, Donovan said: “I just thought I could get all the things you struggle for in places like London and NYC, where it’s crazy expensive to live. And you don’t get outside space and can at times be a bit unfriendly. Not Manchester!”
You can find out more about life at Capital & Centric’s Crusader here.
Emily Sergeant -
1st April 2022 
