We all know Manchester is deprived of any sort of outdoor swimming opportunities – remember the calls to turn the old Central Retail Park into a lido?
Unfortunately for us, when it is sunny we’re just going to have to travel a little way for a dip.
But there might be a new outdoor swimming contender about to join the list, just an hour away from Manchester city centre.
Plans are in place to turn a disused reservoir just outside Bingley into a natural swimming pool, right in the heart of St.Ives regional park, The Hoot reports.
If it all goes ahead – and we’re praying that it will – the ambitious project will transform the Kettlewell Reservoir.
ADVERTISEMENT
Yorkshire Swim Works will feature a large lake area for swimming, splashing, dipping and more as well as a six lane 50m pool for more serious swimming and classes.
The body of water used to supply water to Bingley residents, but several years after it was built in 1909 it developed leaks and was abandoned.
ADVERTISEMENT
Plans to turn a disused reservoir into a natural swimming pool have been revealed. Credit: Yorkshire Swim Works
Now nature has taken over and a lot of people don’t even know it exists.
Yorkshire Swim Works are hoping to put the spot back on the map by turning it into a massive natural swimming pool.
The water-neutral development will allow nature to flourish in what is already a wildlife-rich location.
ADVERTISEMENT
The natural pool will be just a 30 minute walk from Bingley, which itself is a short train ride from Leeds.
Speaking of the impact the plans could have on the local area, director of Yorkshire Swim Works Russell Bowman said: “It’s huge isn’t it. Ambitious is the word that I’ve heard a lot!
How the natural swimming pool an hour from Manchester could look
“The benefits of swimming and in particular outdoor swimming are now well proven. The boost it gives to mental and physical health and its ability to create social cohesion are documented and building something of this scale that sits so naturally in the environment is a project that deserves support.
“With a young family myself, seeing investment in the area, new opportunities for them and the potential economic boost of tourists coming to the area fills me with excitement.
“I believe that YSW can be (we’re all using this word sorry!) a catalyst for the next stage in Bingley’s evolution and an incredible boost to the St Ives Estate that has struggled in recent times.”
ADVERTISEMENT
You can take part in a survey about the plans for Kettlewell Reservoir here.
Major update on Manchester monster trail after bad weather sends them ‘into hiding’
Daisy Jackson
The ever-popular trail of inflatable monsters around Manchester has been disrupted by the weather this week – and some of the spooky creatures are still in hiding.
Every year, these gigantic colourful ghouls pop up on rooftops and at landmarks all over town, creating a fun and free family-friendly Halloween trail through the city.
But this year, the arrival of the monster trail coincided with something else – the arrival of Storm Boelo.
It’s meant that many of the inflatable beasts have had to go into hiding over last weekend’s Halloween In The City celebrations, and some still haven’t been reinstated.
The popular Halloween celebration also had to be drastically scaled back for the ‘safety of visitors, performers, staff and everyone involved in the event’.
Currently, you’ll be able to spot plenty of monsters to keep you busy around town, with creatures on display at sheltered indoor spots like Printworks, Corn Exhange, and Medlock Square.
Other hardy critters still standing include the ones at Selfridges, Treehouse Hotel, and the AO Arena, plus the big orange fella draped over Kampus.
Organisers of the trail are hoping to get more MCR Monsters back up and spooking as the day goes on, and they’ll remain on display until this Saturday, 31 October.
Medlock SquareSelfridgesAO ArenaSome of the monsters who survived the storm. Credit: The Manc Group
In a statement shared last week, organisers said: “Due to the severe weather conditions forecast for Manchester this weekend, the difficult decision has been made to close Halloween in the City activities from 12pm on Saturday 24 October and throughout Sunday 25 October.
“The safety of visitors, performers, staff and everyone involved in the event is our absolute priority and with strong winds and storm conditions forecast, we believe this is the most responsible course of action.
“We understand this will be disappointing for visitors looking forward to celebrating Halloween in the City this weekend and we thank everyone for their understanding.”
You can keep on eye on the MCR Monsters Instagram for more updates on the trail around Manchester.
Popular pumpkin patch attraction describes ‘catastrophic’ impact of Storm Boelo
Daisy Jackson
Bates Farm, one of the most popular pumpkin patch attractions in the North West, has shared its heartbreak after Storm Boelo forced its closure on the busiest day of the season.
The Warrington-based family farm said the financial impact has been ‘honestly catastrophic’, after they had to cancel all tickets for Sunday.
Sisters Ali and Fiona Wilshaw, who run the farm, said it was simply not safe to allow members of the public onto the farm in the storm, with ‘crazy’ gusts of wind.
They later shared a video that showed their marquee was badly damaged and many footpaths turned to deep mud.
The sisters said they were ‘heartbroken’ to have to close at such a busy time, but stressed to followers that ‘your safety and our integrity will always come first’.
On Saturday, as Storm Austen and Storm Boelo chased each other across the UK, several people shared videos of themselves getting battered by the weather at Bates Farm.
And it’s pretty clear from that why Ali and Fi decided to cancel all tickets and close for the day on Sunday.
They wrote: “We have put in so much love, energy and investment putting on this event at this scale. The cost to cancel and refund everyone today on our busiest day of the season is honestly catastrophic, but business aside, your safety and our integrity will always come first.
“To think last night we were running round Tesco trying to stock up on milk and now we are in the depths of recovering the site to go again tomorrow. All emails and enquiries are being responded to as quickly as possible and we are doing our best to open up more available slots next week.
“We are being tested like never before, but pulling together in true force. Huge shout out to the whole team and Farmer Fi the absolute queen in any crisis.
“Thank you all for your patience and especially thank you to those who have sent such kind words and support, we are so grateful to have customers like you.
“We will be back tomorrow to enjoy the remaining of this tough season, we are putting in so many provisions with wood chip paths, undercover seating and an indoor barn to make your visit as enjoyable as possible. Ali & Fi.”
Anyone who had tickets to visit Bates Farm on Sunday will be refunded, and can book in for another date.
Bates Farm has safely reopened its autumnal experience and pumpkin patch today.
Daisy Jackson -
27th May 2024 
