Heaton Park and Alexandra Park have been named some of the best parks across the whole of the UK.
Over the past 18 months, parks and green spaces throughout the country have played a vital role for people in lockdown by providing a place to relax, exercise, and meet friends and family as safely as possible.
And some of those all-important parks are now award-winning.
Along with Gorton, Philips Park, and Southern and Blackley cemeteries, two of the city’s most-popular and much-loved suburban green spaces Heaton Park and Alexandra Park have been awarded the Green Flag Award.
Not only that, but Heaton Park – which covers an area of over 600-acres – has bagged the coveted Green Heritage Site Accreditation for the management of its historic features.
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Heaton Park / Credit: Geograph (David Dixon) | Wikimedia Commons
55 green spaces in total have been given the Green Flag across Greater Manchester.
If you’re not familiar with the The Green Flag Award scheme and why it’s such a brilliant achievement for the city-region, the international quality mark recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, and aims to set the benchmark standard for the management of communal spaces across the UK and around the world.
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This year, as the initiative celebrates its Silver Jubilee, more than 2,000 parks and green spaces are being awarded flags nationwide.
“Our parks and green spaces have always been well used,” said Cllr Rabnawaz Akbar – Executive Member for Neighbourhoods at Manchester City Council.
Alexandra Park / Credit: Flickr (Donald Judge)
“But never more so than in the last year and a half as the green lungs of our city have been a lifeline for many people during lockdown.
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“Although we know how good these spaces are, how dedicated our staff are as the custodians of our parks and cemeteries, the wonderful volunteers that help to make our green spaces what they are, it is also a fantastic achievement to get recognition that we are doing an excellent job for the benefit of all.”
Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd has congratulated everyone involved in “making all these sites in Manchester worthy of a Green Flag Award.”
Featured Image – Geograph (David Dixon)
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Data reveals Manchester hotel prices have ALREADY surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates
Emily Sergeant
Manchester hotel prices have apparently already surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates, some new data has revealed.
Of course, absolutely nothing is set in stone yet and we are still yet to receive any form of announcement.
But with rumours having been swirling for months now that Oasis will be touring again in 2027, and several videos shared on the band’s social media platforms this week also hinting at that, it’s been revealed that searches for ‘when are Oasis tickets going on sale?’ have soared by 5,000% in the last seven days alone.
After recent data has pointed towards soaring searches for tickets, the experts at SeatPick decided to analyse the average cost of accommodation in Manchester on the suspected concert nights in June 2027 to uncover if prices have surged along with the searches.
Data reveals that Manchester hotel prices have already surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates / Credit: The Manc Group | Simon Emmett (Press Picture)
And lo and behold, it appears that they have.
The ticketing platform has revealed that hotel prices have surged by up to 462% during Oasis’ rumoured concert nights in Manchester.
The rumoured weekend date of 19 and 20 June has experienced the most noticeable price surge – with a two-star hotel costing an average of £216 for just one overnight stay.
The data also reveals that the rumoured finale on the 27 June has just a £95 difference between two-star hotels (£200) and five-star hotels (£295).
“Our analysis uncovered an enormous markup for local accommodation on nights that Oasis is rumoured to perform in Manchester,” explained Gilad Zilberman, who is the CEO at ticket platform SeatPick.
“Being aware of these accommodation costs and additional expenses can help fans plan and avoid being caught off guard by inflated prices on concert nights.
“To find the best deals on hotels, concertgoers should scan budget chains in the city or look slightly outside of the centre in hotspots served by local bus routes or regional trains, such as Salford and Trafford.
“Booking early might also be beneficial for fans dedicated to seeing the band perform.
“You can opt for free cancellation options, in case rumoured dates change, or you’re no longer able to attend.”
Featured Image – Point3D (via Unsplash)
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Aldi confirms ‘special’ 62-hour closure of all its 1,000+ stores across UK
Emily Sergeant
Aldi has announced that it’ll, once again, be closing the doors of all of its stores across the UK for 62 hours this year.
Christmas is always known to be one of the busiest periods of the year for the retail industry, and Boxing Day has a reputation for being the ultimate day for shopping deals and discounts in the UK – but this year, just like it has done on several years in the past, Aldi has made the decision to close all of its stores nationwide on this bank holiday.
The supermarket retailer says it wants to thank its colleagues ‘for all their hard work’ throughout the year by giving them some extra time to spend with their families.
This means that all Aldi stores will be closed on both 25 and 26 December.
That’s not all though, as stores will also be closed on New Year’s Day, and will reopen once again on Saturday 2 January 2027.
Aldi has announced a ‘special’ 62-hour closure of all its UK stores / Credit: Aldi UK
Opening hours at different Aldi stores across the UK will vary in the lead-up to Christmas, so it’s important to check the times for your local store, but the retailer has confirmed that most branches will be operating extended hours to ‘ensure customers can stock up ahead of the big day’
In the interim period between Christmas and New Year, stores will reopen as usual on Sunday 27 through to Wednesday 30 December, with reduced hours also likely on Sunday and New Year’s Eve.
Speaking on the decision to shut up shop for a full 62-hour period this festive season, Rachel Geary, who is the Communications Director at Aldi UK, said: “Christmas is a special time for our customers, but it is also one of the busiest periods of the year for our teams.
“Our colleagues work incredibly hard to ensure customers can pick up everything they need ahead of the big day.
“We never take that effort for granted. Closing our stores on Boxing Day is one way of saying thank you and giving colleagues a proper chance to rest, switch off and spend more time with the people closest to them.”
Emily Sergeant -
15th October 2021 
