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Avril Lavigne is performing in Manchester this spring

The Manc The Manc - 18th February 2020
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Chester Zoo announces new spring date for its popular running event to help UK wildlife

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Chester Zoo has announced that its popular Run For Nature is back again this year, and this time, there’s a new spring edition.

The UK’s biggest charity zoo seen success with this event in the past few years, with thousands of runners signing up for one of the North West’s most unique athletic experiences and all funds raised going towards efforts to protect highly-endangered giraffes in Africa.

This year though, the much-loved event’s focus brings conservation ‘a little closer to home’ and will protect some of the UK’s most threatened species instead – with all funds helping to safeguard hedgehogs, kingfishers, otters, harvest mice, and more.

It comes as the UK is currently considered one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth.

Participants will first get to wind through the zoo and enjoy glimpses of elephants, lemurs, and other incredible species along the way, before heading out into the picturesque Cheshire countryside.

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Adults can choose from a 10K or 5K route, while younger runners are invited to take part in a one-mile ‘Zoom’ race, open to children aged four-15, which takes place entirely within the zoo’s incredible 130-acre grounds.

All runners will receive free entry to the zoo for the rest of the day as part of their registration, along with a 25% discount for friends and family who come along to show support.

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Chester Zoo Run For Nature
Chester Zoo’s popular 10K charity run is returns with a new spring date / Credit: Chester Zoo

Lorraine Jubb, who is the Fundraising Lead at Chester Zoo, called the Run For Nature a ‘really special event’.

“In previous years, runners have already supported conservation efforts for Asian elephants, Eastern black rhinos and Northern giraffe,” she explained. This springtime though, we’re turning our attention much closer to home  in the UK, and to the wildlife we share our gardens, parks and countryside with. 

“With one in six species now at risk of extinction in the UK, every runner will be playing a vital role in helping us protect animals and supporting our growing nature recovery work across right across Cheshire.

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Run For Nature will take place on the new springtime date of Sunday 29 March 2026, and there’s 3,000 places to sign up for.

You can find out more and register on the Chester Zoo website here.

Featured Image – Chester Zoo


What's On

Salford is celebrating 100 years of being its own city with FREE community events throughout 2026

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant SFTOC

Salford is marking 100 years of city status this year, and to celebrate is launching a programme of free community events.

The city-wide celebrations – which are set to weave in the true character of the city and its communities – will launch on 21 April to coincide with the date Salford was officially granted city status in 1926, and they will run throughout the year culminating in a spectacular finale moment in the autumn.

Salford City Council has appointed renowned creative organisations Walk the Plank and From The Other as co-creative producers for the programme.

The partnership will explore the past, celebrate the present, and imagine the future through a cultural programme spread across all eight neighbourhoods in Salford.

From a monumental living portrait of the city projected onto local buildings in Salford Everywhere, to Songs of Salford where emerging and established musical collaborators are brought together, and The Wagon Train, a pop-up festival shaped by each neighbourhood it visits, each event is set to amplify the city’s cultural community.

The programme is also hoping to help ensure the arts and world-class culture is accessible to all.

“We’re immensely proud of Salford’s thriving cultural sector and it’s fantastic that two of our most renowned cultural organisations will be delivering the Salford Centenary Cultural Programme,” commented Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett.

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Salford is celebrating 100 years of being its own city with free community events / Credit: Chris Payne | Walk The Plank (Supplied)

“Both organisations bring a wealth of experience, creativity and unrivalled local knowledge to this project, and I’m extremely excited to experience the unique activities they will deliver as part of our centenary year.

“2026 promises to be a truly special year for the city, with this cultural programme at the heart of the celebrations.”

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There’s also plenty of different ways to get involved too, and you can find out more on the Salford 100 website here.

Featured Image – Breige Cobane (Supplied)

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