Commuters travelling on Manchester’s trams will be able to grab a free book today, as thousands are given away along the Metrolink network.
Free reads have been placed on tram seats at the crack of dawn ready to be picked up by those travelling around Greater Manchester.
It’s all part of the World Book Day celebrations today, Thursday 2 March, created to promote a love of reading among kids and their families.
The free book giveaway on the trams is a partnership between charity World Book Day, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), the National Literacy Trust (NLT) and Manchester City Council.
Metrolink staff have placed the books on trams from depots, the majority of which will be for children but a selection will be for adults too.
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And if you miss the books on the trams, there are also freebies being handed out from three city libraries – Central Library at St Peter’s Square, Abraham Moss Library, and the Forum Library in Wythenshawe.
World Book Day has chosen Manchester to host visits from L.D. Lapinski and A.M. Dassu, two of their 14 authors for the special day, who will take a ride on the trams and visit local schools.
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Free books are being given away on Manchester trams. Credit: Unsplash
More than 300 children from five primary schools in the city will visit Central Library during the day for a special ‘meet the author’ session with award-winning author Hannah Gold, winner of the Blue Peter Book Award 2022 for her book The Lost Bear.
Councillor Adele Douglas, Deputy Executive Member for Employment, Skills, and Leisure, Manchester City Council said: “We take reading for pleasure very seriously here in Manchester and want all our children and young people to grow up loving a good read.
“Research shows that reading literally can change lives, and what better day to champion and celebrate this than on World Book Day.
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“So, whether you’re on a tram, sitting at home, or out and about in one of our libraries, pick up a book and see where it takes you!”
Danny Vaughan, TfGM’s Head of Metrolink, said: “We’re very pleased to be supporting partners in marking World Book Day in a very unique way in Manchester, and we can’t wait to welcome pupils and authors onto Metrolink throughout the day as part of the celebrations.
“Travelling on public transport can be a good time for customers of all ages to catch up on some reading, and I hope everyone enjoys the books that will be left for them on the trams today.”
Cassie Chadderton, Chief Executive at World Book Day said: “At World Book Day, we want all families, children and young people to have the opportunity to discover a love of reading. Fun reading experiences are at the heart of helping children and young people become lifelong readers and set them up for future success.
“We’re delighted to be working with our partners in Manchester to help make sure families, children and young people in the city have access to our World Book Day books and develop a lifelong habit of reading for pleasure. Just a short time spent reading together as a family can have a major impact on how children view reading.
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“We can’t wait to see how families across Manchester make this year’s World Book Day their own.”
Featured image: TfGM
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Chester Zoo’s popular FREE Nature Fest returns this weekend with its biggest event yet
Emily Sergeant
A free festival helping people connect to nature is returning for its 10th anniversary, and organisers say it will be their biggest event yet.
Nature Fest is returning to Chester Zoo this weekend, and is set to explore the relationship between nature and wellbeing, with lots of new activities designed to help festivalgoers experience the benefits of connecting with the natural world
Around 4,000 people, and lots of families, are expected to attend across the weekend.
Visitors can take part in animal yoga sessions, relax in a zen den, and explore an interactive nature adventure based around the five pathways to nature connection, traveling along tunnels and through a tree along the way.
There will also be live music, puppetry, crafts, workshops and talks, alongside opportunities to discover how conservationists work to protect wildlife.
Chester Zoo’s popular Nature Fest returns this weekend with its biggest event yet / Credit: Chester Zoo
On top of that, the festival will feature stands from various nature organisations and community groups across the North West, talks and tips from nature professionals, and wildlife-friendly gardening sessions with the zoo’s schools team.
Chester Zoo has also teamed up with Outside Lives Ltd on the festival, giving visitors the chance to take part in other activities like crazy golf, den building, and willow weaving.
“We’re hoping our 10th Nature Fest will be the biggest yet,” commented Chris Ablett, who is the Community Volunteer Assistant Manager at Chester Zoo.
“Chester Zoo is well known for supporting conservation across the world but protecting nature here in the UK is just as important.
“We want people to know there are simple things they can do to help wildlife at home, and Nature Fest is a great way to link up with people and learn new skills you can put into practice in your community, all while enjoying a great day out.”
Chester Zoo’s Nature Fest returns for 2026 this weekend on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September. It’s free to attend, parking is also free, and no booking is required.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
What's On
Greater Manchester’s spooky steam trains are returning this Halloween
Emily Sergeant
Spooky season is right around the corner, and one of Greater Manchester’s most-popular Halloween events is returning.
What’s Halloween without East Lancashire Railway‘s (ELR) eerie ghost trains at this point? Generally selling out each year, the heritage railway’s Halloween Trains always prove to be top of the Halloween bucket list for people looking for some ‘spooktacular fun’ once the scariest time of year rolls around.
And 2026 is expected to be no different… in fact, it’ll be even creepier than normal, because the scream train has had a spooky makeover.
You can expect flickering lights, eerie sounds, creepy surprises, and perhaps a very unwelcome visitor climbing aboard.
Those brave enough at lending the Monster Squad a helping hand at banishing ghosts and ghouls will be whisked away on a haunted steam engine through the atmospheric Greater Manchester countryside.
Before you join them though, you’ll need to prove you have what it takes by making it through the Halloween Walkthrough on the footbridge with a fair few jump scares.
Once you reach the platform, you’ll be greeted by Halloween favourites, Vampire Brian and Veronica the Witch, who’ll prepare you for your terrifying train trip with a song, a dance, and probably a scream or two.
Spooky steam train rides through Greater Manchester are returning this Halloween / Credit: ELR
As you take in the autumn sights and delights of the local countryside out the historic steam train’s windows on your journey, there’ll be lots of spooky entertainment and music along the way, and as always, screaming and singalongs are to be expected – and encouraged – as this is all part of the experience.
Families are also encouraged to ‘show off your spookiest fancy dress’ on the day too, and if you make it to the end, then a goody bag for every child ‘full of tricks and treats’ awaits.
Daisy Jackson -
2nd March 2023 
