With the end of January fast approaching and the end of the cold weather clearly on the horizon, several green initiatives will soon kickstart the spring, including ‘Plant Preston’ for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

This week, positive news came from Lancashire County Council after they approved devolution plans for their New Deal for Greater Lancashire, with Preston set to benefit from regional funding and local decision-making powers.

Here are five other stories you may have missed.

Winckley Square relief charity seeks applications from local causes

A historic Winckley Square charity with reserves of £600,000 is searching for applications from local causes.

The Daniel’s and Houghton’s Charity is an amalgamation of two charities created in 1649 and 1734 and provides relief to Lancashire residents in conditions of need, hardship or distress.

The charity offers items, services or facilities grants to those in need in Preston, Grimsargh, Broughton, Woodplumpton, Eaves, Catforth, Bartle, Alston and Elston.

Read the full story here

UCLan vet visits Holyrood Palace to receive OBE from Princess Anne 

A UCLan vet surgeon has attended Holyrood Palace to accept an OBE after landing a place in the Queen’s 2020 New Year Honours list.

Princess Anne awarded Dr Heather Bacon, an integral member of the University of Central Lancashire’s new School of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr Bacon accepted her insignia from Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal in Edinburgh after being recognised in the New Year Honours list for her services to veterinary education, animal welfare and charity work in the UK and abroad.

Read the full story here

Preston North End to host Rainbow Hub’s eighth annual Workout-athon

The eighth annual Rainbow Hub Workout-athon is returning to Preston North End FC next month after going virtual last year.

Supported by JMW Solicitors, the event takes place on Sunday 20 February, from 10.00am to 1.00 pm, in The Great Room, Preston North End Football Club, Sir Tom Finney Way.

Rainbow Hub’s Workout-athon is back live with challenges to help residents get fit for 2022 and raise funds for the Mawdesley-based charity that supports children and young people with physical and neurological disabilities.

Read the full story here

Fulwood’s Ladyewell Nursery to reopen after eight-month revamp

A Fulwood nursery that mysteriously closed in March 2020 will reopen this month following an eight-month revamp.

Parents and carers were left disgruntled after Ladyewell Nursery closed without explanation, with parents and carers saying they were owed money and had property locked inside the building.

Now under new ownership, the nursery, acquired in May 2021 by Evergreen Early Years, has undergone a refurbishment, with an expected reopening date of Saturday 29 January 2022, 11am to 1pm.

Read the full story here

Music and comedy show to launch 2022 theatre programme at Preston’s The Ferret 

Successful act Black Liver will launch The Ferret’s 2022 theatre programme with their hit comedy theatre show.

Labelled ‘The White Stripes with laughs’, Black Liver are a musical duo, comedy double act and real-life couple Ruth E. Cockburn and Keith Carter.

Their new show Support Your Local Library: A Gothic Pub Rock Opera! took the festival circuit by storm last year. The show is an hour-long comedic rock opera that invites audiences on an insightful and entertaining journey along the shelves of their local library.

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