Posted on Tuesday 3rd August 2021
Left to right; Staffordshire County Councillor Johnny McMahon, Lynn Evans, Jorgie Devey, Kerry Hutchings (Staffordshire Libraries and Arts service) Cannock Chase District Councillor Valerie Jones
Families are being invited to join a series of story trails taking place in parks and green spaces across Cannock Chase.
The story trails will take place during August to celebrate the annual Summer Reading Challenge, which takes place in Staffordshire’s libraries each year.
This year’s theme is Wild World Heroes and families joining in the popular reading challenge will get the chance to collect stickers, bookmarks, a medal and a certificate.
On the 25th August a celebration event is also planned in Hednesford Park for children who have completed the Summer Reading Challenge via Hednesford Library.
Victoria Wilson, Cabinet Member responsible for libraries at Staffordshire County Council said:
“The Summer Reading Challenge is always incredibly popular and I’m sure this year’s will be just as much fun.
“It’s a great way of encouraging the kids to read over the summer and by tying it in with the story trails in Cannock parks, it means that families can also get out and about and keep healthy at the same time.
"I’d definitely encourage parents to sign up for the scheme and the trails so we can keep the children happy, healthy and busy over the summer holidays.”
Welcoming the launch of the story trails in the District, Cannock Chase Council’s Portfolio Leader for Community Engagement, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Val Jones said:
“Summertime is the perfect opportunity for children to read books for pleasure with the school holidays now under way.
“And in a year when travel opportunities have been limited and many things we enjoy restricted, what better way to fire the imagination, `visit` new places and learn about new things through the power of books whilst following this year’s theme of Wild World Heroes.
"Not to mention, the chance to take part in a challenge with certificates and medals on offer as you go about your reading.”
Lynn Evan’s - Friends of Hednesford Park added:
“Encouraging young people to find reading fun has been a passion for The Friends of Hednesford Park since they started in 2011 and at that time we ran a weekly Jackanory Club at West Hill Primary School.
"A brick story chair, created by artist Rosemary Cripps, was installed in the park to be used by all ages to promote storytelling sessions.”
The story trails have been organised by Staffordshire County Council’s libraries service, in partnership with the Friends of Hednesford Park, Cannock Chase District Council and local community organisations.
Story trails will take place at:
- Cannock Park,
- Hednesford Park
- Cannock Stadium Park
- Elmore Park
- Flaxley Road Park.
- Chester Road Park
- Ravenhill Park
- Green Lane Park
- Winstanley Close Park
- North Park
- Heath Hayes Park
- Wimblebury Park
- Newlands Park
- Gorsemoor Park
- Parks across Norton Canes.
Story trails will launch from Monday 2nd August and people can find out more on the Staffordshire Libraries Facebook page at www.facebook.com/staffordshirelibraries
Families can sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge at their local library and take part in family fun activities each Wednesday in August on the libraries Facebook page.