Jerome

In this podcast I take up an invitation to visit a small charity in Fegg Hayes, in North Staffordshire.The Restoration Shack aims to be ‘a creative space where individuals can thrive and feel valued’.It was set up by Linda Williams.“It’s all about heart for me. The essence of it is this, everything we try to do is about quality. We will give of the very best. We use the ver

“I’ve learned how resilient you can be, and how simple life could be. Life is very complex, there’s lots of things you’ve got to do, and people worry about lots of different things. But, if you trim it down, it’s just a matter of getting on with people,” said Chris Parr.Chris is Director of the Stoke 2000 project, “an art, culture, education and recycling project” i

WARNING: ADULT CONTENT. The interview contains swearing, and descriptions of abuse and violence.Jerome chats with Stoke-on-Trent indie author Jo Haywood about KNAVE, her second book.Jo tells Jerome about her long-standing passion for writing fiction, hints at her fascination with all things paranormal, and she plugs Stoke Indoor Market - where she used to be employed as manager.Jo

I set myself a challenge of photographing as many species of bumblebee as I could find in one day.I trekked through fields, a former golf course, nature reserve and country park in Silverdale, and along a trail into Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre.These are my thoughts and observations recorded along the way.Can we do more to help our bumblebees? Where are they doing best? How man

“My nickname is Birdman. So, I use birds in all of my work. For me, birds can travel the world without thinking of borders, you know? Something I don't have the luxury of.”Semaan Khawam is artist-in-residence at Allison Lochhead’s ‘Art for Peace’ exhibition, showing at Appetite’s Astley Walk arts space in Newcastle-under-Lyme.He tells me more about the inspiration

"It turns out with Newcastle-under-Lyme that the market's been one of the main things for the culture of the place," says Kidda.Kidda Kinsey is one of five artists and illustrators commissioned by Appetite to create 'Maps in March'."These maps will build on our original town centre map created by Chloe Breeze and explore the specific themes of nature,

"My interest in Maps in March is looking at the green spaces in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre, and uncovering some of the stories about some of the trees in particular that are around the town centre, and in the parks and along the walkways, to bring out people to just appreciate what's around them," says Su.Su Hurrell, Ladybird Su, is one of five artists and illu

Siobhan McAleer, artist and community curator, is the creative force behind The Depository of the Dull. It’s a project delivered jointly by Appetite and the Brampton Museum, and it’s inviting you to ‘bring in your objects and tell us your stories’.Siobhan said: “The Depository of the Dull was made as a virtual museum in lockdown last year. I invited people to tell us abou

Light Over Winter is Appetite’s latest offering at their Newcastle Common venue, in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre, North Staffordshire.It’s an exhibition of photographs by 14 local photographers who’ve taken part in workshops lead by Grain photography hub.I went along to a bustling preview event (Thursday 6th January 2021) to meet some of the workshop leaders and a number

Poet Jennifer Spice invites children and others to take a walk and to talk about nature.She’s been engaging with children from Crescent Primary School, Stoke-on-Trent, in a series of workshops to “feel a bit of nature, pick up a stone, connect with nature, read some poetry in nature, do some breathing in nature.”In this podcast episode Jennifer tells how the children respond