The Queen's Baton Relay started out at Buckingham Palace in London in October 2021 and has been on a journey of Commonwealth countries ever since. We are thrilled that the Baton's journey will include Cannock Chase District on Saturday 23 July when it passes through Rugeley, Hednesford and Cannock, on its way to the Opening Ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on 28 July.

The summarised route and the timings of the Queen's Baton Relay as it passes through Cannock Chase District are as follows:

• Arrives Wolseley Road, Rugeley at 3.25pm - ends at Horsefair in Rugeley at 3.47pm
• Arrives Market Street, Hednesford at 4pm - ends at Hednesford Park Pavilion at 4.30pm
• Arrives Church Street, Cannock at 4.50pm - ends in Cannock town centre at 5.08pm

A press release issued on 5 July about the Queen's Baton Relay coming to Cannock Chase on 23 July can be found here

Last Updated: 15/07/2022

The 22nd Commonwealth Games will be hosted by Birmingham from 28 July to 8 August. We were thrilled that Cannock Chase District played a part in this international sporting event when we hosted the Men’s and Women’s Mountain Biking event on 3 August.

The cream of the Commonwealth countries’ mountain bikers descended on Cannock Chase Forest, known locally as Birches Valley and managed by Forestry England, to compete for medals over a world class course. In this country the sport is in good health: at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Great Britain's Tom Pidcock won Gold, and Malvern's Evie Richards was seventh in the women's event before going onto to become the Women's Cross- Country Champion at the 2021 Mountain Bike World Championships.

Cannock Chase Forest is already well known as a centre for mountain biking with two established waymarked trails called `Follow the Dog` and the `Monkey Trail`, as well as being the location of the Cannock Chase Cycle Centre.

Cannock Chase is the northernmost venue for the Games and as such is `represented` on the Games official logo as the top of a triangular configuration that plots the locations of all the Games’ venues.

The attention the Games has brought to the District, especially from international television audiences where mountain biking is one of the most popular spectacles, was significant and especially the legacy created. Cannock Chase Council, Forestry England and Staffordshire County Council, as the organising partners,  worked with the team at Birmingham 2022 to make the preparations and to deliver a successful event.

We will include below information of particular relevance to our District as it is published. For further information on the Commonwealth Games visit the official website here.

Last Updated: 04/08/2022

Find out what's on in the district.

See the menu to the left of this page to view events.

Last Updated: 14/04/2022

COUNTY’S COUNTRYSIDE TAKES CENTRE STAGE FOR STAFFORDSHIRE DAY 2022

Staffordshire’s beautiful countryside and urban green spaces will be the centre of attention for the 2022 Staffordshire Day celebrations.

Coordinators Enjoy Staffordshire, in conjunction with We Are Staffordshire, Staffordshire County Council, and other local authority partners, have chosen The Great Outdoors as the theme for the seventh county day, which falls on Sunday 1 May.

A host of events and activities will be organised to promote Staffordshire’s natural assets, including the Staffordshire Day Film Competition (https://filmfreeway.com/STAFFORDSHIREDAYFILMFESTIVAL), which returns for a second year.

The competition, sponsored by the Staffordshire Film Archive, is open to all film-makers, but all entries have to be either filmed in Staffordshire or celebrate the county in some way. There are six categories, with a £500 prize for the overall winner.

Philip White, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member with responsibility for tourism at Staffordshire County Council said: “We have a lot to shout about here in Staffordshire, and over the last six years we’ve used Staffordshire Day on 1 May to tell the world what a wonderful place it is to live in and visit.

“This year’s theme is the great outdoors and we’re celebrating our amazing countryside and open spaces.  With national treasures like Cannock Chase, the Peak District, part of The National Forest and numerous country parks, we have so much to explore and be proud of.

“As in previous years, we want everyone to join in the celebrations. There will be a host of different events and activities over the weekend, including our film festival which is back for this year, so we’re encouraging people to take part and get exploring.

“Our last two Staffordshire Days were held virtually because of Covid-19, so this year we’ll be crossing our fingers and hoping we can get back to physical events and celebrations.”

Louisa Shaw, Place Brand Manager for We Are Staffordshire said: “During the last two years of the pandemic, people have realised the value of the green spaces and natural environment around them, and how this is central to our sense of quality of life and wellbeing.

“We have an abundance of open countryside and protected natural landscapes across Staffordshire, and these spaces are not only attractive tourism destinations, but a central part of the lives of people who live and work here; where people can find tranquillity, get active and come together to enjoy quality time, as we are so eager to do on Staffordshire Day, after two virtual years of celebration!

“We’ll be releasing details of the programme of public events and activities taking place over the coming weeks, but with sustainability high on the agenda, we’re looking forward to celebrating the great outdoors in Staffordshire this year, showcasing why our county is such an attractive place to live and visit.”

Last Updated: 14/04/2022

You can pay to park using your mobile phone across Cannock Chase Council's car parks using PayByPhone. Simply register with PayByPhone online and you will never have to worry about finding loose change to park in the District again.

Read a copy of the full press release here.

Last Updated: 04/04/2022

 The Old Brickworks Nature Reserve is owned and managed by the land trust.

Click the link below to find out more:

https://thelandtrust.org.uk/space/the-old-brickworks-nature-reserve/?doing_wp_cron=1526369333.3719630241394042968750

Last Updated: 05/02/2020

A vibrant street market takes place in Cannock Town Centre from 9.00am to 4.00pm every Tuesday and Friday offering a wide variety of goods and produce. The market is operated by Bescot Promotions Ltd. which is a an established market operator with over 40 years’ experience of providing indoor and outdoor events. Family owned and run, Bescot Promotions pride themselves on creating a family-friendly, fun and safe atmosphere for all visitors and stall holders.

Goods available to buy on the street market include locally sourced food; crafts and gifts as well as seasonal items and more traditional retail market  products.

Anyone interested in running a stall on Cannock Street Market should contact Bescot Promotions’ Market Manager Spencer Evans on 07875 655875 or info@bescotpromotions.co.uk

Last Updated: 14/04/2022

Are you thinking of visiting the Cannock Chase area? If so, please take a look at our guide to find out more about Cannock Chase and the surrounding area.

Please see our pdf file below which can be viewed on screen or printed.

There are a range of visitor attractions in the District, including the new McArthurGlen Designer Outlet in Cannock, and also some beautiful countryside, where several of our attractions are located.

Indeed, the heathlands across Cannock Chase are among Europe's rarest habitats and home to some of our most endangered animal and plant species. Many of these habitats and species are legally protected and a great amount of work is being done to safeguard their future. To ensure these wild areas and beautiful animals will be around for future generations to enjoy, we ask that all visitors remain on the footpaths, refrain from littering, keep dogs on leads and clean up your dog's mess.

If you would like any further information about visiting Cannock Chase, please contact the Economic Development team on 01543 464272 or email visit@cannockchasedc.gov.uk

Take a look at our new tourism leaflet below - your guide on getting more from your visit to Cannock Chase.
It's packed full of information about things to do and places to visit, plus there’s also the Cannock Chase Heritage Trail map with walking routes and cycle trails stretching over 10 miles.

Last Updated: 09/11/2021

For more information about Cannock Chase or beyond, please contact our Visitor Information Point:

Museum of Cannock Chase
Valley Road
Hednesford
Staffordshire
WS12 1TD

Email: museumofcannockchase@wlct.org
Call: 01543 877666

If you would like to contact us in relation to any item on this site, or to add relevant links please contact the Economic Development Team at:

Tel: 01543 464226
Email: visit@cannockchasedc.gov.uk

Other Useful Contacts

Incidents/Lost and Found, please call crimestoppers on: 0800 555 111
Staffordshire County Council, general enquiries: 0300 111 8000

Last Updated: 25/01/2016