Leeds News

31/05/2025

Step into our Walled Garden Adventure Trail and discover the magic of growing!

As part of RHS Children's Gardening Week running till 1 June, we've created a fun, interactive trail where young explorers can learn about the walled garden and its history, plants and wildlife 🦋

Can you spot the busiest bees or find the wiggliest worms?

With hands-on activities and plenty of surprises, this trail is perfect for curious minds and green-fingered youngsters. Come and celebrate the joys of gardening in our beautiful walled garden 🌸

31/05/2025

is a local campaign to encourage people across Leeds to eat Just One More portion of vegetables every day as a snack or in their meals.

Share with us your Just One More ‘Veg Selfie’ photos on or to be in with a chance to win prizes https://foodwiseleeds.org/project/just-one-more/

Just One More Just One More Just One More: Helping Leeds Eat More Veg Every Day Just One More is a local campaign to encourage people across Leeds to eat Just One More portion of vegetables every day as a snack or in their meals. Our campaign will start with an engagement week from Monday 19th to Fr...

24/05/2025

23/05/2025

Councillor Dan Cohen Appointed 131st Lord Mayor of Leeds. Councillor Dan Cohen has been officially appointed as the new Lord Mayor of Leeds during Leeds City Council’s annual general meeting. Succeeding Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung, Councillor Dan Cohen becomes the 131st individual to hold the prestigious role. Accompanying him throughout his mayoral year will be his wife, Mrs. Elayna Cohen, who will serve as the Lady Mayoress. Councillor Dan Cohen, a native of Alwoodley, was educated at Leeds Grammar School before studying law at Northumbria University. After graduating in 1996 and qualifying as a solicitor, he spent the majority of his career as managing director and head of in-house legal at Madison Hosiery — a prominent Leeds-based SME that imports and distributes hosiery to major UK retailers. The company was founded by his father, Henry Cohen, in the 1960s. Elected to represent the Alwoodley ward on Leeds City Council in May 2011, Councillor Cohen has established a strong reputation as a committed and proactive representative. He has also served as chair of the council’s Children and Families Scrutiny Board. Heartfelt Congratulations to Councillor Dan Cohen on his appointment as Lord Mayor of Leeds. On behalf of all who cherish the spirit and progress of our great city, we extend our warmest congratulations to Councillor Dan Cohen on his appointment as the 131st Lord Mayor of Leeds https://leedsstar.co.uk/our-city/councillor-dan-cohen-appointed-131st-lord-mayor-of-leeds/

23/05/2025

Leeds to Honour Service Personnel with Return of Armed Forces Festival. Now in its second year, the Leeds Armed Forces Festival is set to return with a dynamic line-up of themed events and activities, all building up to Armed Forces Day at the end of next month. The festival promises a variety of engaging and inclusive events across the city, offering residents and visitors alike the chance to honour and celebrate Leeds’s armed forces community. Hosted by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, the festival offers a meaningful opportunity for the city to come together and honour the dedication and sacrifice of the armed forces community. From serving personnel and reservists to veterans, cadets, and military families, the event celebrates all those who play a role in protecting and supporting our nation. Everyone in Leeds is invited to take part in this year’s Armed Forces Festival, with a diverse line-up of events offering something for all interests and ages. Festival highlights include the popular 1940s Weekend at Lotherton Hall, special exhibitions at the Royal Armouries, a Commonwealth War Graves tour, and ‘Tea and Talk’ at Temple Newsam. Visitors can also enjoy a curator-led talk and object-handling session at Leeds Discovery Centre, along with a series of social history club events hosted at Leeds City Museum throughout June, July, and August https://leedsstar.co.uk/our-city/leeds-to-honour-service-personnel-with-return-of-armed-forces-festival/

23/05/2025

Champion Spirit Shines at 2025 Leeds Sports Awards. Hosted at the Carriageworks Theatre and organised by Sport Leeds in partnership with Leeds City Council, the 2025 ceremony honoured the outstanding achievements of athletes, coaches, volunteers, and sporting contributors from across the city. From grassroots to elite levels, the event celebrated individuals of all ages and abilities, with nearly 20 awards presented to a host of well-deserving winners. The evening highlighted not only sporting excellence but also the dedication and spirit that drive Leeds’s vibrant sporting community. Among the evening’s standout winners was Leeds Rhinos Wheelchair Rugby League coach and former player James Simpson, who was honoured with the prestigious Sporting Pride of Leeds award. This accolade celebrates individuals, clubs, or organisations that elevate Leeds’s reputation as a hub of sporting excellence. Simpson joins an esteemed group of past recipients, including Rob Burrow, Eddie Gray, and Josh Warrington. Honours in the Outstanding Sports Volunteer category went to athletics stalwart Dr Ian Richards and dedicated City of Leeds Diving Club fundraisers Fiona Croft and Becky Simmonds, recognising their invaluable contributions to local sport. The evening also celebrated Leeds’s Olympic and Paralympic talent, with awards presented to Georgie Brayshaw, Katy Marchant, Tom Pidcock, Hannah Cockroft, and Kadeena Cox – each of whom has proudly represented the city on the world stage https://leedsstar.co.uk/sport/champion-spirit-shines-at-2025-leeds-sports-awards/

23/05/2025

Leeds Celebrates German Ties with Visit to Dortmund Square. German dignitaries visiting Leeds for UKREiiF took time to visit Dortmund Square this week, highlighting the city’s ongoing commitment to its twinning relationship with Dortmund in North Rhine-Westphalia. The German Honorary Consul, Regina Rosenthal, and Christian Klose, Investor Support Manager at the Economic Development Agency Dortmund, were welcomed to the city centre site by Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Deputy Leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development. During the visit, Councillor Jonathan Pryor showcased the newly installed place name signage and outlined plans for upcoming wayfinding boards, designed to further celebrate and strengthen the enduring ties between Leeds and its German twin city. Leeds and Dortmund have shared a formal twinning partnership since 1969, but their relationship began two decades earlier in 1949, rooted in a shared commitment to fostering peace, friendship, and mutual understanding in the aftermath of conflict between the UK and Germany. At the heart of Leeds city centre lies Dortmund Square — a symbolic space named to honour this enduring connection. Its counterpart in Germany, Platz von Leeds, reflects the reciprocal nature of the partnership https://leedsstar.co.uk/news/leeds-celebrates-german-ties-with-visit-to-dortmund-square/

23/05/2025

Free and Low-Cost Things to Do in Leeds. Looking for fun on a budget this May half term? From playful gnome hunts to hands-on heritage festivals, we’ve rounded up some of the best free and low-cost family activities happening across Leeds. Step into a world of joy at Temple Newsam House this May half term with a programme of family-friendly fun themed around happiness! Explore the historic rooms while enjoying cheerful crafts, dreamy dressing-up, and not-so-tricky trails that will keep little ones smiling. Don’t miss the new exhibition from Leeds Fine Artists, featuring vibrant works displayed throughout the house. See how the artists were inspired by the country house setting and spot the latest paintings and objects added to the collection. Whether you’re a local looking to explore your city or a visitor planning a trip, Leeds is bursting with vibrant events that celebrate its rich culture, creativity, and community spirit. From music festivals and food fairs to family-friendly fun and heritage celebrations, there’s always something happening in this dynamic Yorkshire city https://leedsstar.co.uk/whats-on/free-and-low-cost-things-to-do-in-leeds/

Looking for fun on a budget this May half term? From playful gnome hunts to hands-on heritage festivals, we’ve rounded up some of the best free and low-cost family activities happening across Leeds. Gnomes Galore at Abbey House Museum The gnomes have gone rogue! These cheeky characters have escape...

23/05/2025

NEW: Your festival tickets will now sit in our app 📲 not only can you buy your tickets easily in the app, but it will now host them for when you arrive at the festival 🙌

Here’s how it works ⬇️
Download the official R&L app
Choose your festival site
Click ‘My Tickets’ in the menu bar
Sign in to your Ticketmaster Account to access your tickets 🎟️

You’ll be able to see your tickets here once they become available on ticketmaster before the show

Rockstar Energy Drink

23/05/2025

Tropical World Welcomes Two Surprise Meerkat Babies. Last month, eleven-year-old meerkat Soya Bean gave birth to two pups, much to the excitement of keepers at the Leeds zoo attraction. The babies, born on 21 April, have already begun venturing out, with proud mum Soya Bean eager to introduce them to the world – far earlier than expected. A familiar face at Tropical World, Soya Bean is one of the original members of the meerkat mob and previously gave birth to two pups in 2020, affectionately named Jelly Bean and Lima Bean. The new father, Jay-Z, a five-year-old meerkat who arrived from Flamingo Land in 2022 as a potential mate for Soya Bean, has stepped into his new role as dad with ease. The growing meerkat clan continues to charm visitors, with the latest pups already proving to be tiny crowd-pleasers. Meerkat pregnancies last around 11 weeks, typically resulting in litters of two to five pups. Born blind and furless, newborn meerkats rely on full-time care from their parents for the first few weeks until they’re strong enough to explore outside the burrow. To support animals like Soya Bean and her growing family, Tropical World has launched a meerkat adoption programme. Visitors can now symbolically adopt a meerkat for a year, helping to fund their care and contribute to the zoo’s wider conservation efforts https://leedsstar.co.uk/whats-on/tropical-world-welcomes-two-surprise-meerkat-babies/

Last month, eleven-year-old meerkat Soya Bean gave birth to two pups, much to the excitement of keepers at the Leeds zoo attraction. The babies, born on 21 April, have already begun venturing out, with proud mum Soya Bean eager to introduce them to the world – far earlier than expected. A familiar...

23/05/2025

Foster Carers Celebrate 10 Years of Lifeline Support in Leeds. A Leeds foster carer has praised the ‘invaluable’ support offered by a pioneering peer network, as the city marks 10 years of the transformative Mockingbird fostering model. Launched in Leeds in 2015, the Mockingbird hub model connects foster families with a dedicated and experienced ‘hub home carer’ who offers practical advice, emotional support, and guidance. This relationship helps foster families, both adults and children, navigate the challenges and transitions of their new lives together. Originally developed in Seattle, USA, the Mockingbird model has flourished in Leeds, with the city council emerging as one of its earliest UK adopters. Leeds now boasts the largest and most established Mockingbird network in the country, a testament to its commitment to strengthening foster care through community-based support. Despite these strong foundations, Leeds like many areas across the UK, continues to face growing demand for foster carers. With nearly 1,500 children currently in care across the city, Foster 4 Leeds is actively calling for more people to open their homes and hearts to provide stable, safe, and loving environments for children in need https://leedsstar.co.uk/news/foster-carers-celebrate-10-years-of-lifeline-support-in-leeds/