Here at Calder Valley Radio, we love it when the stars align to produce a musical match that just feels right and feels right now. So imagine our excitement when we saw the video for the latest single from Hebden Bridge band The Lounge Society and realised we were witnessing one of the greatest musical crossovers since Alex Turner and Miles Kane did a team-up (we're kidding, but seriously check out Aviation...)

We love to celebrate a birthday here at Calder Valley Radio (seriously let us know when yours is on studio@caldervalleyradio.co.uk and we'll play you a birthday song...) So imagine how excited we were to learn that local legend Anne Lister would be celebrating a very big birthday soon. On April 3rd Ms Lister would have been 230 years old (that's a lot of candles) and the beautiful Shibden Hall, home to Lister during the 1800s are planning on celebrating in a way that will connect thousands of people across the globe to the story of Yorkshire's most remarkable women and her historic home...

We're very keen on conservation here at Calder Valley Radio and we're proud to be part of a community that advocates sustainability and eco-consciousness. We love visiting the Hebden Bridge cooperatives, eating at local organic restaurants, taking part in the recycling initiatives and supporting Slow The Flow. Let's face it - we all know we need to do our bit, even if we're staring with trying to reduce our single-use plastic consumption (this writer found the joy of glass storage jars and never looked back..) So we were really excited to hear that this year, Yorkshire is set to become home to the biggest tree planting scheme in the UK. Broughton Sanctuary at Broughton Hall Estate, near Skipton in North Yorkshire in partnership with the White Rose Forest, the community forest for West and North Yorkshire has committed to planting over 160 hectares of trees. 

Calling our Valley's most energetic people, Calder Valley Radio wants you to lace up your trainers and get running this spring. Like lots of people during lockdown last year, this writer wanted something to focus on (and was also trying to shift the spare inhaling-the-entire-contents-of-the-crisp-cupboard weight that had crept on..) So, I started the NHS C25K app and was surprised to find that I absolutely loved it. Before I opened it, I hadn't so much as run around the block- in fact on my first run I could barely do that without feeling like I might cough up a lung. But as the weeks progressed and my confidence increased, I found myself enjoying the time outside in the fresh air, the time alone with my thoughts and nature and during a turbulent 2020, it felt like a small mindful practice I could enjoy each day. I also found I could run further and with greater ease, I felt - like a runner which was an incredible accomplishment for me. I admit I became a complete running bore, extolling the virtues of running to unsuspecting people, my loved ones and neighbours and when I moved to the Calder Valley I enjoyed running with a renewed vigour along the canal paths and beautiful dales. So imagine the excitement that this year's Mayor's Charity Challenge is one we can really put some miles on our trainers with...