Editing Bollington (section)

== Culture ==
[[File:St Oswald's Church Bollington 3.jpg|thumb|upright|[[St Oswald's Church, Bollington|St Oswald's Church]]]]
The town has several churches. The parish [[St John the Baptist's Church, Bollington|Church of St John the Baptist]] closed in 2006, leaving [[St Oswald's Church, Bollington|St Oswald's Church]] in Bollington Cross as the only Anglican church. St Gregory's Church on Wellington Road is the Roman Catholic place of worship in the town. The Grade-II [[listed building|listed]] [[Bollington Methodist Church|Methodist church]] on Wellington Road has been closed to worship and has been sold.

In 2005 Canalside Community Radio was launched to provide community news and entertainment for the duration of the festival. Cousins [[John Waite|John]] and [[Terry Waite]] opened the 2005 [[Bollington Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.canalsideradio.net/|title=Canalside Community Radio|website=www.canalsideradio.net|access-date=18 June 2023}}</ref> together with the Discovery Centre. In December 2008 Canalside Radio began broadcasting to northeast Cheshire on 102.8 FM having obtained a full-time licence after five years of trying.

Hiking, cycling and riding through the hills around Bollington and along the [[Macclesfield Canal]] towpath as well as the [[Middlewood Way]] (a disused railway) are popular activities. Boats and bikes can be hired for day-trips and holidays at Grimshaw Lane canal [[wharf]]. The [[Peak District Boundary Walk]] runs through the town,<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=McCloy|first=Andrew|title=Peak District Boundary Walk: 190 Miles Around the Edge of the National Park|publisher=[[Friends of the Peak District]]|year=2017|isbn=978-1909461536}}</ref> as does the [[Gritstone Trail]].

The town has many traditional public houses, most of which have not been modernised.

=== Events ===
[[File:Bollington Festival 2005.jpg|right|thumb|[[Bollington Festival]] 2005]]
Every five or six years since 1964, the town hosts the [[Bollington Festival]], which runs for two and a half weeks and involves a wide variety of community activities, from concerts, theatrical, opera, art exhibitions, to local history events, science events and competitions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollingtonfestival.org.uk/|title=Bollington Festival|website=www.bollingtonfestival.org.uk|access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref> The last Festival was in 2019 and the next is scheduled for 2026 (delayed by [[COVID-19]] and the financial environment).

In September each year a ten-day Walking Festival promotes exercise and fresh air while taking in the beauty of the surrounding countryside, the western hills of the [[Peak District]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bollingtonwalkingfestival.co.uk |title=Welcome to the Walking Festival |publisher=Bollington Walking Festival |access-date=7 February 2018}}</ref>

Bollington hosts an annual 'Carols around the Christmas Tree' on Christmas Eve each year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bollington-tc.gov.uk/events/view/35/carols-around-the-christmas-tree-christmas-eve-6pm |title=Carols around the Christmas Tree Christmas Eve 6pm |archive-date=26 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226020904/https://www.bollington-tc.gov.uk/events/view/35/carols-around-the-christmas-tree-christmas-eve-6pm |publisher=Bollington Town Council |access-date=7 February 2018}}</ref>

At mid-day on Christmas Day each year a brass band play at White Nancy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bollington-tc.gov.uk/events/view/40/bollington-brass-band-at-white-nancy-christmas-day-12-noon |archive-date=26 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226234943/https://www.bollington-tc.gov.uk/events/view/40/bollington-brass-band-at-white-nancy-christmas-day-12-noon |title=Bollington Brass Band at White Nancy Christmas Day 12 noon |publisher=Bollington Town Council |access-date=7 February 2018}}</ref>

=== Societies and organisations ===
Bollington has a branch of the [[Women's Institute]], which meets regularly while retired gentlemen may meet at the weekly [[Probus Clubs|Probus]], and likewise the ladies at their monthly Probus.

The Guide and Scout movements are all represented.  Bollington United Junior Football Club (JFC) has three clubs for children ranging from under-10s to under-17s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollingtonunited.co.uk/|title=Bollington United JFC|website=www.bollingtonunited.co.uk|access-date=25 October 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025175659/http://www.bollingtonunited.co.uk/|archive-date=25 October 2008}}</ref> 
Bollington is home to 236 Squadron<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.236atc.co.uk/|title=Bollington Air Cadets – 236 Bollington Squadron|access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref> of the [[Royal Air Force]]'s [[Air Training Corps]], which has its headquarters on Shrigley Road. The Squadron had close links with 42(R) (formerly 236 OCU) of the Royal Air Force before the latter was disbanded in the government defence review in 2010. The [[Sea Cadets (United Kingdom)|Sea Cadets]] is for 10‑&nbsp;to&nbsp;18‑year‑olds. The Bollington and Macclesfield Sea Cadets also have a unit website.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sea-cadets.org/bollington|title=Bollington and Macclesfield Sea Cadets|website=www.sea-cadets.org|access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref>

There are numerous artistic, musical and theatrical groups<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.happyvalley.org.uk/organisations|title=Organisations & Services|access-date=24 September 2018|website=www.happyvalley.org.uk}}</ref> all providing popular exhibitions and performances. Many of these are held at the Bollington Arts Centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollingtonartscentre.org.uk/|title=Bollington Arts Centre|website=www.bollingtonartscentre.org.uk|access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref>