A touch of sparkle as fairy trail opens at Udall Grange

A brand new fairy trail has been unveiled on the Udall Grange estate in Stone, with families turning out in fancy dress to celebrate its magical launch on International Fairy Day.

The project began with a single tree, decorated with tiny fairies by resident Heidi Briscoe along with her granddaughter Isla. What started as a cheerful nod to fantasy quickly became a local attraction, with children regularly stopping by to see what had appeared next.

Inspired by the excitement it sparked, neighbour Trish Nolan waved her magic wand and cast a spell on more friends and neighbours, putting Sophie, Sarah and Lucy under her spell to create a magical fairy team. For the past nine months, they’ve been handcrafting wire fairies for the trail, each one unique, with delicate beaded wings and fine detail.

After months of planning, building and fairy-making, the team were ready to unveil the full trail.

A community celebration

The launch was held on Monday 24th June to coincide with International Fairy Day. Dozens of families gathered at the heart of the estate, many dressed in fairy wings, tutus and flower crowns.

Councillor Jill Hood helped officially open the trail, with Indie Rose, aged 7, stepping forward to assist with the ribbon cutting. There were maps to guide visitors, fairy cakes to enjoy, and plenty of smiles as the community came together to mark the occasion.

Adding to the fun, Graham, Trish’s husband, arrived in full knight’s armour and took on the role of Fairy Security, much to the delight of younger visitors. Graham is well known locally for his involvement in St George’s Day re-enactments and brought a playful sense of pageantry to the event.

From new build to new tradition

Udall Grange may be one of Stone’s newest housing estates, but its sense of community is already shining through.

The trail runs along a green corridor in the centre of the development, just off Myatt Way, and features a hand-carved wooden sign marking the start. Dozens of handmade fairies are now tucked away in trees and hedgerows, waiting to be found by eagle-eyed visitors.

The team behind the trail hopes to keep it going year-round, with ideas already being discussed for seasonal additions and future updates.

The trail is free to visit and open to all, simply bring your imagination and see how many fairies you can spot.