MP pays tribute to Land Girls

Chadkirk Chapel’s Annual Well Dressing, this year honoured the women who worked the land during the First and Second World War, with Hazel Grove MP Lisa Smart paying tribute to the Women’s Land Army (WLA), and celebrating former Land Girl Jean Proctor MBE.

The well dressing is a long-standing community tradition where volunteers craft intricate floral pictures from petals and clay, displayed around St Chad’s Well for a formal blessing, with this year’s theme celebrating the contribution of the Land Girls, who replaced male farm workers – and the campaigners who fought to ensure their service was properly recognised.

Lisa thanked the Friends of Chadkirk, along with the volunteers who support them. She also marked the amazing work of Jean Proctor – a former Land Girl from Marple, WLA Chair, and longstanding campaigner who helped secure the WLA and Women's Timber Corps (WTC) official recognition in 2007.

Lisa said: “It was touching to come together to honour women like Jean who stepped up when the country needed them most – to work the land and feed the nation – and to honour the legacy, effort, and sacrifice of the WLA. 

“I’d like to thank the Friends of Chadkirk and everyone who contributed to this year’s event. It’s a powerful tribute to the strength and spirit of our wonderful community, and a poignant reminder that millions around the world still do not have access to reliable or safe drinking water.”