The Rows Volunteers Day

The Rows Volunteers Day is on Monday 2 November, with teams gathering at Chester Cross for two separate sessions, one at 9:00 and another at 13:00. It's part of Rowvember, the city's annual invitation to help look after the Rows, which have been at the heart of Chester for more than 700 years. The day is set up as a friendly, relaxed way to meet people who love the city and to see the Rows shine afterwards.

On the day, teams gather at the Cross and spend their session deep-cleaning the walkways and stalls. That means sweeping, removing graffiti and doing some painting, so it's a hands-on morning or afternoon rather than just a light tidy. The Rows are such a huge part of the city's character, and this is one of the few times you actually get to spend a few hours working on them instead of just walking through. It's a straightforward, practical way to put a bit of time into the place.

Rowvember is the wider campaign that this day sits within, and the volunteers' day is one of its main features. The whole thing is built around the idea of people coming together to look after the Rows, and the sessions are designed to be social as much as they are about the cleaning itself. If you've lived here a while, you know how much of the city's identity is tied up in those walkways, so it's a nice chance to do something tangible for them.

Teams meet at Chester Cross (CH1 2HQ) on Monday 2 November, with sessions starting at 9:00 and 13:00. You can pick the one that suits you best.