South Swindon Parish Council, supported by the National Trust, Historic England, the Town Gardens Café and Swindon Borough Council are hosting a Blossom Festival throughout April to celebrate the completion of the Blossom Circle at GWR Park and as part of the National Trust’s Helping Communities Blossom programme.
The Swindon Blossom Festival launched on 14th March with the Director-General of the National Trust, Hilary McGrady, and representatives of South Swindon Parish Council, Swindon Borough Council and Historic England formally opening GWR Park’s new Blossom Circle.
The Swindon Blossom Festival will consist of the following events:
- GWR Park Blossom Circle Workshops, Wednesday 5th April, between 1 and 5pm: Artsite, Prime Theatre and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust will be hosting creative workshops for young people throughout the day, encouraging the development of creative skills and an appreciation of blossom and nature. Playsteps Nursery will be performing in the new Blossom Circle 4pm-5pm.
- Shaftesbury Lake Wildlife Discovery Day, Saturday 15th April between 10am and 3pm: South Swindon Parish Council are hosting a Wildlife Discovery Day at Shaftesbury Lake so local residents can learn about the nature and wildlife that is natives to the lake and the South Swindon area.
- Yoga in the Town Gardens with Uptown Yoga- Friday 28th April 6pm-7pm.
- Blossom Music Concert @GWR Park, Saturday 29th April, 8.30am and 3.30pm: South Swindon Parish Council and the National Trust will be hosting a Blossom Music Concert across the entire day. Swindon Young Musicians will play their rehearsals in the newly formed Blossom Circle, showcasing the young talent that Swindon has on offer. There will also be free nature-based workshops hosted by Artsite and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. Free heritage tours of the park will also be on offer so you can learn about the significant history of the park and its importance to the development of Swindon in the industrial era. The Railway Village Museum and Central Community Centre will be open with historical displays and workshops on offer.
- Blossom Events @ Town Gardens, Saturday 29th April, 10am – Pottery Painting with Charlotte Manser Ceramics. 3pm – 4pm – A walk and talk to learn about the Spring Blossom and floral and fauna of Town Gardens with Kathryn Hay.
- Kids Flower Crown Workshop@ Town Gardens, Sunday 30th April, 11am and 2pm
- Blossom BBQ with Town Gardens Cafe and Andrews Quality Meats butchers, Sunday 30th April, 6pm-8pm.
- Music and Movement for 0 – 4-year-olds @Town Gardens, Monday 1st May.
The festival this year also follows a series of recent heritage improvements made to GWR Park, including a new Blossom Circle on the eastern entrance to the park.
The Church Place entrance to the park is now lined with 6 cherry blossom trees which lead up to the new ‘Blossom Circle’ and formal gardens. The park furniture including the benches, bins and noticeboards have been replaced with new furniture that is a consistent style and in keeping with the park’s heritage. For more information about the improvements to GWR Park visit: www.southswindon-pc.gov.uk/heritage-action-zone
Cllr Janine Howarth, Vice-Chair of South Swindon Parish Council, said: “I am delighted that we can bring a Blossom Festival to Swindon and showcase South Swindon’s blossoming outside spaces and nature, including GWR Park in Central Swindon, the Town Gardens in Swindon’s Old Town area and Shaftesbury Lake on the south-east of Swindon.
The festival comes off the back of the wonderful improvements we have made to GWR Park, thanks to funding from Historic England and the National Trust. This includes GWR Park’s new Blossom Circle, which is situated in the position of the park’s old bandstand, which will prove to be a fantastic place for the public to relax and enjoy nature, as well as a new events space to enjoy arts and music.
I would like to extend my thanks to the National Trust for sponsoring this event and all other partners of this year’s Swindon Blossom Festival.
