Meadows Picnic in the Park

Thank you to everyone who came along to the Meadows Picnic in the Park which took place over the Jubilee bank holiday. It was great to see so many local organisations running activities to make the day a great success!

The Memorial Gardens Association (MeGA) were doing pebble painting, and The Bridges Community Trust did a fantastic job supplying all the marquees, tables and chairs. There was face painting and traditional games, and even a bouncy castle! NEMTRA opened the Pavilion to serve teas and coffees, the Queens Walk Community Café had a barbecue on the street, and the Queens Walk Community Centre Lunch Club was serving delicious curries at lunchtime. There was a real buzz in the Meadows! It was a very special day.

Over at the Green Meadows tent, Heather and Betty, were showing people how to make bug hotels.

But, why bug hotels? Bug hotels are a great way to strengthen your garden's ecosystem. They offer a place of shelter for bugs to hide from predators, lay their eggs and protect themselves from harsh weather. The more bugs you have in your garden, the healthier your plants will be as they are a natural way of controlling pests. The best news? The more bugs live in your garden, the more it will encourage other animals, like hedgehogs and birds, to pay you a visit. Follow our 'how to' guide here to make your own bug hotel!

Everyone who took part could choose to either take their bug hotel home or donate it to the Queens Walk Community Centre, where we have been transforming the large planter in the car park into a little garden. Read more about that here. Why not drop by and see what we have done so far?

Finally, a huge thank you Margo, from the Meadows Action Group, for applying for Arnold Clarke Community Fund and making this event happen.

When the community comes together, we can really make a difference!