Summer holidays are picnic time in Plymouth's open spaces
Take your pick of picnics and parks as the city gets ready for ‘Love Parks week.’
An exciting programme of events will kick off on July 27 – just in time for the start of the summer holidays, so families and young people will have plenty to do outside.
The week is about getting people outside and into our parks and open spaces as well as exploring beautiful locations on the city’s doorstep. The line-up includes play days, teddy bears picnics, music outside as well as night walks in the woods to look for bats.
The city has over 225 green spaces – from the world-famous Hoe to the Bircham Valley Nature Reserve and Blagdon’s Meadow County Wildlife Site. As well as 28 parks, there are nearly 150 playgrounds, nine special sites of scientific interest, eight local nature reserves and 24 county wildlife sites.
The week has been co-ordinated by Plymouth City Council with Friends of Parks’ groups, as well as organisations such as the National Trust, Dartmoor National Park Authority and Devon Wildlife Trust, who are all putting on events.
Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Brian Vincent said: “We’re very proud of the amount of parks and open space we have here in Plymouth and are particularly pleased with the way projects such as Stepping Stones to Nature are finding more and more ways for young people and families to enjoy getting out and about.
“Events like this are great for drawing people in and enjoying them. It gives families free, fun, and activities in the school holidays that won’t cost the earth.”
The events take place on the city’s green and blue spaces – on land and on water – and on beaches. Most of them are free and are family-friendly.
On 27 July, there is a choice of four events designed to entice families out. They include the Devonport Park Dance and Music festival, a family fun day at Devil’s Point Park, a rock-pool ramble at Wembury and the grand opening of the Lancaster Gardens Play Area.
Sunday 28 July has a Freedom Fields junior boules event and there’s a teddy bears’ picnic at Radford Woods as well as bug hunts, foraging and pond dipping. On the same day there is a Sky Ride Local Ride at Victoria Park.
Ham Woods at night is where to be on Tuesday 30 July or Plymbridge Woods during the day, while on Wednesday there’s a chance to look at the stunning photographic exhibition of the Southway Valley Community Orchard in Southway.
Each day is packed with events and anyone who is interested in finding out more should download a leaflet at www.plymouth.gov.uk/loveparksweek
A number of organisations will be putting on free events throughout the summer.
Play rangers from Stonehouse Play Association will be in parks across Plymouth providing free activities for children. For more information visit Facebook/theplayrangers
Blue Sound is also putting on free activities on our beaches including snorkel and seashore safari, beach cleans, fishing and beach art. For more information visit www.bluesound.org.
Love Parks Week is a national campaign. Visit http://loveparksweek.org.uk/ for full details.
