Big day out at community garden’s annual fun day

The People’s Community Garden is making ready for its Big Garden Party on Saturday 23 July from 11am to 3pm on Maidenhall Allotments.

There will be Mr Bean’s circus skills, face-painting, a bouncy castle and a carousel, as well as pond-dipping and wildlife activities, tombola and raffle – with a fantastic hamper donated by the East of England Co-op.

This annual showcase of gardening, growing and getting fit and healthy in the great outdoors is also an opportunity to look around the gardens, find out about volunteering with ActivGardens, buy plants and try our produce, talk to the Master Composters, and visit our bee hives. This year, we are celebrating the Year of the English Garden, with a show garden full of traditional English flowers as well as a sustainable driveway laid by some of the young people we work with.

The whole site will be alive with music of all types – including a rock band at the Pavilion, the ever-popular Keep on Rockin’ community choir, and an African drumming workshop.

Julie Seager and her team will be running the Pavilion café, with an array of goodies – some made with community garden produce. There will also be a barbecue and a selection of multicultural food courtesy of the Suffolk Refugee Support Forum and other volunteers and plot holders.

Maidenhall Residents’ Association will be hosting stalls with books, bric a brac and handmade gift cards, while Maidenhall Allotments are preparing their great stand of veg and produce, along with games and activities. Meanwhile, members of Cowell’s Bowls Club will be on their bowling green to give you an opportunity to have a go at this great game.

• Don’t forget to be green and walk, cycle or take the bus to the event if you can. Disabled parking is at the Pavilion, with limited spaces at Bourne Vale Social Club. Maidenhall Green Baptist Church is kindly lending their car park for the day – this is a short walk from the event. Otherwise, parking is on the surrounding streets. Please do not block residents’ driveways.
• Event Address: The People’s Community Garden, Maidenhall Allotments, Halifax Road, Ipswich IP2 8RE
• Visit www.activlives.org.uk/activgardens for more information and location

For further information, or to arrange a press interview or photo call, please contact Susannah Robirosa on 07530 407302 / ActivLives office 01473 345350 or email susannah@activlives.org.uk