A charity picnic is due to take place in Bath’s Parade Gardens today (Sunday, June 12th) in celebration of the Queen’s 90th birthday – and Parks Department staff have been hard at work creating a very special royal flower bed to ‘crown’ the occasion.
There’s more good news too – for regulars to this riverside garden of delights. The ugly electricity substation – the one blot on this otherwise idyllic landscape – is finally to get a makeover it seems.
Bath Newseum is given to understand it’s now to be masked by hoardings covered in graphics promoting other city parks – with something green placed on the top.
If this turns out to be true it’s certainly going to tidy an eyesore that Bath’s visitors have always found a bit of an oddity in these surroundings.
The cost of moving the substation was put at around £60,000.
But – back to the picnic – Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Parks Department is hosting the Queen’s Patron’s Luncheon in Parade Gardens today.
To pay tribute to the special occasion, the Council has installed a 3D floral impression of the Queen’s 90th birthday emblem in the gardens.
The charity picnic has been organised by the Parks Department and Cllr Michael Norton, and will offer family fun, food, and music from 10.30am until 5pm.
Cllr Michael Norton (Conservative, Lyncombe) said: “We are just putting together the finishing touches for this event, which will be a really fun day to celebrate this special occasion.
All proceeds will go to local charities so we would encourage everyone to get involved and come on down to enjoy the music and a royal picnic fit for a Queen!”
Councillor Martin Veal (Conservative, Bathavon North), Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “The Council is honoured to be hosting this picnic in celebration of the Queen’s 90th birthday and I would like to thank Cllr Norton for his efforts in overseeing this event.
It will be a great day for all the family and I am especially looking forward to seeing another fantastic 3D floral display from our Parks department.”
Tickets cost £10 for adults or free for under 12s, and are available on the gate or from www.visitbath.co.uk. All ticket sale proceeds after expenses will go to local charities.
Let’s hope the rain clears soon!
