Big Arts Day
On Saturday 10 July, Lydiard Park hosted the hugely successful Big Arts Day.
Thousands of people enjoyed fantastic live performances, workshops and stalls celebrating the arts in Swindon. Every art form was represented and over 500 performers entertained the crowds. The event culminated in the Time & Tide spectacular digital light projection on the front of Lydiard House, specially created by artists Matt and Rob Vale.
For a full round-up and photos from this brilliant day, check out the Big Arts Day website (www.bigartsday.co.uk).
July
Kids Love Lydiard!
Wednesday 28 July, 12.00pm-3.00pm
Enjoy a fun, free natural play trail round the lawns, lakes and woodlands of Lydiard Park with special activities along the way for children and families to enjoy. This event is presented as part of Love Parks Week.
August
Come and enjoy our Open Air Theatre this August.
National Gardens Scheme Walled Garden Open for Charity
Sunday 1 August, 11.00am-5.00pm
Our beautiful 18th century walled garden will be open as part of the National Garden Scheme (NGS).
Special entry applies £2.50 adult, £2 senior and £1 child - all proceeds will be donated to the NGS charities, which include Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Cross Roads Care and Help the Hospices.
For details of all the gardens open for charity please see the go to NGS website (www.ngs.org.uk).
Plant a Pot
Tuesday 3 August, 12.00pm-3.00pm
A drop in craft session for children to have fun by decorating a flower pot, then planting it up with seeds from the walled garden.
£3 per child - children must be accompanied by an adult.
Open Air Theatre
The very best in live entertainment is coming to the beautiful surroundings of Lydiard Park this August. Pack up a picnic and treat your family to an exciting evening of open-air theatre.
The Secret Garden
Friday 6 August, 6.30pm
Young or old, we all need our friends...
Open air production of Frances Hodgson Burnett's tale of a young orphaned girl, whose life changes when she finds the key to her Uncle's secret garden, locked and hidden for ten years.
But why and what strange powers lie beyond the gate? A family classic suitable for six years upwards.
Tickets: £12 adult, £7 junior, £33 family (2 adult and 2 children)
Forest Skills Days
Wednesday 11, 18 and 25 August, 10.00am-4.00pm
Suitable for 8 to 13-year-olds.
The first week's course will focus on collecting natural materials to make mini rafts to then race on the stream.
The second week will focus on finding buried treasure and making secret maps.
On the third week we will be learning to use tools safely and making some things from wood. Den building and making and cooking on a fire will be an essential part of every day.
These sessions will be run by Ruth Parsons of Woodland Learning. Ruth is a qualified Forest School Leader and first aider. She is experienced, fully insured and CRB checked.
There will be two adults at every session and the adult:child ratio is never more than 1:8. Children need to wear old, warm clothes, and boots or wellies, and will need waterproof coats. They will also need a packed lunch and drinks.
Cost per day is £25. Places must be booked in advance.
For more information or a booking form, please phone Lydiard Park on 01793 770401 or e-mail us at lydiardpark@swindon.gov.uk.
Shakespeare’s Globe present A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Friday 27 and Saturday 28 August, 7.30pm
‘Summer is all the sweeter for a Shakespeare road trip’ The Daily Telegraph
A delightful and unique experience - enjoy Shakespeare's greatest comedy performed on an Elizabethan-inspired stage with a small troupe of travelling players from the world renowned Shakespeare's Globe. Two couples, an amateur troupe of actors and an angry dispute between the king and queen of fairies, collide in the woods outside Athens with absurd, funny and dreamlike results
Tickets: £15 adult, £10 junior
To book tickets for this summer’s 'must-see' shows for all the family, please call the box office on 01793 614837 or call into:
The Arts Centre
Devizes Road
Old Town
Swindon
September
Swindon's Walk for Freedom in Aid of Animals Asia Foundation
Sunday 5 September
Animals Asia are holding this year's Swindon's Walk for Freedom at Lydiard Park where there is a choice of a 5k or 10k walk.
Come along to support the bears, cats and dogs of China and Vietnam. It will be a fabulous day for all the family and bring along your canine friends too!
For more information and to register please see the Animals Asia Swindon website (http://animalsasia-swindon.co.uk/index.php?p=1_24_Walk-for-Freedom-2010).
Heritage Open Days
Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 September
Enjoy free entry to Lydiard House and Walled Garden as the site participates in this annual celebration of our heritage. St Mary's Church and the famous St John Triptych will also be open and in the grounds, you will be able to go into the recently restored Ice House.
Hedgerows in Autumn - Nature's Larder
Sunday 19 September 10.30am-12.30pm
A ramble covering no more than three miles within Lydiard Park, identifying and learning about the nature fruits of autumn.
Find out about the traditional uses of natural produce and their significance as food for wildlife. Free but booking is essential - call 01793 770401 or e-mail us at lydiardpark@swindon.gov.uk.
Event Enquiries
If you wish to make an enquiry about holding any sort of outdoor event at Lydiard Park, please write in the first instance to:
Emma Valentine
Events & Marketing Officer
Lydiard Park
Lydiard Tregoze
Swindon
SN5 3PA
Alternatively, please e-mail Emma Valentine at evalentine@swindon.gov.uk giving as much detail as possible about your proposed event and its purpose.
We receive numerous requests for events of every kind; all are carefully considered, but we can only host a limited number of events each year. The selection of events is at the discretion of the Lydiard Park Management board.
Weddings and Conference Enquiries
For weddings and conference enquiries, please contact the Lydiard House Conference Centre on 01793 770062 or go the Chartridge website (www.chartridge.co.uk).