SOUTH SWINDON PARISH COUNCIL ANNOUNCE PARTNERS FOR THE ENCHANTED GARDENS LIGHT TRAIL 2022

South Swindon Parish Council is partnering with Brighter Futures, Prospect Hospice and ShopSmall Swindon at the Enchanted Gardens Light Trail 2022.

Last year the Parish Council partnered with Brighter Futures and raised over £25,000. The donations helped fund the new Urgent Treatment Centre at Great Western Hospital. This year Brighter Futures will be running a winter raffle and selling some incredible Christmas stocking fillers.

The official car park for the Enchanted Gardens Light Trail is at the Commonweal School and Sixth Form, a short 5 minute walk from the Town Gardens. The parking charge is £2 and all monies raised through parking will be donated to Prospect Hospice.

ShopSmall Swindon will also be at the trail with lots of independent stalls to help you make your last minute Christmas buys!

Local children’s author Kate Claxton will be hosting storytime sessions for younger visitors every Tuesday in the Town Gardens Bandstand. She will be reading her brand-new book, Searching for a Roarer.

Other local groups and performers that will be at the Light Trail include the Commonweal School, Kitty Langan Studio Performing Arts School, Swindon Gilbert and Sullivan, Rising Aspirations Academy of Performing Arts and many more to be announced.

To book tickets search on Skiddle for ‘Enchanted Gardens Light Trail 2022.’ Link to ticketing page: https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Swindon/Town-Gardens/Enchanted-Gardens-Light-Trail-2022/36156261/

Neil Hopkins, Chair of Leisure, Environment and Amenities:

“We are delighted to be working with so many great local businesses and individuals. It’s fantastic that we are able to utilise so many great local people to create an even more spectacular trail for South Swindon this year.”

Kate Claxton, award winning local author:

"I'm really excited to be part of the Enchanted Gardens Light Trail on a weekly basis. Based in the bandstand each Tuesday, I'll be entertaining younger visitors with readings of my brand-new book, Searching for a Roarer. It's a story of magic, nature and discovering lights in the night sky, so is perfectly themed for the trail.

“Children will also be able to recreate the magic and wonder of both the trail and story with night sky crafts, and I'll be signing and selling copies of my books too!”

Lisa Lowe from Ooh Lovely Lilo Ceramics, Shop Small Swindon:

“Shop Small Swindon are delighted to be partnered with South Swindon Parish Council and we will be bringing a wonderful variety of local handmade christmas market stalls to the light trail, you will find us near the end of the trail. We have so many perfect gifts for you and your loved ones.”

Kenresa Stratford, Brighter Futures:

What are you bringing to the Enchanted Gardens Light Trail 2022?

We will be attending this year with some wonderful festive craft items which our lovely supporters have either knitted or crafted for us. We will also be selling our Winter Raffle tickets, offering a top prize of £1000! Not only this but we will be selling some merchandise on behalf of the Parish Council for the Light Trail.

What are you most excited for at the Light Trail this year?

Seeing all the changes from last year! Last years event was stunning and we all loved it and each of us had a favourite element. We’re looking forward to seeing how the trail has expanded and what’s in store for the town this year. We’re also looking forward to working alongside Dressability and local small businesses attending in the market area of the event.

What was your favourite part of the Light Trail last year?

We had so much fun last year and everyone who worked had different elements they enjoyed! I think we can all agree the disco ball installing was pretty amazing! We had a great time working alongside our fellow stall holders too and the Light Trail team, at the end of the event everyone felt like family. Hopefully we can emulate this, this year!

How pleased were you with the £25,000 raised from last year’s trail and what was it used for?

We were delighted with the donation of £25,000 and this was the first donation to our Way Forward Appeal. This appeal focuses on key programmes of work to create a hospital environment suitable for Swindon's growing and ageing population, now and well into the future.

These key projects include the expansion of urgent and emergency care services, including the Emergency Department. We have also recently purchased a plot of land that could become home to a number of facilities such as a rehabilitation unit or a private patients unit.

What will the money donated at this year’s trail be used for?

We will invest this further into the Way Forwards Programme, which is currently focussed on purchasing sensory play equipment for the Urgent Treatment Centre. The donation will help fund new play and sensory equipment for children using our new Urgent Treatment Centre. This donation could make a scary and anxious experience for young people less stressful and help them receive care quicker.