Love Fleetwood’s Memorial Park at Family Fun Day

Memorial Park is staging its grandest Family Fun Day yet to celebrate the park's restoration and Love Parks Week.

The Grade II listed, First World War memorial park is currently being restored thanks to a £2.4m grant from the Heritage Lottery and Big Lottery Funds, and Wyre Council along with the Friends of Memorial Park hope to make this year's event, on Saturday 26 July, the biggest and best in its history.

Exciting new street theatre, circus artists and lively puppets will combine with traditional favourites including Punch and Judy and the Bulldog Gymnastics Display Team to ensure entertainment for every member of the family.

A comical take on Gardeners' Question Time with experts from Leek FM and a musical wheelbarrow, a theatre show that takes place inside a surprisingly long pig and a pair of tiny adventurers from the country of Oblivia are just some of the delights you can expect to see.

A First World War musical wagon will pay homage to the park's heritage and with feathery friends from Barn Owl Bill, face painting, bouncy castle, tombola, arts and crafts, cake stall and ice cream van, there really is something for everyone. There's even dog chipping for your four legged friends!

Councillor Vivien Taylor, Cabinet member with responsibility for parks at Wyre Council, said: "All the work being undertaken at Memorial Park is of great value to the whole community.

"Many people have happy memories of the park and it brings much enjoyment but this event is also a chance for others to reacquaint themselves, discover for the first time or perhaps introduce a new generation to it.

 "I hope lots of people come along to our event and even get involved in the project – any assistance from the local community would be greatly appreciated."

Michelle Hargreaves from the Friends of Memorial Park said: "Along with the usual events – raffle, tombola, Punch and Judy, face painting, archery, Barn Owl Bill and vegan outreach – I'm looking forward to seeing the street theatre this year."

Love Parks Week (25 July – 3 August) is a national celebration of parks and green spaces that aims to highlight how essential quality green spaces are to healthy, happy communities.

The event takes place on Saturday 26 July, 11am-4pm at Memorial Park, Warrenhurst Road, Fleetwood. Entry is free.

Wyre Council has been awarded £2.4m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund to carry out a comprehensive restoration of the Grade II listed park and create a five year programme of community activities.

Memorial Park is unique in that the entire grounds were created in commemoration of the First World War, unlike most conventional architectural memorials, and it is one of only a few listed war memorial parks and gardens in the country.

Find out more at wyre.gov.uk/memorialpark

ENDS

Stephanie Collinson, Communications Officer Tel: 01253 887551
Civic Centre, Breck Road, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, FY6 7PU