The fun day celebrated the opening of the new park, and was held on Saturday the 14th March, starting at the top of Bridge Road on the Potteries with Bristol’s "Ambling Band" ( see www.theamblingband.co.uk ) meandering through the neighbourhood to draw people out of their houses.
The Ambling Band were followed by a horse-drawn carriage pulled by 2 magnificent Shire horses with 2 barrels of cider on the back, imitating a historic ritual that used to take place on the Potteries in the late 19th century where workers from the local brick factories would be taken on an annual day trip by horse and cart to have a picnic and drink local cider.
The Ambling Band were followed by a horse-drawn carriage pulled by 2 magnificent Shire horses with 2 barrels of cider on the back, imitating a historic ritual that used to take place on the Potteries in the late 19th century where workers from the local brick factories would be taken on an annual day trip by horse and cart to have a picnic and drink local cider.
The Town Mayor and local residents hosted speeches, toasting the new park with some of the local cider. There was a clay making workshop and performance poetry from artists engaged in the South Ward Arts Strategy.
Refreshments were provided by South Weston Community Association. Local young people put on a break dancing display, football and other games were organised by the Play Rangers and local Police team along with entertainment from Punch and Judy and Weston’s own Nutty Noah.
Picnics in the Park
Millennium Green Park was host to many family picnics during the summer holidays. These were organised by the Play Forum, who invited local families to come and picnic in the park, where children's entertainers and children's activities were put on for the events.
Potteries Sculpture and Mural Celebration
A double celebration took place on Saturday 14th August to celebrate the Potteries neighbourhood.
The event, held by The South Ward Neighbourhood Management Partnership, celebrated the first of two Potteries clay sculptures being installed as part of the South Ward Arts Strategy as well as the newly completed mural wall.
The event at Millennium Green included live music from Mañana and Tom Conibear, Nutty Noah doing an hour-long performance on stage, face painting, clown capers, BBQ and snack van serving hot food and drinks, sports activities for young people and Rod Harris was on hand to talk to local people about the sculpture and its significance.