Local residents are being invited to get outdoors and come along to Herston Community Field in Swanage for a Bank Holiday picnic.
The free event with musical entertainment, activities and games for children is from 11 am to 3 pm on Monday 6th May 2024 on the grass area that used to be St Mark’s First School playing field just off Jubilee Road.
There’s hopes that the community picnic will be just as sunny in 2024 as it was for the event in May 2023
Repeat of successful event
A community picnic was first held in May 2023 and was such a success that it was decided to repeat the event for 2024.
This year it’s being backed by the Swanage and Purbeck Development Trust, Swanage and Purbeck Rotary and the National Trust, along with Swanage Town Council, which took over ownership of the land on a 21 year lease from Dorset Council in 2021.
Herston Community Field – the new name for the old St Mark’s playing fields
The old school playground is a popular basketball court for the Herston youth club
Programme
- 11 am: Ukulele band
- 11 am to 12 noon: Activities in the playground
- 2 pm: Allsort’d Choir
- Throughout the day: Soft play, garden games, seed sowing, arts and crafts, facepainting
There’s a wooded area, as well as the field and basketball court
Great views across to Ballard Down from the field
“Chance to get out in nature”
Organiser of the event Kim Gallagher from Swanage and Purbeck Development Trust said:
“The idea is to come along, bring a picnic, and have a nice day outdoors without feeling you have to spend money.
“There will be musical entertainment and plenty for children to do with art and craft activities, soft play, and games in the playground organised by the youth club team.
“Volunteers from Greengage Community Garden will be coming along to help us sow some seeds and improve our natural environment.
“And of course, Herston Village Hall will be open and serving teas, coffee and cake.
“It’s so good for wellbeing to be outdoors, but so often we get stuck inside, so this is a chance to get out in nature and spend quality time with our families and friends, have a chat and a cuppa.”
Local residents are encouraged to walk to the event as there is limited parking and dogs are not allowed on the field.
