The Island’s newest Country Park – Pan Park in Newport – will become the venue for an unusual day out for all the family next Saturday.
Organised by The New Carnival Company with partners from Natural Wight, the day will celebrate the natural environment of the new Park which boasts 3 grassy fields, a newly planted orchard, streams and hedgerows and even a pond. The Country Park is home to a variety of birds, creatures and insects including skylarks and yellowhammers, squirrels and dormice, dragon flies, bees, and crickets.
The Pied Piper of Pan, a 3 metre tall puppet made by children at Barton Primary School with New Carnival Company artists, will lead visitors around the site to discover secret treasures and surprises! Sue Bailey, local storyteller, will accompany the walks and folk musicians will add to the ‘magic’ along the way!
Frankie Goldspink, Learning and Participation manager for the New Carnival Company explains:
“Pan Park Safari is all about encouraging local people to discover the great outdoors on their doorstep. We have had fantastic involvement from the community in creating the activities and installations for the day and this is all part of the learning and discovery process.”
Groups taking part include Way Forward based at Downside, Nine Acres Primary School, Natural Wight’s Enterprise students, Barton Primary School and creative volunteers from The New Carnival Company.
Other attractions on the day include Morris dancing from The Oyster Girls, a specially commissioned soundscape by digital artist Zoe Hyett that’s powered by solar energy, a chance to have a go at bug hovering or making a bug house, flying paper skylark kites and untangling an Apple Maze.
Frankie adds:
“Visitors should come prepared for a day in the country. Wear your wellies and pack your rain jacket. Bring a picnic too!”
There is no parking on site due to the uneven nature of the ground, but motorists can make use of the free parking at Newport Football club nearby where stewards will direct them to the site entrance on Pan Lane.
Pan Park Safari opens at 11:00. Entrance is Free.
Photo: Chris Slann and Naomi Baisley of The New Carnival Company show off some of the community artworks that will decorate the Pan Country Park at Saturday’s event.
