The Christmas Garden Returns to Sandown Battery Gardens!
Saturday 16th December from 4.30pm
One of Sandown Bay’s most fascinating spaces, Sandown Barracks Battery will be transformed again this Christmas with magical lights, music, art workshops, trails and campfires as the Christmas Garden celebration returns to Battery Gardens on Saturday 16th December.
Everyone’s welcome to join the Bay not-for-profit organisation The Common Space and the team from Ventnor Exchange at this fantastic free community event – designed to shine a light (Christmas light that is!) on the historic cliff-top fort and gardens.
Ian Boyd, founder of The Common Space, Artecology & Arc and part of the Bay community team explains,
“We held the first Christmas Garden last year in order to showcase what an excellent multi-opportunity community venue and unparalleled green space this is, and as a way to collect people’s ideas and aspirations for it at the same time. Around 500 people came and joined us on the night! Thanks to the creative team at Ventnor Exchange, there’ll be even more to enjoy and celebrate this year, including all the many positive changes takin place across the Bay!
Claire Hector explains,
“Last year’s event was funded through Coastal Revival funding with excellent support from local residents and businesses too. Currently, Arc will be funding the events as CSP but we’d love to hear from other local businesses interested in helping with sponsorship too. A huge thanks to Thompson’s Nursery who are donating a Christmas tree to us again this year. Our tree will have a second Christmas with the YMCA at Winchester House again after the event!”
Built at the centre of the Bay’s 5 mile curve, Sandown Barrack Battery is a great example of accessible public realm and Island heritage; a 19th Century fort or ‘Palmerston Folly’, overlaid with a popular public garden, and all with stunning views of the Bay and out to sea. Through the work of the Bay Coastal Community Team and Isle of Wight Council’s Regeneration team, the internationally famous National Poo Museum will find a home in the gardens’ gatehouse buildings and build new visitors interest over the next 12 months.
The Christmas Garden will feature choirs, local musicians, art workshops, home-made treats and mince pies and more Christmas magic as Mhairi Macauley from Ventnor Exchange explains,
“Ventnor Exchange are very excited to bring The Christmas Garden back in collaboration with The Common Space, Arc and Sandown community groups. We were bowled over with the response last year when around 500 people visited the Battery and we will be building on that this year with more activities for families, interactive experiences, storytelling, more music including a traditional brass band and of course, snow!”
If you are able to help contribute towards funding The Christmas Garden, please contact Clair Hector or Ian Boyd at The Common Space;
07710363446
thebay@thecommonspace.org.uk
