SPALDING will be looking at its
best and brightest this Spring
with the first-ever Spalding
Flower Festival, which will take
place on Saturday, Sunday and
Monday, May 2, 3 and 4.
The event will be based with-
in the town itself and at
Springfields Event Centre, and
will include the Festival
Gardens and the new fountains
which were recently installed as
part of a half-million pound
upgrade.
Everything that has delighted
the visiting public for many
years, such as structures cov-
ered in fresh tulip heads,
marching bands and the chil-
dren s activities will be includ-
ed.
Added to all that will be mag-
nificent flower displays by RHS
Gold Medal winning exhibitors,
a church flower display mar-
quee and exhibits by the
National Association of Flower
Arranging Societies.
There s more: the Spalding
Flower Parade & Carnival Trust
has arranged for a family circus
to be on site, as well as partici-
pation by Long Sutton Butterfly
and Wildlife Park, local flower
importers and nurseries and it s
all free to ticket-holders.
Children from local schools
will also be taking part in a
number of competitions includ-
ing a Scarecrow Competition,
Design a Fairy Garden
Competition, as well as enter-
taining the crowds with every-
thing from a junk band to a
choir.
Art, too, will feature strongly
with a marquee dedicated to
local artists, both amateur and
professional, who will display
art predominantly on a horticul-
tural or local scenery and
wildlife theme.
PARADE
On Saturday May 2, a
parade, which is supported by
Lincolnshire County Council,
South Holland District Council
and local businesses and
organisations, will run through
the town centre and will feature
a floral cavalcade covered in
fresh tulips and a host of local
community groups and organi-
sations, as well as the tradition-
al marching bands and music
trailers.
As its finale, the parade will
have a Carnival of over 180
children taking part in a co-ordi-
nated dance and musical pro-
cession. The parade will finish
at the Sir Halley Stewart
Playing Field, where the floats
will remain on display.
Throughout South Holland,
churches will host magnificent
flower festival of their own and
will provide welcome refresh-
ments to visitors.
GRAND FINALE
The festivities will end on
Monday night with a grand
finale including entertainment,
illuminated displays and a
spectacular fireworks display in
the Springfields Festival
Gardens.
The Springfields Event
Centre will be open from 9am
until 6pm on Saturday and
Sunday, and on Monday from
9am until 5pm, and again from
7pm until 10.30pm with the fire-
works at 9.30pm.
Tickets for the event will be a
modest �7 per day for adults,
�6 for concessions and �3.50
for school age children (5-16
years old).
Monday s ticket will include
the evening festivities although
an evening only ticket will be
available at just �5 (half price
for children).
THE BUTTERFLY and Wildlife Park, set in the heart of the
Fens at Long Sutton, is a great day out for all the family,
just 14 miles from King s Lynn, the same distance from
Spalding, and only seven miles from Wisbech.
Considerable development of the park in the past year
or so has drawn appreciative comments from visitors,
especially those who had not been for some time and
has resulted in the winning of a major award, the
Lincolnshire Tourism Star Award for Large Attraction of
the Year 2008, a source of great pride to the whole team.
More creatures have been introduced, including a new
boa constrictor and bearded dragons, and the number of
butterflies has been increased form 175 to between 600-
1,000 per week, really putting back the butterfly in
Butterfly Park!
A visit to the Tropical House allows you to walk among
tropical plants with hundreds of colourful, exotic butter-
flies and tiny sugar birds flying around you.
You can also see various reptiles, including a caiman,
snakes and lizards, a Creepy Crawly House and an amaz-
ing Ant Room.
There is plenty to see, whatever the weather!
Outdoors, there are 15 acres of fun and enjoyment,
including the Lincolnshire Bird of Prey Centre with daily
flying displays.
Walk around the park and you will see water buffalo,
giant rabbits, curly-coated pigs, pygmy goats, Cameroon
sheep, raccoons, and much more.
The large adventure playground and toddler area have
been completely refurbished and now boast a 40-metre
long aerial zip wire, a pets corner, a 96-ft walk-through
tropical bird aviary and a Tractor, Car and Digger Land
(the latter has proved especially popular with the young-
sters).
Disabled access throughout the park has also been
made easier. There are large car parks, picnic areas, a tea
room and a gift shop.
A snail and rabbit, made out of flowers, at Springfields last year.
FIRST FLOWER FESTIVAL
A wild & wonderful experience
you'll never forget!
New Adventure Play Area
Lincolnshire Birds of Prey Centre
Car Circuit
Tropical House
Walk-through Bird Aviary
Reptiles
Petting Area
Ant Room
Award Winning Tea Room with
Gardens & Excellent Gift Shop
Voted Lincolnshire's
Large Visitor Attraction
of the year 2008
Tel: 01406 363833/363209 www.butterflyandwildlifepark.co.uk
Butterfly and Wildlife Park, Long Sutton, Spalding, Lincs PE12 9LE. Open March 21st to November 1st � from 10am
BUTTERFLY AND WILDLIFE PARK
SUMMER SAVER VOUCHER: PAGE 15
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