An Opportunity to bring Shoppers to town

We should be planning for bigger better shopping experience

Can't we make the Winter Wonderland and Christmas Lights launch a bigger better experience like they are in Cardiff

CITY CENTRE TO STAGE DAY-LONG CHRISTMAS PARTY

Cardiff, named the 6th best shopping centre in the UK is planning a dazzling launch to the festive (lets call it Christmas and forget the local authority fear and political correctness) celebrations with a full day of free entertainment backed by the city centre traders.

Swansea should be focussed already on such an event. It looks like spending will be down as consumers tighten their belts so a bump start could be a great idea. What are BID doing? We need to climb up the ladder and become a shopping centre that visitors look forward to.

Swansea must stop being the bus pick-up point for Cardiff.

Why don't we have living statues around the city bringing some life!!  Why don't we have some real statues of local heroes? These could be the product of a local competition. And perhaps they could be sited for a couple of months and changed. With the huge number of creative artists in the area this is could be a great focal point.

Go to London and walk along the Bayswater Road. Why don't we have artists displaying their work on a Sunday morning along the High Street or in the park in front of the waterfront museum. Or even along Oxford Street. What a draw that would be. You could even have an artists quarter where artists are working outside like in the Montmartre area of Paris

You have to start somewhere and sometime. So why hasn't this been done before? Why can't it be up and running in a couple of weeks? Why can't the council just a few weeks? Local artists would love this and it wouldn't cost the council anything. Charge a few pounds if necessary: just a nominal amount  and certainly nothing for bonefide students at local colleges and universities.

Get rid of the paperwork. KISS - keep it simple, stupid. Issue licenses at £20 that are valid for 8 weeks as a starter. If it works - as it will - and bingo you will soon be drawing in more visitors. Don't be greedy. Look upon this as an investment.













Come on Swansea.This could be the beginning of something really big. Lets get those visitors excited and turn the tide so Cardiff folk come here.

What's on Offer in Singleton park this month

Botanics in Bloom 2011

 

1 - 31 August, Singleton Botanical Gardens, Singleton park

We say with such huge open parks such as Singleton that Swansea has just about everything within walking distance (or at least a short bus ride) from beach, castle, shopping centre, open parkland, large indoor market, gardens, woodland and small urban villages.


Wherever we live we all say the same thing "Oh! I've never been there! or "Haven't been there since I was a kid!" With healthy living at the forefront of the search for a longer better life this is the opportunity to get some easy exercise and enjoy some interesting sights.


Singlton Park is full of surprises from the Sunday afternoon music, plants for sale, a perfect place to take the kids biking, a picnic or a simple stroll. t's agreat time to think things through in peace. And it's a fact that when you exercise yor brain becomes more creative. Don't beleive me? Get out to Singleton Park and discover nature and maybe your inner self too.

To contact the Dog Training call Liz Ellis on 01792 798962


Botanics in Bloom is celebrated every year throughout August when the Botanical Gardens in Singleton Park are in full bloom and at their most spectacular. 

During this time you can see many specimens of rare and exotic plants from all over the world, as well as more traditional plants. 

There will also be a variety of events including children's entertainment, brass band concerts, guided tours, workshops, demonstration and plant sales.

A visit to the gardens in August is a must so come along and join in with the fun activities and celebrate Botanics in Bloom.

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Main Programme of Events 

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Band Concerts:

Sundays 3.00pm – 5.00pm

Relax in the beautiful surroundings of the gardens whilst being entertained by some of Swansea's finest bands. 

7 Aug  City of Swansea concert band

14 Aug  Constellation Big Band

21 Aug Morriston Big band

28 Aug Swansea Accordion Orchestra

Free

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Children's activities:

Mondays 1pm - 4pm (excludes Bank Holiday),

Sundays 3pm - 5pm (includes Bank Holiday)

There are so many activities to keep the children happy.  Monday session includes arts & crafts, an entertainer and face painting.

Mondays - £ 0.50 all inclusive with entertainer (unfortunately we can't guarantee that every child will get their face painted due to time constraints)

Here are a list of children's entertainers that will be present every Monday throughout Botanics in Bloom and will be providing a range of activities and entertainment from magic shows and storytelling to clowns and glove puppets;

Monday 1 - Diamond Dust

Monday 8 - Mike Church

Monday 15 - Loopy Loo

Monday 22 - Mr Bubbles

Every Sunday - Free (arts & crafts and face painting)

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Guided tours of the gardens with slideshow:

Tuesdays and Thursdays 2.00pm – 4.00pm.*

A guided tour is a great way to explore the magnificent gardens and experience all they have to offer.  Guided tours for 10+ people can be arranged at £1.50 per person, which can be booked any time.

Adults £1.50, children £0.50

(*meet at main gate)

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Bird and wildlife slideshow and tours with an experienced wildlife guide:

Wednesdays 10.00am – 12noon.*

Discover the wonderful variety of birds and wildlife that live in the Botanical Gardens.  An experienced guide will take you to all the best spots to catch a glimpse of the gardens' inhabitants.

Adults £1.50, children £0.50

(*meet at Ty'r Blodau)

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 Workshops and demonstrations

 Wednesdays 2pm - 4pm

Have you ever wanted guidance on garden design? Or perhaps you would like to learn about growing vegetables? If so, there is bound to be something of interest for you at these workshops which incorpoarte many interesting topics.

Adults £1.50; children 50p (not suitable for very young children)

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Plant sales:Saturdays 10.00am – 2.00pm

The extremely popular plant sales, organised by the Friends of the Botanics, offer a great opportunity to purchase high quality, locally grown plants at competitive prices.

Free admission

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Rare plant sale
Sunday 21 August, 10am - 5pm

The rare plant sale will give you a chance to pick up something special for your home or garden.

Events weekend 6th and 7th August 2011

Outside South Wales it is appalling that there are riots once again on the streets of the UK. Just now it's Tottenham, Edmonton, Brixton and Enfield. Groups of mainly young people driven by social media (Twitter and Facebook) swept through these areas following the terrible riots in Tottenham. Mass hysteria driven by a small group of hardcore anachists seems again to have been so easy to orchestrate. Bristol is probably the nearest that it's been to South Wales. Lets hope that this now dies down and law and order is is brought back again. The damage, looting and theft has left the local community devastated. Amazing to see the police dogs clear a scene  Bring them on again for swift sharp success.

Back in Swansea we saw a Local Produce Market at Sketty which is a real commmunity project that is not just providing a real service but has also become a place to meet and greet old friends. These markets are a place to by real food from real people. Vegetables that may not be perfect in shape or size but ooze flavour that you don't get in supermarkets: home made cakes made from ingredients you'd find in any kitchen cupboard and were prepared fresh iether the night before or even early morning. And much, much more. 

Coming up next Saturday is the Festival of the Tides from 1pm starting outside the Royal Oak at Penclawdd. Looking at video of previous years this is a real family day with loads of mini events for the whole family going on. £2.50 entrance is great vale and all profits go to local charities. To date they have given just over £10,000 which is pretty amazing.

The Gower Show was a wonderful event and probaly one of thev few remaining real county shows with home produce competing, dogs, horses, displays of all outside activities. The crowds poured in despite the threat of heavy showers.  The ground stood up well against the heavy raain that fell in the night and everyone seeed to be enjoying themselves. A real booster when so many people are having concerns about job losses, high power hikes, petrol 50% higher than 18 months ago and much more.

Swansea City and played in Singleton Park. Another regualr even both here ad in Clyne Park where you can juust relax and hear some great music played by local musicians.

We are anxious to hear about your events so call and tell us. ask@swantv.com, tel/text 07976364681. If you don't tell we can't be there.

Thanks to all organisers for making us so welcome.