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West End Winter Wonderland
The West End Gardens is to be transformed into a winter wonderland in time for Christmas with an open air ice rink.
Get your woolly hats, scarves and mittens on and glide around the (synthetic) ice pretending you are the next Torvill (or Dean?)
The ice rink will be open from Monday 17th December to Friday 21st December, daily from 1pm-9pm. Best of all – it is totally free to have a go!
Ice skates are available to hire, free of charge for children and adults.
The week long event will culminate with a firework finale on Friday 21st at 9pm.
During the week, whilst you are gliding around the rink, there will be a performance from Morecambe Brass Band, who will play Christmas carols to help you get into the festive spirit. There will be music played throughout the week whilst the ice rink is open. We can’t rely on the weather to bring us some snow, so there will be a snow machine ready to cover you with snowflakes as you skate.
Even if you lack confidence on the ice and you aren’t planning on entering yourself as the next figure skater in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, come and have a go. There will be a professional skater on the rink offering tips and encouragement and Peter the Penguin, the rink mascot, will be joining in the fun.
The ice rink will be based at the plaza area on the newly redeveloped West End Gardens, on the promenade between Regent Road and the Battery.
The gardens have undergone a drastic makeover and now incorporate children’s play areas, a water feature, landscaped gardens, picnic areas and five sculptures designed by local school pupils. This event is one of many that will take place at the West End Gardens, now that the area has a usable performance plaza.
Please can all dog owners ensure that they keep their dogs on a lead at all times and that they clean up after the dog – free poop scoop bags are available from the Winning Back Morecambe’s West End offices.
West End Gardens Carnival Celebrations
Hundreds of people joined in with the carnival celebration to open the newly developed West End Gardens in September.
The Galloway’s Choir performed beautifully singing ‘a cappella’ in the performance plaza area.
Street entertainers also performed in the plaza area encouraging children and families to join in by performing ‘poi’ juggling acts, stilt walking, face painting, and all for free.
The new water fountains were switched on and children enjoyed running through, splashing around and getting soaked.
The play areas were packed with families and everyone had a good look at the new artworks that have been designed with the help of pupils from Heysham High School.
Ceremony of Thanks
A ceremony was held to thank all of the community involved in the redesign of the West End Gardens.
The private ceremony took place at the West End Gardens before the carnival in September. All of the pupils from Heysham High School, Sandylands and West End Primary Schools were invited to receive thanks for their huge efforts in designing the artwork on the gardens.
Stephen Matthews, Project Director, Winning Back Morecambe’s West End thanked the residents for their involvement through consultation events and the West End Partnership project group. David Owen, Chief Leisure Officer, Lancaster City Council, spoke about how important play is for children and how the new play areas will help with local children’s development. The artist, Stephen Broadbent, involved in working with the children to create the five pieces of artwork said a few words about how he interpreted their ideas and designs. Finally the Mayor, Coun Helen Helme invited all of the pupils involved in the design of the artwork to receive a huge round of applause for their efforts.
A photograph was taken at the ‘picture frame’ of some of the pupils involved in the design of the artwork
Winning Back Morecambe’s West End is producing a leaflet and brochure to promote the excellent facilities at the West End Gardens. They will be produced by the end of the year and will be available at the office, on our website and at local Tourist Information Centres.