South Swindon Celebrates Spring WITH THE RETURN OF THE BLOSSOM FESTIVAL!
South Swindon Parish Council announces the return of the Blossom Festival. It’ll be taking place throughout April across the parish’s open spaces. The festival will bring residents together to celebrate spring with a vibrant programme of nature-inspired events, family activities and community gatherings.
South Swindon Celebrates Spring – the blossom circle in the GWR park
A range of free events
Across the month, a range of free events will take place in locations including:
GWR Park
Town Gardens
Queens Park and …
…Badbury Park, inviting residents of all ages to enjoy their local green spaces.
The programme will include:
Guided heritage and bat walks
Spring strolls
A community picnic
Circus and bug workshops
And pond dipping amongst other family-friendly events designed to encourage the community to connect with nature and each other.
One of the highlights of the festival will be the main community event at GWR Park on 25th April. There’ll be live music performances, local food and drink vendors and craft stalls. And a variety of activities for children and families to enjoy throughout the day.
Town gardens blossoms and flower beds Town gardens blossoms and flower beds
Arts Award Discover
The Blossom Festival will also be incorporating Prime Theatre’s Arts Award Discover. That offers attendees a fun way to try new arts activities and be creative!
A range of activities will be available across the programme of events, for participants to collect stamps towards their certificate. It’s a great first step before trying the higher Arts Award levels. SSPC is pleased to be subsidising AA for residents of the parish. Talk to a member of staff on site for more information.
Cllr Linda Kasmaty, Chair of Leisure, Environment and Amenities, said:
‘The South Swindon Parish’s amazing Blossom Festival is taking place for the whole of April. There is something for everyone at this year’s event including of course, cherry blossom, but also pond dipping, bat walks, yoga, and concerts. It’s well worth making a note of activities that interest you so you don’t miss out.’
South Swindon Parish Council would like to thank the National Trust for continuing to fund the Blossom Festival for the fourth year running. Thus enabling the council to deliver a range of free events that celebrate nature, wellbeing and community across the parish.
More information about the festival programme and individual events will be on https://southswindon-pc.gov.uk/blossom/ and the Parish Council’s social media pages.
Swindon & Wiltshire Pride are so excited to announce a £69,500 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. They’ll use it to deliver ‘We Were Always Here’. That’s a community heritage project to discover the hidden social history of LGBTQIA+ people in Wiltshire.
We Were Always Here – Swindon and Wiltshire Pride logo
The project’s focus
The project focuses on two centuries of social history from the beginning of the 18th century. That period saw the introduction of strict laws against any kind of homosexual behaviour. It’ll tell too of how 2014 saw the achievement of equal rights with the passing of the same sex marriage act.
‘We Were Always Here’ will discover the stories of how ordinary queer Wiltshire folk lived and loved, suffered and triumphed against social attitudes. With this grant SWP will be able to undertake this community research project and produce:
An exhibition – an easily transportable, free-standing item suitable for indoor and outdoor display. It will be available for loan to interested organisations and educational establishments, with a permanent home in the Pride Hub, Swindon town centre.
A concise, illustrated history book – offered free-of-charge to every senior school, college, library and LGBTQIA+ organisations in Wiltshire.
They will work at close quarters with project partners, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre and Swindon Local Studies Library. Also Kate Parsons (Heritage Interpretation Design Lead) and Andrew Foyle (Historian Advisor).
The organisation is further looking for volunteer researchers and contributors. If you think you can fulfil any of these roles, or to find out further details, please visit our website: https://www.swindonwiltshirepride.org.uk/pride-history-project
Applications for paid roles close on 3 April 2026. James Fraser, Vice-Chair at Swindon & Wiltshire Pride said: ‘We’re excited to be able to start work on ‘We Were Always Here’.
This is an important project which will help us uncover and preserve the hidden history of the LGBTQIA+ community in Wiltshire. Thank you to National Lottery players and The National Lottery Heritage Fund for helping make this possible.’
Kate Parsons, Heritage Interpretation Design Lead said:
‘We hope very much to hear from people who were in, or around, the LGBTQIA+ community before the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1969. Members of the community who were adults before the legal change will be now around 80 years old. We’d like to capture these stories and experiences before those voices are lost.’
Swindon Pride launched in 2008, with the first ever Pride festival being held in Swindon. In 2009, the Pride event expanded to incorporate Swindon & Wiltshire Pride. Swindon & Wiltshire Pride gained charity status in 2019.
Just For Fun Easter Programme. Swindon-based Just for Fun Holiday Club has revealed its Easter programme. It includes:
themed activities
special event days
and hands-on experiences planned across its venues during the school holidays.
The Ofsted registered holiday club, which supports children aged four to 16, will run from Monday March 30 to Friday April 10 at selected sites across the town.
Co-founder Sean Harper said Easter is always a chance to mix familiar favourites with something a little different.
We know children love the traditions like the Easter egg hunts,’ Sean said, ‘but we also try to add activities that feel new and exciting each holiday.’
Just For Fun Easter Programme – child with reptile on shoulder
What the kids can expect
Co-founder Sean Harper said Easter is always a chance to mix familiar favourites with something a little different.
‘We know children love the traditions like the Easter egg hunts,’ Sean said, ‘but we also try to add activities that feel new and exciting each holiday.’
Across the venues, children can expect Easter Egg Hunts, bingo sessions and arts and crafts throughout the fortnight. Some sites will also host Nerf battles, dress-up days and Easter movie afternoons.
Scales of Wonder, an interactive reptile experience, will visit Grange, Dorcan, Holy Cross and Goddard Park sites. Thus giving children the chance to learn about and handle a range of animals in a safe setting.
At Grange and Holy Cross schools, the programme will also include Nerf battles, themed dress-up days and Easter movie sessions. Moredon and Dorcan will run camp challenges alongside creative activities and games.
Sean said the variety is deliberate: ‘Some children want high-energy activities like Nerf battles and team challenges. Others enjoy crafts or quieter sessions. Easter gives us the space to offer both.’
Holy Cross and Grange Juniors will operate from 8am, with late collection available at Holy Cross until 5.30pm. Dorcan and Moredon will run from 9.30am to 3.30pm. Goddard Park will operate for Holidays Activities & Food Programme (HAF) provision only from Monday March 30 to Thursday April 2.
The Holiday Activities and Food programme supports children eligible for free school meals, providing funded holiday places alongside activities and meals. Sean said the club continues to see strong demand for HAF spaces during longer school breaks, particularly Easter.
Freshly-prepared food will be available, giving families the option to remove the stress of packed lunches during the holidays.
Sean said the aim remains simple. ‘We want children to stay active, try new things and leave each day feeling happy. Easter is a long break for working families, so knowing your child is somewhere safe and enjoying themselves makes a big difference.’
With great delight, SALOS announce they’ll be performing their spring concert in tribute to the legendary Ray Dance. The show will feature numbers from many SALOS shows over the past six decades. Evergreens such as:
Oklahoma
Annie Get Your Gun
Elf
Jesus Christ Superstar and plenty more.
SALOS Spring Concert Tribute
Almost 65 years of SALOS service
From his first performance in Chu Chin Chow in 1961 to flying across the stage as Santa in Elf in 2023, Ray lit up every show with passion and professionalism for almost 65 years. He performed more principal roles than anyone in SALOS history. Further he served on the committee for many years. He mentored countless members, and brought so much laughter, kindness and fun into every room he entered.
This concert will celebrate that dedication and talent. It’ll bring to life a wide array of musical numbers from SALOS’ eclectic list of productions in which Ray performed.
‘This concert is a fitting tribute to Ray. It’s set to be a joyful, uplifting performance. One that celebrates his incredible legacy and the musicals he helped SALOS bring to life over the years’ said Russell Langdown, Chair of Committee & Production Director.
SALOS: Musical Theatre Company, has brought high-quality musical theatre to Swindon audiences and played an important role within Swindon’s arts scene since its 1951 formation. Known for their energy, talent, and creativity, SALOS has wowed local theatre fans with past productions. They inlcude Shrek The Musical, The Sound Of Music, Oklahoma! and Elf: The Musical.
With a blend of classic favourites and modern hits, SALOS continues to showcase the best of Swindon’s local talent.
Get your tickets now!
With A Song in His Heart is being performed at Swindon’s Arts Centre on Saturday 11th April. And tickets are available now!
I’m planning on arranging the Old Town section of the forthcoming Swindon in 25 Streets book in something of the order one might walk them. Hence we have: before we walk along High Street and round onto Wood Street we’ll take a wee detour to Market Square and The Planks. As you can see from the map below, the Planks leads off from Market Square. From 1866 part of the walkway from Market Place ran beside the Corn Exchange.
There isn’t a huge amount to say about either. But what there is needs saying as both comprise small but significant pieces of Old Swindon’s history. The latter, from the days when Old Town was Swindon, is the site of Swindon’s town hall/crumbling Corn Market and latterly the Locarno.
As for The Planks – well it’s an ancient walkway and carriageway between the Market Square and Lawn – the Goddard estate. The walkway allowed for free passage to the estate’s stables, coach houses and cottages. It also gave access to worshipers going to the old church of Holy Rood.
Frequented by horses and carriages, this walkway was prone to becoming muddy. Thus, the construction of the raised flagstone pathway and retaining wall on the north side. That meant that residents walking to church in inclement conditions didn’t arrive there with footwear and clothes muddy and wet.
The Planks
Well into the 20th century several buildings lined the walkway – the former vicarage being the most notable. The walkway began alongside the vicarage garden, almost opposite the Goddard’s family stables. This 17th century stone building became business premises in its later life, before being demolished in 1973.
In the 19th century, Lord of the Manor, Ambrose Goddard, erected posts across the way. This action resulted in an altercation between himself and William Read, surveyor to the Old Swindon Local Board
The name?
Well planks (or plankstones) is an old Wiltshire word for flagstones. Hence: The Planks. These days though, as the image shows, though the original wall remains, the walkway is now one of tarmac rather than flagstones. I’m told there’s an entry in the Old Town local board minutes for 1868 that refers to the ‘old church planks.’
Several buildings bordered the walkway well into the 20th century – most notably a former vicarage. This 17thcentury stone building underwent conversion into business premises only to be demolished in 1973.
The estate’s former stables and coach house remain though and were used as private auction rooms until closed in 2003 and then redeveloped.
Walk to the end of The Planks and turn right onto Old Mill Lane. Walk along for a few yards and on your left, butted up to some stone walling, you’ll find a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it squeeze belly stile. One Richard Jefferies, Jefferies (famed Victorian nature writer born at Coate) used this stile on his daily route from his home at the Coate farmhouse* to Old Swindon and back. Thus, this remnant of bygone days carries quite some historic significance.
As for Market Square – well that explains itself – it’s where the rotting Corn Exchange-cum-Locarno stands.
Signage on Market SquareThe Planks – sign and retaining wallThe squeeze belly stile as used by Richard JefferiesLawn – at the end of The Planks
