Support for Leighton Buzzard Picnic in Park businesses as event postponed to 2021

The annual fun day, popular with young families, was due to go ahead on June 24 but due to coronavirus it has been moved (provisionally) to June 23, 2021.

Now the deputy mayor would like to put the spotlight on four businesses to say a thank you for their help with the event over the years, and to encourage the community to support them during the pandemic.

Annette Cowell, a children’s entertainer who runs Toddler Time, said: “Toddler Time is a fun, interative music session for under fives with singing, dancing, games and props. It’s very lively and interactive.

“At Picnic in the Park I normally do a live show on stage.

“It’s a lovely event and it’s just nice to meet new families whether you’re slushing about in wellies or whether its absolutely boiling!”

Annette is currently running two Facebook Live sessions on Mondays and Fridays at 10am. You can also catch up afterwards. Search Toddler Time Music and

Movement on Facebook. There is also a Paypal link if you would like to make a donation.

Unfortunately, all of  Annette’s birthday parties have  been cancelled but she hopes  to make a slow comeback as restictions are lifted, and has been able to start running some sessions back in preschools and nurseries where students and teachers are in a ‘bubble’.  In normal circumstances, Annette also runs classes in Leighton Buzzard Tennis Club on Fridays.

Another business missing the fun of Picnic in the Park is action-packed company Events Inc Ltd.

Sonia Dean, managing director, said: “We are an events management company based in Leighton Buzzard and own a number of pieces of kit; we do events for children, families and adults such as archery, axe throwing and team building.

“As a secondary side,  we work with companies who want to put on an event and help to design it for them or create a product, such as a virtual Treasure Hunt.”

Readers may remember Events Inc from Picnic in the Park because of their mini landrovers, while they have also found the event to be a fantastic networking opportunity. Indeed, Sonia has previously teamed up with Bits and Buds flower shop (on Bell Alley) to help create a flower headband product for Haven Holiday Parks.

She added: “Up until the end of this year, we are planning on running Zoom events. Next year we will be slower, but I think things will come back.

“I would like to thank Jam on Toast Marketing, The Bees Knees Network Group, Cllr Kharawala, my husband, and our brilliant clients and suppliers for being billiant and understanding.”

Meanwhile, one business that has been able to get moving again due to the lockdown is Mimic Gifts based on Hockliffe Street.

Sarah Prudames, business owner, said: “We reopened last Tuesday (June 16) and we had a queue for most of the morning. Although Thursday and Friday we didn’t have many people because the weather was terrible.

“I’m sure things will pick up again next week.”

During the lockdown Sarah was able to sell products online and do local refill deliveries, which included demands for her five litre jerry can filled with hand sanitiser.

To help the town become greener, Sarah also offers refills for products such as washing up liquid, hand soap, laundry liquid, fabric conditioner, non purpose cleaner, moisturiser, shampoo, bath salts and bath bombs, and conditioner.

Sarah started her business five years ago after having a baby, and used to visit Picnic in the Park when her children were tiny.

She has also held stalls at the event.

Sarah remembers: “It’s always nice, very relaxing, and lovely to see families relaxing and enjoying themselves.”

Sarah also wished to thank Jam on Toast Marketing and all her “lovely customers” for their support during the pandemic.

Finally, as the town slowly comes back to life, one business which has benfitted from the good weather is Sunshine Softplay.

Jo Bucki, business owner, said: “We are local to Leighton Buzzard and coming up to our eigth year of trading. We launched in 2012 and were looking for a business model that worked around the family, doing party hire with lots of soft play and bouncy castles.

“We’ve just started up with garden hire again, sticking to the bouncy castles. We can put them away and not touch them for a few days, before getting them out to clean them; it eliminates the risk of cross contamination.”

When not restricted by lockdown, Sunshine Softplay runs inclusive ‘Stay and Play’ sessions from Monday - Thursday at Leighton Town Football Club.

Jo added: “We hope we will be back bigger, and better and stronger and the lockdown has helped us to reign in our priorities as a family.

“I would like to say thank you to Cllr Kharawala for bringing back Picnic in the Park to the town, and to the carnival committee.”

The community’s much-loved Picnic in the Park has run for over 40 years, although it did not go ahead in 2014 due to a lack of helpers.

However, in a bid to save the family fun, Cllr Kharawala volunteered as a local resident in 2015, and along with some help from Leighton-Linslade Carnival committee, successfully launched the comeback of the popular event.

Cllr Kharawala added: “In 2019 it became an official second event run by Carnival committee.

“The event has grown to include a free entertainment stage, small funfair rides, shopping stalls, arts and crafts, but still keeps a family-friendly, traditional feel.

“Most importantly, it’s all free! A modest grant has been received from Leighton-Linslade Town Council and sponsorship from Quarters Estate Agents in previous years.”

www.sunshinesoftplay.co.uk

www.eventsinc.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/mimicgifts

http://www.toddlertimemk.co.uk/