Fitzrovia Trust, which received a community funding grant from Derwent London, organised a Teddy Bears Picnic for children on 5 October 2013 at the Fitzrovia Nursery, following the first of their planting sessions at the nursery playground on 27 September 2013.
Around 80 parents and children turned out for the picnic, together with local volunteers. As well as the delightful new planting, people came to enjoy face-painting, food, music, juggling, conjuring and a pet’s zoo. The comment most frequently made from visitors was that they were pleased to be able to use the playground, since they had thought it was for use by the nursery only; they were also delighted to see the new planting. There were lots of positive comments such as:
“It looks like a proper garden now” and one parent whose daughter attends the nursery commented “She’s amazed, this is her place, where have all these other lovely children come from?”
The playground which is at 54 Whitfield Street, London W1T 4ER, is open during term-time from 3.30pm until dusk and during the weekends and school holidays from dawn until dusk.
Fitzrovia Trust, a local charity, holds the playground and nursery on a lease from Camden Council and sublets Fitzrovia Community Nursery to London Early Years Foundation. Derwent London's community funding programme has enabled the Trust to undertake a replanting programme for the playground with a number of parents, children and local volunteers assisting.