100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY

Transcription

1 100 YEARS OF

2 100 YEARS OF Our Vision To celebrate the relevance of Ebenezer Howard s ethos for healthy living as epitomised by Welwyn Garden City a hundred years ago, to today s debates about housing, sustainable communities, health and wellbeing. To promote Welwyn Garden City as a destination to live, work, and play. To gain town-wide appreciation and pride in Welwyn Garden City, with associated involvement of schools and other stakeholders to ensure an ongoing legacy. To provide promotional and economic opportunities which will benefit Welwyn Garden City and Hertfordshire businesses. Welwyn Garden City celebrates its centenary in 2020! This is a major milestone in the life of a garden city of world renown. For the celebrations to be a success, they must be locally rooted. We are planning a series of events, projects and community-based initiatives highlighting the town s history which, as well as celebrating the centenary year, will leave a legacy to inspire future generations. Some events are one-off to leave a lasting memory, whilst others are more enduring and will raise the profile of Welwyn Garden City on the national and international stage. In total there are 14 signature events which are underpinned by many more projects being organised directly by community organisations, businesses, places of learning, the Local Authority and residents themselves. Full details are featured on our website.to steer them to fruition, a registered charity, Welwyn Garden City Centenary Foundation, has been established by members of the community. The Marquess of Salisbury has enthusiastically agreed to be our Patron and fully supports all the centenary initiatives. To realise our vision, the Centenary Foundation is seeking funding and sponsorship of over 1m. As a company, organisation or individual with links to the garden city, this is your opportunity to get involved and support this once in a century celebration. 2 3

3 CELEBRATING Welcome 100 YEARS to OF Welwyn Garden City Art and Sculpture We aim to encourage visitors, businesses and residents to feel proud that they have arrived at a special destination by better signage reflecting the garden city principles and welcoming them to our town. Particular focus will be given to the strategic entry roads, railway station and the new bus station, shown here. The designers and pioneers of Welwyn Garden City embraced public art and sculpture. We will showcase local artists and bring a collection of creative arts of international significance to the garden city for public display. Opportunities will be provided for budding artists to express themselves. 4 info@wgccentenary.org info@wgccentenary.org 5

4 Launch WELWYN & GARDEN Finale CITY WELWYN Sport GARDEN for CITY All We will herald the opening and closing of the Centenary year with celebratory and inspirational events. These could include fireworks, a lumiére show and a centenary beacon which could burn like an Olympic flame. Welwyn Garden City, a town designed for healthy living, has a whole range of sports clubs and sporting organisations that have inspired a number of home-grown internationally acclaimed sports personalities. The town boasts sporting facilities including one of only four outdoor velodromes in the UK, water sports park, a ski slope, three tennis clubs and four golf courses. We aim to facilitate and coordinate a celebration of a century of sport in Welwyn Garden City. All sports clubs, sporting organisations, schools and youth groups in the town have been invited to arrange events throughout 2020 with a focussed Week of Sport in the Summer. Encouraging increased participation, inclusivity and developing sporting success for the future generation. 6 info@wgccentenary.org sport@wgccentenary.org 7

5 Centenary Walk Uniting and encompassing the whole town will be a 20.20km (approximately 12.5miles) walk on existing rights of way. Spokes will radiate from the perimeter into the town to link with the existing town trails and information about historical sights can be seen along the way. Truly a marriage of town and country. Festival CELEBRATING of 100 YEARS Music OF and Performing Arts Welwyn Garden City has a rich heritage of music, dance and drama. We are inviting all sections of the community including schools and the many clubs and societies to showcase their talents in an entertaining celebration of our town. Included in our plans for the year is a two week festival of music and drama in the summer. Centenary Walk 8 walk@wgccentenary.org festival@wgccentenary.org 9

6 Centenary WELWYN Garden GARDEN CITY We are working to enter a Centenary Garden into the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May This will be a unique opportunity to promote Welwyn Garden City at this internationally renowned Show where it will attract world-wide media coverage. After RHS Chelsea, the Centenary Garden will be relocated to further enhance the attractiveness of the town centre as a place to live, work and play. A garden design competition has been held, judged by a panel of experts. The winning design captures the essence of Welwyn Garden City as a place with: Room to breathe Open green space with trees and vistas Nature and society co-existing in harmony Community at its heart The Centenary Garden will be inspiring and uplifting providing a social gathering space for residents, shoppers and visitors to enjoy for years to come. International CELEBRATING 100 Garden YEARS OF City Symposium An entirely new community in the green fields of Hertfordshire, Welwyn Garden City realised the vision of Ebenezer Howard to create a town which offered a good life in an honest place. A landmark in the art and science of town and country planning, the town s successful development demonstrates the practicality and great benefits of building new settlements. This International Symposium invites planners, architects, developers, academics and politicians from around the world to celebrate the centenary of Welwyn Garden City. What went right? What could have been done better? And above all, how can we apply this practical experience both home and abroad against a context of population growth, climate change and the need for sustainable living. Garden Glory 10 garden@wgccentenary.org info@wgccentenary.org 11

7 Restoring the Dell Royal WELWYN Visit GARDEN CITY In the early days of Welwyn Garden City, the residents used a natural swallow hole in Sherrardspark Wood as a theatre, this became known as the Dell. A number of plays (mainly Shakespeare), choral, music and other events took place until Since then, The Dell has been left to nature and lost to the public. We are working with the Local Authority and the Sherrardspark Wood Wardens to restore The Dell as a place accessible for all which can be enjoyed once more for community activities for which there has been much public enthusiasm. A highlight of the year when we will welcome a member of the Royal Family to join us in the celebration of the creation of our beautiful town, Welwyn Garden City. 12 dell@wgccentenary.org info@wgccentenary.org 13

8 Schools Centenary in the Public Realm Welwyn Garden City is a town with a short life but it has a great history. Inspiring young people to learn about and care for their local heritage is an important aspect of the Foundation s work. We aim to foster their participation and cultivate a sense of pride in the community. We are working with local schools and other youth organisations to provide youngsters with the opportunity to gain new skills and experiences as we embrace the centenary. Europe s Garden Cities signposted from Wekerle in Budapest Welwyn Garden City has a rich variety of beautiful statues and monuments which mark events, buildings or significant people in the town s history. We aim to commission a feature which will mark a hundred years of successful garden city living. This could include an inspirational sculpture and possibly a water feature that would be a welcome and popular attraction bringing people into the town centre. This will engage the interest of the international garden city movement and encourage their wider involvement in our celebratory year. 14 schools@wgccentenary.org info@wgccentenary.org 15

9 C ELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF W ELWYN G ARDEN C ITY CityWELWYN of Trees GARDEN CITY One of the greatest pleasures of Welwyn Garden City is the beauty and variety of over 19,000 trees in its streets and public places. The City of Trees project (an urban arboretum) will celebrate this legacy. Information about the trees is to be collated by volunteers and, with the help of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, will be used to develop a series of walks, with related maps, featuring interesting areas of tree planting and individual trees of particular interest. This will be delivered to the public via a website and printed material. The information will also provide an educational resource for schools. 16 cityoftrees@wgccentenary.org The City of rees C ELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF W ELWYN G ARDEN C ITY Centenary WELWYNCarnival GARDEN CITY The garden city pioneers liked nothing better than to enjoy a day in the sun, with street parties, sports and games. A traditional carnival with floats passing through the town was a feature for many years and will be revived for the centenary. This is an opportunity to showcase local businesses, youth groups and other organisations as we celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of garden city living. carnival@wgccentenary.org 17

10 100 YEARS OF To realise our vision, the Centenary Foundation is seeking funding and sponsorship of over 1m. As a company, organisation or individual with links to the garden city, this is your opportunity to get involved and support this once in a century celebration. There are lots of ways this can be done to mutual advantage, and we d like to discuss them with you. Please have a chat tonight with one of our ambassadors or leave a card, or your details and we will get in touch with you. Human society and the beauty of nature are meant to be enjoyed together Sir Ebenezer Howard OBE Founder of the garden city movement The much loved pergola in the Anniversary Gardens was a 75 th birthday gift for the town from the New Towns Commission

11 Get in Touch The Foundation can be contacted by Or by writing to: JennIfer McCann, Company Secretary Welwyn Garden City Centenary Foundation Ltd. 51 Valley Road, Welwyn Garden City AL8 7DH. Tel WGC100 Welwyn Garden City Centenary Foundation Ltd Incorporated in England, Company No Registered Charity Number Supported by the Lady Margaret Paterson Osborn Trust Design and Production. Red Echo Design Ltd.