Nairn community comes out for big picnic
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The sun shone brightly on a great day out for one Nairn community at the weekend.
On Saturday the Queenspark Residents’ Group hosted a picnic in the park, with people invited to bring their own picnic or enjoy treats prepared by association members themselves for the afternoon at Riverside Park in the town’s Mill Road.
Part of educational charity Eden Project’s Communities’ Big Lunch it was one of thousands of similar events taking place across the country.
The organisers of the Nairn event wanted to use the occasion to create a space for community members to get to know one another better, instructing partygoers beforehand: “Find a comfy spot on the grass or at one of Nairn Play’s new picnic benches or one of our pallet ‘tables’.
“Relax and enjoy lunch, catch up with each other over a lovely chilled drink and celebrate the opportunity to spend time with each other, with our very own Big Lunch!”
As well as some lovely food, the day also included a variety of stalls, a tombola, raffle and displays from some fantastic local groups.
There was also live music courtesy of Donald Wilson and the Nairn Speldings, Susanna Wolfe, DWR and Penguin’s Tuxedo.
After lunch was over Nairn Active Schools Leaders were also on hand to organise some outdoor games.
A scavenger hunt and a kids craft table were also planned to add to the fun along with a “beat the goalie” challenge with Nairn St Ninian WFC in goals and a £20 voucher up for grabs as well as a “guess the number of sweeties in the jar” competition, though people were also free to do their own thing if they preferred.
And the day ended with a “Big Sweep” clean-up with all hands on deck to make sure the much-loved local park was left unspoiled once it was all over.
A message posted online afterwards from Cop-op member pioneer Kay Ford said: “What an amazing turnout.
“We all enjoyed the sunshine, stalls, food and live music.
“What a tremendous effort by Morag (Anderson, residents’ group chairwoman) and everyone involved in the Queenspark Residents’ Group.”
May Botto replied: “Thank you so much Kay Ford for coming to our event, hopefully it will be the first of many.
“It was lovely to see all our community pulling together and smiling again so from our chairperson Morag Anderson, myself and my fellow committee members thank you for joining us today.”
Mrs Anderson said: “As chairperson of Queenspark Residents’ Group I would like to wholeheartedly thank all our members and volunteers who helped organise and run Picnic in the Park 2023, a huge team effort!”
