100 years of welwyn garden citygarden city, with associated involvement of schools and other...
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100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY
100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY
Our VisionTo 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.
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CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY
Welcome to Welwyn Garden City
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.
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITYArt and Sculpture
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITYCELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY
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.
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CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITYLaunch & Finale
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY
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.
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITYSport for All
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY
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.
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITYCentenary Walk
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY
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’.
Centenary Walk
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY
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.
Festival of Music and Performing Arts
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITYCentenary Garden
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY
We are working to enter a Centenary Garden into the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2020. 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.
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY
International Garden City Symposium
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY
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
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CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITYRestoring the Dell
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 1951. 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.
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITYRoyal Visit
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY
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.
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CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITYSchools
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITYCentenary in the
Public Realm
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY
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.
Europe’s Garden Cities signposted from Wekerle in Budapest
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.
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CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITYCity of Trees
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY
reesThe City
of
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.
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITYCentenary Carnival
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.
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY
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.
The much loved pergola in the Anniversary Gardens was a 75th birthday gift for the town from the New Towns Commission.
100 YEARS OF WELWYN GARDEN CITY
Human society and the beauty of nature are meant to be enjoyed together
Sir Ebenezer Howard OBEFounder of the garden city movement
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Get in TouchThe Foundation can be contacted by email: [email protected]
Or by writing to: JennIfer McCann, Company Secretary
Welwyn Garden City Centenary Foundation Ltd.51 Valley Road, Welwyn Garden City AL8 7DH. Tel 01707 322233
www.wgccentenary.org WGC100
Welwyn Garden City Centenary Foundation LtdIncorporated in England, Company No 9130381
Registered Charity Number 1168616
Supported by the Lady Margaret Paterson Osborn Trust
Design and Production. Red Echo Design Ltd. [email protected]