Fun day at Botanic Park continues to grow

CNS Editor | 29/01/2019

(CNS Local Life): The Garden Club of Grand Cayman and the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park hosted their fifth annual Family Fun Day at the Park, on Sunday, 20 January with more than 1,000 visitors coming out for the event whose aim is to encourage residents to experience all that is offered at the national attraction.

Entertainment included local musicians, face painting, lawn games, a balloon-twisting clown, crafts and a magician, stated a press release from the Tourism Attraction Board (TAB), which manages the park.

The day also featured the appearances of the iconic blue iguana. The $3,000 raised from this year’s event will go toward the continued development of the new Children’s Garden.

Visitors spent time exploring the surrounding gardens and also given the opportunity to learn how to create floral arrangements and transplant a small plant before taking it home.

“It was wonderful to see so many families at this event, interacting with nature and learning about their environment in a holistic way,” said John Lawrus, general manager of the Botanic Park, in the press release.

“We extend a big thanks to the National Trust of the Cayman Islands for providing blue iguana facility tours and an information booth,” he said. “I also want to thank the Department of Environment and the Mosquito Research and Control Unit for showcasing what they do and the importance of their roles in the Cayman Islands.”

Lawrus also said the park was indebted” to the Garden Club for their assistance every year. “They organized volunteers, a bake sale, raffle, arts and crafts, flower arranging tutorials, face painting and so much more, and continue to do so tirelessly,” he added.

Lawrus noted the next event at the park is the annual orchid show and sale set for 30 and 31 March, held in partnership with the Cayman Islands Orchid Society.

“This year’s Family Fun Day was deeply fulfilling, as we witnessed families appreciating the activities planned for them to enjoy, our minds drifted to thoughts of what it would be like to host this event next year with a fully functioning purpose-built Children’s Garden,” said Jill Wood, former Garden Club president.

“Unique to this event is a children’s feel, touch and learn nature table, which showcases an array of deceased insects, nests and skeletons. It truly is a wonderful event because we know children are learning about the world around them; learning to appreciate it and protect it,” said Wood, as she also thanked the “dedicated volunteers and club members for time and hard work”.

Scenes from this year’s Family Fun Day (CLICK TO ENLARGE)