CLICK HERE TO VIEW A PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE EVENT
On Saturday 24th September 2022, we welcomed residents to the second annual Kingsgrove Community Day. Over 300 people gathered in the public square at the heart of the new neighbourhood to enjoy a vast array of food, activities, and entertainment. St. Modwen funded and organised the event, with support from local partners including the Kingsgrove Resident Reps and the Vale of White Horse District Council.
The event was a celebration of the Kingsgrove community and involved many local groups on the day. Stalls accommodated every age and taste, from Pierangela’s face painting and Sweatbox’s glitter tattoos to more traditional stalls such as hook-a-duck, popcorn, and candyfloss. Local favourites The Happy Plaice served fish and chips from their mobile van and the Kingsgrove Café run by Marcopolo Bakery was busy all day. Local guitarists provided the event’s soundtrack, and community groups from the Guides to Wantage Community Church were on-hand with activities and information about their work. A Kingsgrove resident, Gemma Hubbard, also hosted her own stall selling homemade jewellery.
Artist Kerry Lemon ran a workshop turning old tetra pak juice cartons into sustainable Kingsgrove themed bunting. The project team and the residents collected cartons and brought them along on the day, and Kerry worked with the children to make crown-shaped bunting with orchard images printed on them. They used them to decorate stalls on the day and will be re-used in future.
In 2021 Kerry installed her King Alfred inspired sculpture and textured pavers in the public square, and children continued to play around the area and create crayon rubbings, showing the long-term impact of art installations.
The full St. Modwen Kingsgrove development team attended the event; and Taylor Wimpey, St. Modwen Homes and Cala Homes donated and contributed to the day.
St. Modwen also invited residents to have their say on plans for the upcoming Central Park and Community Hub. The consultation provided opportunities for attendees to design their own playground and a chance to vote for the types of equipment and preferred uses for the community garden, sports facilities, and skate park. For more information on what’s coming to the park and the hub and to give feedback, visit: https://kingsgrovewantage.co.uk/news/kingsgrove-central-park-consultation.
Zalman Fleischer, Residential Portfolio Manager at St. Modwen said:
“It was brilliant to see so many of our residents enjoy this important day for their community, as they came together to celebrate Kingsgrove. We are really keen to continue holding these events in the future and welcome residents who would like to work with us on these and other issues important to the community to get in touch and get involved!
James Hodgson, Kingsgrove Resident Rep said:
“It was great to meet so many people at the Community Day, and chat about their experiences of living on this wonderful development we call “home”. We heard people talking about how they could use their skills and time to volunteer in helping create the community. Having an opportunity to see, discuss, and potentially influence decisions about what is being planned for the Central Park area and Community Hub was also brilliant.”