Locals show healthy appetite for park fun
Big Lunch on Sunday
Locals are being urged to take a picnic to the park on Sunday – and help brighten up someone’s day.
The Big Lunch will be taking place at Overtoun Park, with the aim of bringing people in the community together.
Last year’s event brought over 200 people to the park, and Eugenie Aroutcheff, of organisers Grow 73, is hoping that this year will be the same.
She said: “At 11.30am we will be showing the nature trail that we recently unveiled in the park, and then at 12.30pm we will have the Big Lunch itself.
“We want people to come along, bring a picnic and enjoy a lunch with other people. What the Big Lunch is about is having people together and tackling social isolation and loneliness.
“Sometimes people think that those things only affect older people, but that’s not true – anybody can feel lonely, and a social event like this brings the community together.
“The comments we have had in the past have been very positive and there is something nice about seeing three generations all eating together, they can help the whole community.”
The recent Ruglen Ropewalk nature trail launched by Grow 73 was hampered by vandalism almost immediately.
However, Eugenie believes things have settled down.
She added: “We have managed to consolidate some of the sculptures that were at risk of vandalism, and we have got the sculpture that was damaged back – we are just deciding exactly what to do with it.
“Sunday should be a good opportunity to show everything that the ropewalk has to offer people.”
Appearing at the Big Lunch will be storyteller Amanda Edmiston, with music from the Mairs Family Band.