Bears and their friends enjoy picnic in the park

IF YOU went down to Bute Park on Saturday, you were sure of a very big surprise.

The Noah’s Ark Charity, which raises money for the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales, held its annual teddy bears’ picnic.

The ever-popular event was held at the Swalec Stadium on Sophia Walk in Cardiff.

This year’s four-hour picnic included fun events for all the family, including face painting, picnics and, of course, teddy bears.

The charity declared the event, which was held in blazing sunshine, a massive success.

On the Facebook page, it posted a video after the event and stated: “It’s all kicking off at the Teddy Bears’ Picnic. Thanks to everyone who came today. You’ve helped us raise thousands.”

That video has now been viewed almost 2,000 times.

People were taking to social media to say how much fun they had for a really fantastic cause.

Huda Ageib said: “It was wonderful day I had a lovely time there. Thanks to everyone.”

Bethan Davies echoed this and stated: “We had a fabulous time. Made far more enjoyable when it’s for such a wonderful cause.”

The Noah’s Ark Charity was launched in 2000. Prior to this, children were treated in accommodation that was very outdated and in need of modernisation.

The wards hadn’t been designed for the needs of children and parents and many were in a poor state of repair.

The charity’s founding members began their commitment to the creation of the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales through a lobbying campaign spanning a decade.

The green light was finally given in 2000 to begin the fundraising for the build of phase one and the Noah’s Ark Appeal was launched by then 14-year-old Charlotte Church who joined when the hospital opened its doors on St David’s Day in 2005 to its very first patients.

The second phase of the hospital, which cost £64m, was unveiled in 2015 by Charlotte Church, First Minister Carwyn Jones and then Health Minister Mark Drakeford.