Teddy Bear’s picnic in Wop Wops is fun
“If you go down to the woods today,” so the song goes and if you did go to the Wop Wop Wetlands on Sunday in Norsewood you would be in for a surprise.
Not quite “every bear that ever there was” was there, but there were a large number, with children attached.
It was an initiative of Phil Grant, owner of New Zealand Natura Clothing where the Wop Wops Wetland Park is. While there was a money-raising motive to support the park’s development, Phil said Sunday was all about the kids. He said having the children really enjoy themselves, future proofed the park because the children would want to return bringing parents and family.
And a great time they had, tearing around the wetlands trails, viewing the eels and doing lots of things with their teddies.
They coloured in teddies outlined on paper, had their faces painted by new arrival to Norsewood Hariet Self, a professional artist, heard stories about teddies from Birgitta Rolston, guessed the number of teddies in the jar (154) – Ollie Alderson guessed exactly right — held a grand parade with prizes for the largest, smallest, and best dressed teddies (Tiny Teddies of course) and concluded with a lolly scramble.
About 20 children took part in sunny conditions and Norsewood Lions held their barbecue selling sausages.
This was the second year the Teddy Bear’s picnic has been held and it looks set to be a fixture on Norsewood’s calendar.