Summer events planned for residents and visitors
This summer, high streets and tourist locations across Babergh and Mid Suffolk are preparing a host of events and activities as they welcome residents and visitors back to their high streets and places safely following the lifting of covid restrictions.
Shops, restaurants, pubs and visitor attractions in high streets around the county have faced unprecedented closures, and now, with the help of additional funding, Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils have been able to support towns and villages to create beautiful spaces and reopen safely this summer.
The Welcome Back Fund created by the government using monies from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is designed for local authorities to help towns reopen, host events and activities and improve and beautify community spaces while keep visitors safe.
The events and activities being delivered this summer will showcase the best that the districts’ towns and villages have to offer, providing fun days out for families and welcoming back residents as well as visitors who are exploring the area for the first time.
Events include Green Sundays, in Sudbury, which offer fun eco-friendly activities and workshops, a community bounce back event in Needham Market to connect local businesses back into the community and craft fairs in Sudbury and Hadleigh.
In addition, the Love Exploring app will introduce new trails, games and visitor information for Sudbury, Hadleigh, Lavenham, Stowmarket, Needham Market, Eye and the Dedham Vale area.
Visitors will be able to celebrate the silk and textiles heritage of Babergh with guided walks and outdoor workshops around Sudbury while families visiting Eye can enjoy the Hare and Tortoise Sculpture Trail.
Gerard Brewster, Mid Suffolk District Council cabinet member for economic growth, said: “Many of our towns and villages are looking forward to a busy summer season and the Welcome Back Fund will not only provide a boost for the events and activities but will also provide extra resources to keep our high streets clean and safe for residents and visitors from around the county and beyond.”
To help improve the local environments, towns and villages will be able to request planters and benches for public spaces, additional bins and litter picking kits to help manage any increases in litter over the summer season.
Michael Holt, Babergh District Council cabinet member for economic growth, added: “With many more people choosing to spend more of their holidays at home this year, we want to help create a buzz, making our towns and villages even more appealing to both residents and visitors. We have some wonderful and unique places to visit and I hope both residents and visitors will explore everything we have to offer.”
In addition to the local activity, Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council have appointed additional support within the public realm teams to provide more street cleaning in towns and to support popular visitor locations in more rural locations in partnership with the Dedham Vale and Suffolk Coast and Heaths Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
For more information visit: www.babergh.gov.uk or www.midsuffolk.gov.uk
What’s on across Babergh and Mid Suffolk:
July 8 to September 10: Eye Hare and Tortoise Sculpture Art Trail, led by the Dream On Charity.
Summer Events: Weekly outdoor events programme held in Stowmarket Town Centre, with local music and activities for all ages led by Museum of East Anglian Life.
August 15 to September 19: Green Sundays on Market Hill, Sudbury, organised by Sudbury Town Council.
Summer Holidays: Kinetic Science hands on activities for kids and families in Sudbury, Stowmarket, Eye, Needham Market and Hadleigh.
August 7: Needham Market Bounce Back Community Event with attractions and activities for families, BBQ and town centre shops open. Organised by Needham Market Town Council.
September 11: Sudbury Silk Celebrations across the town centre, including guided walks, workshops and family activities.
October 9: Time Machine Town Centre event in Stowmarket.