Page 5 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • December 2008 5
Farm helps HAB team look at 35+ years

of community and sustainability

Discovering one of Swindon’s important assets, HAB team members from left, Mike
Roberts, Sarah Gott, Isabel Allen, Chris Hoare, Kevin McCloud and Matt Holland
The credit crunch has slowed down
fi nal agreement on plans by Kevin Christmas in Swindon town centre: ice rink, ski play area, children’s carousel,
McCloud to build 200 eco-homes in polar train, dashing santas, Italian market , Christmas fi lms on the Big Screen,
Gorse Hill but his development team
at HAB (Happiness Architecture & street theatre, community carol concerts - see details below and at www.inswindon.com
Beauty) have been using their time
to fi nd out more about what makes
Swindon work as a community.
Kevin has always been clear that Christmas shopping hours
HAB is far more than building
houses. He sees the long term health
and happiness of his development
and the way it fi ts into the commu- The inSwindon team and Swindon Town retailers are trying to make your time spent shopping in Swindon
nity around it as key to its success. Town Centre as easy and hassle free as possible and therefore have included an advanced listing of shopping
The Gorse Hill project will include hours, enabling you to plan your shopping experience whilst giving you more time to stay and enjoy the
a neighbourhood ‘hub’ to provide a activities that are booked, and exhaust your shopping list.
meeting point and activity space for
people moving into the homes.
The HAB team joined parents Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
B I
and children at the Wednesday Christmas Lights Switch-on, 19th Nov B F 20th Nov F L 21st Nov B 22nd Nov B 23rd Nov
cafe open day in early November 20th November from 18:30 09:00 - 18.00 09:00 - 21:00 09:00 - 18:00 09:00 - 18:00 10:00 - 16:30
at Lower Shaw Farm. They watched
children playing in the sandpit and 24th Nov 25th Nov 26th Nov 27th Nov V 28th Nov V 29th Nov V 30th Nov
09:00 - 18:00
09:00 - 21:00
09:00 - 18:00
10:00 - 16:30
09:00 - 18:00
09:00 - 18:00
09:00 - 18:00
playhouse, and in the big barn and
giant hammock. They also toured 1st Dec 2nd Dec 3rd Dec 4th Dec F S 5th Dec F S 6th Dec F S 7th Dec D
the organic garden and discussed 09:00 - 18:00 09:00 - 18:00 09:00 - 18:00 09:00 - 21:00 09:00 - 18:00 09:00 - 18:00 10:00 - 16:30
the importance of growing and buy- 8th Dec 9th Dec 10th Dec 11th Dec P 12th Dec P 13th Dec P 14th Dec
ing food from local sources. 09:00 - 18:00 09:00 - 18:00 09:00 - 18:00 09:00 - 21:00 09:00 - 18:00 09:00 - 18:00 10:00 - 16:30
Kevin was delighted with his fi rst 15th Dec 16th Dec 17th Dec 18th Dec C M 19th Dec C M 20th Dec C M 21st Dec T
visit. “It was great to see people 09:00 - 18:00 09:00 - 18:00 09:00 - 18:00 09:00 - 21:00 09:00 - 18:00 09:00 - 18:00 10:00 - 16:30
having a relaxed, sociable time. On 22nd Dec 23rd Dec 24th Dec 25th Dec 26th Dec 27th Dec 28th Dec
the surface it looked a bit untidy but 09:00 - 18:00 09:00 - 18:00 08:00 - 18:00 CLOSED 07:30 - 17:00 09:00 - 18:00 10:00 - 16:30
the important thing is people were
organising and enjoying themselves 29th Dec 30th Dec 31st Dec 1st Jan 2nd Jan 3rd Jan 4th Jan
CLOSED
09:00 - 17:30
09:00 - 17:30
10:00 - 16:30
09:00 - 17:30
09:00 - 17:30
09:00 - 17:30
with hardly any interference.
“We’ve all been inspired by what Key to attractions and events
we’ve seen at Lower Shaw Farm; B Polar Bears C Carols and Carolling
Swindon people have a tremendous D Santa Dash F Films I Illuminations L Lights M Markets
P Polar Trains and Polar Ice S Ski Play and Ski Simulator
and surprising asset here.”
T Street Theatre V Vision Sphere
Matt Holland of Lower Shaw
Farm said the meeting had been Free parking spaces available on Thursdays
very constructive. “There was Swindon Town Centre has many free parking
uncertainty and handshakes on spaces available at Brunel North, Brunel West
arrival, which turned to smiles and Fleming Way (Debenhams). These spaces
are free on Thursdays from the 27th
and good wishes on departure. Climb aboard and explore November to 18th December between the
hours of 18:00 and 21:00 only. Please note,
Kevin and his colleagues were vehicles using these spaces before 18:00 will
very interested in the contribution Christmas be charged normal hourly rates.
a hub like this place can make to the
development of an area.
“Community and sustainability in Swindon
were the central aims when Lower
Shaw Farm was set up in conjunc-
tion with Swindon Borough Council Town Centre
some 35 years ago. Those issues are
even more important nowadays
and we look forward to working Go to www.inSwindon.com for more info
with HAB for the wellbeing of
Swindon.”
1 - 21 December 08 Extreme.indd 5 21/11/08 11:09:15