Behind the Scenes - Waterside Wonder

By Niamh Brennan and Emma Christmas

Waterside Wonderland is a brand-new community Christmas event in Shepperton that aims to bring the community together after a difficult year and a half. Alongside the Christmas Market, the festival features affordable family-friendly activities for all ages including Santa’s Grotto, ice-skating on a lakeside synthetic rink, donkey rides, lanterns on the lake, game stalls as well as other festive attractions such as hot food and beverages, outdoor seating and stunning lakeside views. Our event is running from the 2nd-5th and 9th-12th of December on weekdays at 4-9pm and on weekends 2-9pm. It is located on the New Road site at TW17 0QQ (also the site of Liquid Leisure Shepperton). The idea for Waterside Wonderland was created by our shared experiences since graduating University as we had both been looking for exciting new opportunities to build our skill sets. We had been inspired by our work environment at Liquid Leisure Shepperton, where creativity and sustainability has been witnessed in the changes to the site seen over the last couple of years. So, we approached our employers about the idea of this community event on the beautiful site and they have supported us throughout the project. Though studying Geography, we have become passionate about supporting both the community and the environment. We have tried to enhance a real sense of community within our event and what better way to do so than to give exposure to some amazing local small businesses and charities. At our event you will be able to support the friendly faces of Norse-supply Shepperton, Brackenbury Candles, Chiltern Bee, Shepperton Swan Sanctuary shop, Thai-Bite, Little Gem Coffee Co. and plenty more. We also wanted to do some of our own fundraising and have therefore organised a raffle for the amazing Princess Alice Hospice in Esher. So far, we have been so fortunate to have received some big prizes including those from Shepperton Studios, London Irish and the Flowerpot Hotel in Sunbury and we are still hoping to get some more prizes before the event, so please get in touch if your business would like to support us. This year we also wanted to factor in a sustainable element inspired by our geography degrees, so we will be using the profits from our Christmas tree sales to replant trees at our lakeside site. The trees will be part of a long-term project to create a greener environment around the site, which will benefit local wildlife and the surrounding community.

How to book for the event:

All of our activities can be purchased on the day (subject to availability) however you can book tickets now to Santa’s Grotto and ice-rink via the telephone - which are getting quickly booked up! Adults will need to pay a £2 cash entrance fee on the gate and then your group will be able to walk through to check-in where you can book unto any desired activities. We are excited to share that on Friday 10th of December, we are having the Severs band perform from 7pm-9pm, so it is definitely worth another visit on this date. We have had such a great response to our event so far and we are so grateful to everyone who has wanted to get involved. A big thank you is also necessary to our employers at Liquid Leisure Shepperton who have given us this amazing opportunity, showing their caring nature towards the local community and their staff.

Contact us: Telephone: 01932 761555 Email: watersidewonderland@gmail.com More Info: www.watersidewonderlandshepperton.com Facebook and Instagram: @watersidewonderland

Waterside Wonderland is a brand Christmas event in Shepperton that aims to bring the community together after a difficult year and a half. Alongside the Christmas Market, the festival features affordable family ages including Santa lakeside synthetic rink, donkey rides, lanterns on the lake, game stalls as well as other festive attractions such as hot food and beverages, outdoor seat-Niamh and Emma look forward to welcoming you ing and stunning lakeside views. Our event is running from the 2nd of December on weekdays at 4 ends 2 TW17 0QQ (also the site of Liquid Leisure Shepperton). The idea for Waterside Wonderland was created by our shared experiences since graduating University as we had both been looking for exciting new opportunities to build our skill sets. We had been inspired by our work environment at Liquid Leisure Shepperton, where creativity and sustainability has been witnessed in the changes to the site seen over the last couple of years. So, we approached our employers about the idea of this community event on the beautiful site and they have supported us throughout the project. Though studying Geography, we have become passionate about supporting both the community and the environment. We have tried to enhance a real sense of community within our event and what better way to do so than to give exposure to some amazing local small Written by Niamh Brennan, 21 (University of businesses and charities. At our event you will be Aberystwyth, Geography) and Emma Christmas, able to support the friendly faces of Norse21 (University of Southampton, Geography) Shepperton, Brackenbury Candles, Chiltern Bee, Shepperton Swan Sanctuary shop, Thaiwww.villagematters.co.uk Gem Coffee Co. and plenty more. We also wanted to do some of our own fundraising