Beary good picnic planned

Teddies of all shapes and sizes will cuddle up with their owners on Sunday at the Featherston Toy Library's inaugural Teddy Bears' Picnic.

Featherston Toy Library committee member Karyn Wilkins said the picnic would be the library's major fundraiser for the year, with a lucky dip, face painting, a colouring-in table and a raffle.

The Featherston Playcentre will also be running a cake stall and Meta Riddiford Kindergarten is putting on a sausage sizzle.

Families are invited to come along with their teddy bears and a picnic to enjoy a sunny day out. The picnic coincides with International Children's Day.

Prizes, purchased by the Toy Library, will be given for the oldest, biggest, smallest and most-loved bears. Mrs Wilkins said the picnic was cancelled last year because of bad weather but that this year's would be going ahead rain or shine.

The committee have organised a wet-weather venue, the Featherston School Hall, for the picnic to be held in if it is raining, otherwise the picnic will be on the grass area in front of the Heritage and Fell Museums, in Featherston.

"Now we're just praying for sunshine," she said.

Mrs Wilkins said the Featherston Toy Library, on Fitzherbert St, had received great support from local committee groups, including the Featherston Lioness Club.

"The Lionesses are going to come down and help, it's nice that the groups are getting together," she said.

If the picnic goes well it will become an annual fundraiser.

The picnic starts at 11am and the prizegiving will be held about noon.