[Funds raised benefit completion of new Children’s Garden]

[North Side, Grand Cayman, – The
Garden Club of Grand Cayman and the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park
hosted more than eleven hundred visitors at the annual Family Fun Day
on Sunday 26th January.

“Seeing new and familiar faces of all
ages enjoying the Botanic Park was truly rewarding for all
participants, volunteers and staff,” said the park’s General
Manager John Lawrus.

Jae’s Kitchen, Sam’s Quality Jerk
and Mise En Place provided food and drink throughout the day; a mini
festival atmosphere was enjoyed by all,” he added.

With 1,110 adults and children visiting
the Family Fun Day on Sunday, Mr. Lawrus said it has once again
demonstrated the event’s popularity.

“This annual event could not have
happened without the ongoing dedication and support of the Garden
Club. We are truly grateful for their continued commitment,as well as
the funds they donate from this fundraising event,” commented Mr.
Lawrus.

Garden Club
member Jill Wood is the Club’s Botanic Park Representative,
she said the organization is pleased with the turnout. “I think it
went really well, there were more people at this year’s Fun Day,
and we’re pleased to note [that] just over CI$2100 was raised from
this year’s Tombola alone,” she said.

Over the past five years of hosting
this event the Garden Club has raised close to $30k, all of which
Mrs. Wood says, will go toward the completion of the new Children’s
Garden. “We are tasked with funding the maze and the sensory garden
that will be featured in the new space. We really want to thank
everyone who has supported the Family Fun Day over the years,” she
added.

Attendees enjoyed
activities including face painting and lawn games; the always popular
arts and crafts station; a plant sale and displays by the Mosquito
Research & Control Unit and The Department of Environment.

Inside the Rotary
Schoolhouse, Garden Club members busied themselves teaching children
the art of floral décor, how to plant seedlings and Silver Thatch
plaiting. While at the Visitor’s Centre, the Tombola prize drawing
was a big hit.

A
relaxing atmosphere was provided by local musicians, The Cool Breeze
Boys, Dexter Bodden and Miss Izzy, but the highlight of the morning
was the balloon twisting clown that brought magic and laughter to
children, parents and grandparents alike.

“In addition to all the fun nature
activities, staff from the MRCU and DOE allowed for our children to
learn about the environment that surrounds them. As the Botanic Park
continues to grow, we are hopeful that next year’s event takes
place within the entire Children’s Garden which is on target for
completion within one year,” said Mr. Lawrus.

Please email info@botanic-park.kyto learn how you, your company or organization can donate
toward

More about the Queen Elizabeth II
Botanic Park

The Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, an
attraction managed by the Tourism Attraction Board, is open Monday to
Sunday from 9:00AM to 4:30PM. Boasting over 62 acres of lush
landscape, the Park is home to an abundance of wildlife including
many of the islands' 56 species of butterfly, native birds, the
Cayman Parrot and the endangered Cayman Blue Iguana. With multiple
floral gardens, woodland trails, wetlands, a lake and over 60 species
of palm trees, there is so much to do and see at the Botanic Park.

The Park which was originally designed
to show and preserve the Cayman Islands' native flora and fauna - as
well as to promote education, conservation and recreation – now has
over 30,000 visitors each year, many of whom come to enjoy the
tranquility, culture and natural beauty that abounds in this hidden
treasure. The Heritage Garden is a beautiful celebration of the
islands and the traditional Caymanian way of life.

The Botanic Park offers resident rates
of CI$5 for adults, and free admission for children under 12, and
seniors over 60.

If you would like more information
about this topic, please contact Mr. John Lawrus on 947-9462, email
manager@botanic-park.ky
or check out the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park Facebook
Page.

More about The Garden Club of
Grand Cayman

The members of
the Garden Club regularly meet on the first Thursday of each month,
at different venues. Light refreshments are provided following a
short tour of the garden or facility at which they are meeting.

New members are
always welcomed, and one does not need to have a garden to join!
There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer and assist with a wide
variety of national projects the club undertakes.

Previous
projects have included landscaping of the gardens at The Pines
Retirement Home, Cayman Islands Museum, National Gallery, UCCI,
Francis Bodden Girls Home, The Boy Scout Headquarters, Bonaventure
Boys Home. The club most recently provided four private room gardens
at Jasmine -the new hospice facility.

For more
information contact Jill Wood at vjwood@icloud.com