We are pleased to announce this, the first public event that we have been able to organise since COVID Lockdowns started in March 2020.

Although William and his owner/assistant, Robert Clarke of Hartwell Shires, did some chain harrowing for us in our wild flower meadow last September, we were not allowed to make it a public event. We have invited William (and Robert) back to do some more chain harrowing this coming September, so we though it would be nice to give everybody an opportunity to meet them up close and find out more about Shire horses in general before then, and Love Parks Week was the obvious time to invite people back in to our Parks for the first event of 2021.

As well as a simple Meet & Greet and an opportunity to ask questions, (and, for those who are very well behaved, perhaps an opportunity to feed William a carrot or an apple) Robert has agreed to give some demonstrations throughout the day, to show us how he braids William’s mane and tail in show ground competitions around the country. Robert will also demonstrate a few of the various types of harness used for the different tasks that William can do.

Things will start with the  Meet & Greet between 10am – 11 am. The following is a tentative timetable for the demonstrations, although at the moment this is a guideline which is subject to adjustment for the weather, and Robert (and William !) :

• 11:30 …. 1^st braiding demonstration (mane or tail)
• 13:00 …. 1^st harnessing demo
• 14:30 …. 2^nd harnessing demo
• 16:00 …. 2^nd braiding demo (tail or mane)

We’ll finish off the day with another opportunity for people to meet William and ask Robert questions about William and Shire horses generally

Entry to the Parks, car parking and the Meet & Greet and demonstrations themselves are all FREE, although we will be hoping for generous donations from anyone who turns up and enjoys themselves.

Please do come and find us in the large meadow beside the Country Park play area and say ‘Hello’ to William. And remember, Love Parks Week is mostly about tidying up the parks, so please bag and bin your litter, or, if the bins are full, take it home.