Worcester's recovery from the lockdown – already one of the most successful in the country – is set to move up a gear, with the city centre getting even more colourful and welcoming in the next few days.
Colourful bunting on shops and buildings, striking butterfly decorations in trees, and pop-up "parks" where residents & visitors can unwind are all being installed across the city centre.
They are the latest initiatives in a packed programme of activities and events to entice people back into the city after the lockdown, and support the local economy.
Worcester was recently listed as having the third highest footfall figures in the country in the Retail Recovery Index by IPSOS, and latest data shows that footfall in the city centre was up 15.9% in the week of 24 July to 1 August compared to 2019.
Those numbers have been boosted by Worcester's Big Parade – an art trail by St Richard's Hospice that has seen colour elephant sculptures pop up around the city centre – the Three Choirs festival, and the Same But Different festival, a week of art installations.
The pop-up parks will be installed at Angel Place, South Quay and Cornmarket. Supported by the City Council's Welcome Back fund, they will feature colourful seating and artificial grassed areas, creating locations where residents and visitors can rest while out shopping, or eat lunch and reconnect with the community and the city.
The butterfly designs, also supported by the Welcome Back fund, will bring extra colour and movement to the city centre's trees, while the new bunting – funded by Worcester BID (Business Improvement District) and Worcestershire Regulatory Services – will help to make many of Worcester's shops even more appealing and welcoming.
Councillor Lucy Hodgson, Chair of the Worcester City Council's Place and Economic Development Committee, said: "Worcester is recovering well from the lockdown and the City Council and its partners are committed to doing everything they can to attract visitors and support the local economy. These latest initiatives will help to make our city an even more appealing destination."
Sam McCarthy of Worcester BID said: "Creating a vibrant place where visitors and residents can connect and relax in Worcester is a high priority for Worcester BID to support the city's economic recovery, and we are thrilled to be supporting these initiatives. The pop-up parks, bunting and butterfly installations will provide a safe space to reconnect with friends and family while indulging in some of Worcester's tasty treats. The bunting and butterflies should also help in deterring gulls from swooping down and snatching food."
Many other events are also taking place in Worcester across the summer, including:
- Paint an elephant until 4 September at the Museum of Royal Worcestershire
- The Leaves of the Trees, 5-30 August at Worcester Cathedral
- Worcester Festival, 14-30 August in the city centre
- Worcester Show, 15 August at Pitchroft
- Ladies' Day at the Races, 18 August at Worcester Racecourse
- Festival of Water, 28-30 August at Perdiswell
- Worcester City Run, 4-5 September in the city centre
- Worcester Paint Festival, 18-19 September in the city centre
Find more details of these events on the Visit Worcester website.
