A nationwide celebration is planned to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the first guide dog with a series of ‘Bark in the Park’ events.
Leading the celebrations will be Blue Peter and Guide Dogs who will be rekindling their well known relationship. Blue Peter has planned six ‘Bark in the Park’ events across the UK on Sunday 28 May 2006.
The events promise to be a great family day out for the whole family and you don’t need a dog to join in. There will be thrilling displays and entertainment for all ages. There will also be a three mile sponsored walk where the participants can attempt to complete the walk two-legged, four-legged or even virtually. Participants can enter on the day or in advance by logging on at guidedogs.org.uk/barkinthepark or by calling 0845 3070307.
The funds raised by the sponsored walk will go towards training dogs to help the visually impaired so they can have some independence and freedom.
The venues selected to host these events are:
Pollock Country House and Park, Glasgow;
Heaton Park, Manchester;
Blaise Castle, Bristol;
Gloucester Park, Basildon, Essex;
Castle Ward, Belfast;
Fonmon Castle, Cardiff.
Each event will be hosted by a Blue Peter presenter.
Matt Baker, Blue Peter presenter said, "We hope thousands of families will join us for a right old Bark in the Park on Sunday 28th. It looks like being an incredible event – full of fun for the whole family – and a really worthwhile celebration of all that guide dogs have provided for their visually impaired owners over the last 75 years."
Guide dog training in the UK can be traced back to 1931 when four blind pioneers Allen Caldwell, Musgrave Frankland and Thomas Ap Rhys and G W Lamb were the first to be introduced to four special German Shepherd dogs called Flash, Meta, Judy and Folly.
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association was founded in 1934 and their partnership with Blue Peter began in 1964.
Those watching Blue Peter were encouraged to collect aluminium foil which helped to fund the training of a guide dog called Honey. Her training was reported on the show and this led to other pups born to Blue Peter dogs were also donated to become guide dogs. The regular features on Blue Peter helped the charity grow into one of the biggest charities in the UK.
