North West England

Taking over Europe’s largest municipal park, girls from Greater Manchester joined more than 550,000 girls and women in marking the UK’s biggest birthday bash of the year with the launch of Girlguiding UK’s Centenary celebrations. The action packed event at Heaton Park on 5 September was one of hundreds that took place at the same time throughout the UK to mark the first 100 years of guiding.  

The official birthday countdown was heralded spectacularly with a special visit from the Royal Artillery Parachute team, which parachuted into the park with a large Centenary flag. Counting down were more than 8,500 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Senior Section members and adult volunteers, who descended on the park for the day to try their hand at African drumming, climbing walls, belly dancing, bungee trampolines, circus skills, graffiti art, roller-skating and much more, with a disco for nearly 3,000 to finish things off.

Special guests also attended and sampled the activities on offer and talked to the many enthusiastic members about why guiding has held such a special place in the UK for women for a century.