CM3 Flying The Flag For New Blue Peter Garden

March 26, 2012 - PRLog -- Everybody has fond memories of Blue Peter, don’t they? Whether it’s Anthea Turner showing us how to construct a replica of Tracey Island from papier mache and empty margarine tubs, or Peter Purvis and John Noakes on set with Daleks in the old black and white era, we all remember our own special moments from the long-running children’s programme. Now it seems as though fans of the show will be able to get a hands-on experience of one of its most famous features as the Blue Peter garden is to be opened to the public for the first time.

Following the recent relocation of BBC services to the North West of England, the Blue Peter studios are now to be found in Salford, Manchester, where a new garden is currently being landscaped for Blue Peter by resident gardener Chris Collins. Sources say the garden will feature a bust of Petra, the show’s first ever dog, as well as hand, foot (and paw) prints of the show’s stars who featured in 1978 when the first Blue Peter garden was created.

“I remember the first garden,” said a source at CM3, a firm based nearby in Manchester. “Blue Peter was responsible for getting me interested in nature and the environment, in weather and science. Blue Peter was responsible for educating a lot of kids in a more fun, more accessible way than school could and it’s good to see that continuing today.”

Blue Peter’s editor Tim Levell told the BBC News: “We’re really excited about being able to open up the garden so Blue Peter viewers can come along and visit – we wanted to make it as accessible to the public as possible.”

The previous garden was located at Television Centre in London, where members of the public could only gain access during special tours of the Blue Peter studio. The new arrangement, however, comes following the show’s move to Salford -along with BBC Sport, BBC One’s Breakfast Programme and Radio 5 Live. The new garden is being planted in a landscaped area outside Dock House, and is due to be officially opened by Princess Anne on February 23rd.

“It’s good that Blue Peter continues to take such a keen interest in our children’s welfare,” said the source at CM3, who has vowed to make sure his children will be taking notice of the current incarnation of the world’s longest running children’s programme. “In this age of video gaming and child obesity, it’s good to see shows like Blue Peter doing so much to give children access to nature and a generally healthier lifestyle.”

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17042868

http://twitter.com/#!/CM3_Manchester