Children's Dance will not enter Lismore Gardens this Flora Day

The dance stewards have decided to continue the change to the dance route that had to be hurriedly reworked in 2014 due to the amount of rain that had fallen, making the grass slippery.

However, property owner Michael Jay has agreed that the children can enter the grounds via the small gate in Cross Street and then continue around to the driveway of the house.

From there they will exit back onto Cross Street, without the break that used to happen.

As a result the dance will finish earlier than in recent years, at around 10.50am, with parents reminded to be ready to collect their children at this time.

Lismore’s gardens will be open to the public once the Children’s Dance has passed through the grounds, ahead of the Midday Dance that will continue to enter and process around the lake. It will also be open for the Evening Dance.

The stewards said: “Entry into properties and gardens on the route of the dances is a great privilege to us and we would remind the public that it is by courtesy of the owners, who retain the right to close their gates/doors if they so wish. We ask you to respect their properties.”

The children’s dance will start at 9.40am in Wendron Street and the second section of Helston Town Band will stand and play at the junction of that street and Meneage Street, by Lloyds Bank. Spectators are therefore being asked to leave space for band members when they wait for the dance to begin.

Later on the in dance, the second band will remain outside the Grylls Monument and then follow the dancers up Coinagehall Street.

“As ever, the stewards are delighted that the Helston Town Band will be in attendance, playing the tune as only they are able.

“We thank them for encouraging so many young musicians to join with the older members, so that in years to come we will still have a full complement of players.

“We would ask the public to support the band by giving generously to the collectors who will be following the dances. The cost of buying instruments and supporting our band is ever increasing,” added the stewards.

There is another small change to the route of the Midday Dance. Although remaining largely as last year, beginning at the Guildhall and continuing into Meneage Street, the dancers are unable to enter the Old Vicarage this year and so after the gardens of Penhellis House will continue via Tanyard Lane into Leslie House Gardens.

Cornwall Council has promised to ensure the road surfaces in the town are in good condition ready for the day, but the stewards have reminded both dancers and members of the public watching to be aware that there may still be some uneven surfaces underfoot.

With the event taking place on a Saturday this year, May 7, large crowds are expected to attend.

Road closures and parking restrictions come into force in the early hours of Flora Day morning, so drivers are asked not park in the streets overnight from the evening of May 6, in order not to cause an obstruction.

This year will see brand new flags decorating the streets of Helston – 1,315 metres of bunting in total, which has been replaced at a cost of £7,828. Grants from Cornwall Council and Helston Town Council have helped the committee cover the cost to a degree, but donations and sales of the official Flora Day booklet allow the committee to keep putting on the event, which usually costs on average £6,000 to hold.

The stewards said: “As with any event of this size, there is a considerable financial commitment to cover the cost of health and safety issues, insurances and for example purchasing new flags.

“If you are able to help us by contributing to our funds to maintain our unique event, please contact us by email on helstonfloraday@yahoo.co.uk .”

• Cornwall Council has asked that people take down any greenery from their buildings before 8.30am on Sunday, May 8 so that the collection teams can remove it from the streets. Any greenery left out after that time may not be collected.

  Judith Haycock, one of Helston’s Cornwall councillors, said: “Cory will be in the town first thing in the morning after Flora Day to clear away the greenery and their last collection will be at 8.30am.

  “Any greenery taken down after that time will be the responsibility of the shop keepers or households to dispose of sensibly.

  “We would also like to ask the shop keepers and householders, if they have any unused greenery that is not returned to the distribution point, can it be kept on their premises and put out for the Sunday morning collection.

  “It would help if it is not placed in the rubbish bins as we need as much space as possible in the bins for Flora Day.”