12/08/2026
UPDATE FOR TODAYS EVENT.
FREE EVENT WITH Jolly Gardener Events.
fans Bestwood Lodge
PARKING.... We have parking attendants for the event, please park in he bottom car park, the top car park is for hotel RESIDENTS and BLUE BADGE HOLDERS ONLY. Please walk if local, of google local streets to park on.
BBC NEWS WILL BE THERE !, THEY WILL BE INTERVIEWING PEOPLE, hide if you are shy
THE WALK TO THE PIT TOP! its a 15 min walk, not suitable for wheelchairs or the elderly, but you can still watch from closer viewing areas.
THERE WILL BE A BBQ, PLEASE BRING CASH!
GLASSES, MOST PEOPLE HAVE PICKED THEIRS UP! i have 100 spare as emergency back ups, these are £5.00 each, and will not be sold till 5.45, on first come etc, so please get in line, if we run out, we run out, I have sold 3000 in he last 2 days, so you have had plenty of time to pick up.
IT WILL BE BUSY, from a small gathering for 20 to 50 people, we are now looking at 1000 people, so please be aware if you have socially anxious family or friends.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS PLEASE ASK. !
fans Wednesday we will see a celestial miracle that rarely happens, I know I won't see another one like this in my lifetime, and for anyone under thirty, this will be a first for them. Children will be in awe of this phenomenon, so we need to watch it from the best place possible.
The eclipse will start at around 6.13, and last for nearly 90 mins, with the sun being fully covered for 5 minutes. For those who have never seen one before, the world stops, and it's very eerie, the world goes quiet, the birds stop singing and time seems to stand still, as the moon passes, the birds will start singing again.
So what am I offering ? A meet up at Bestwood Lodge where we will have tables in the front area, and we all meet for a social drink, we can watch the beginning of the eclipse whilst seated, for 30 minutes with a nice bit of music (maybe the dark side of the moon album) after 30 minutes, we will take a short walk to pit top (15 mins max) with views of up to 30 miles, and watch the total eclipse. We will have views of the eclipse on the walk there and back, so you will not miss a thing. After 30 minutes, we will head back towards the hotel, for a final drink and to finish off the evening.
The weather is totally sunny, and will be around 27oc, parking is free, and it's a great way to meet new people, and a lovely country walk.
If you bring children, I can show them how to make a eclipse projector. They will just need an empty cereal box.
Picture of the viewing area are above. If you wish to attend, just let me know in the comments, so I can get an idea of how many will attend.
We will meet up from 4.30 to make the boxes, and we should be done by 8.15.
It will be a once in a lifetime experience.
Many thanks
Jolly