Teddy
Four-legged friends are being invited to attend a festive photocall at Markeaton Park this weekend (Dec 3rd-4th) with a very special visit from Santa Paws.
There will be plenty of Christmas treats at Santa’s grotto dedicated to dogs which will be open on Saturday and Sunday in the park’s craft village so pooches can get a professional picture with Father Christmas.
The canine Christmas event is being staged by the mental health CIC HeadHigh as part of Derby Parks’ Family Festivities weekend.
The grotto is being supported by Sporting Communities and Icon’s Talent, based in Derwent Business Centre, is providing the charity with a professional photographer for the event.
HeadHigh founder Amanda Solloway said: “It’s not the first time we’ve invited Santa Paws to join us at Markeaton Park and he was an enormous crowd pleaser last time.
“Money raised will be used to support people with mental illness and, as we all know, Christmas can be an especially stressful or lonely time for many of us.
“Of course, dogs are wonderful for our mental health – as companions, as motivation to get out of the house for exercise, as a tool to communicate with others so this is a lovely way to involve them in the Family Festivities weekend event.
“And our dogs tend to enjoy anything where they are made a fuss of and where there are treats so this is a win-win situation for them.”
HeadHigh was launched in 2017 and was founded on the premise that even if it saves one life, it has made a difference.
This year there are two options for dog owners – they can pay for their four-legged friend to meet Santa Paws and have one of his special treats while they take a picture on their own phones.
Or they can take the opportunity to pose their pooch with Santa himself and the professional photographer will provide them with a specially-edited picture.
Santa’s Grotto will be open between 11am and 3pm on Saturday and Sunday. It costs £3 to take your own photo with Santa Paws, or £10 for a professional studio picture.
