The Wombles, Parade Gardens, Bath 1974

This authentic 1970s colour photograph, captured in 1974, features a creative horticultural exhibit in Parade Gardens, Bath, Somerset. The archival image documents a topical floral display featuring three character figures from “The Wombles,” the popular children’s television programme and environmental campaign of the mid-1970s. The figures, including Orinoco and Great Uncle Bulgaria, are crafted using various types of bedding plants and mosses to recreate their distinctive fur and clothing. They are positioned within a small fenced area on a manicured lawn, accompanied by the slogan “Wombles Keep Bath Tidy” spelled out in purple and white flowers. In the background, visitors in 1970s attire—including a man in a striped shirt and flares and a woman in a patterned sleeveless dress—observe the display. The park also features a wooden performance stage, colourful flower borders, and several traditional deckchairs. This factual record captures the intersection of popular culture and civic pride in Bath during 1974, reflecting the national environmental messaging of the decade.