SouthGate Bath marks decade of summer displays with new city canopy

A colourful overhead canopy featuring flowers, butterflies and bees has been installed at SouthGate Bath to mark ten years of its seasonal summer displays.

The new summer canopy | Photo © SouthGate Bath

The latest installation has transformed St Lawrence Street and is designed to resemble a blooming meadow, encouraging visitors to look up and experience the city centre from a different perspective.

SouthGate Bath has featured a new immersive display each summer for the past decade, with previous installations including butterfly decorations, floral canopies and last year’s “river in the sky”.

The 2025 display celebrated the River Avon and the Festival of Nature’s water theme.

This year’s installation has again been created in partnership with the national Festival of Nature, which has been run by The Natural History Consortium since 2003.

It takes inspiration from the festival’s 2026 theme of trees and forests, highlighting the importance of trees and their connections with waterways, food and communities.

The canopy has been made using sustainable fabric, with SouthGate Bath planning to reuse as much of the material as possible after it is removed at the end of the summer.

Guy Henderson, centre director at SouthGate Bath, said: “This year’s installation is particularly special as it marks ten years of summer displays at SouthGate Bath.

“Over the past decade, they’ve become a real highlight of Bath’s summer calendar, bringing colour, creativity and immersive experiences into the city centre.

“For this milestone year, we wanted to celebrate the beauty of the natural world and create an installation that feels uplifting, colourful and rooted in this year’s Festival of Nature theme of trees and forests.

“Following last year’s ‘river in the sky’, which was inspired by the festival’s water theme and Bath’s connection to the River Avon, this year’s display continues that celebration of nature in the heart of the city. We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors to enjoy the installation throughout the summer.”

Savita Willmott, chief executive of The Natural History Consortium, said: “We can’t wait to bring the magic of woodlands to the centre of Bath!

“Our partnership with SouthGate Bath is a brilliant collaboration to create a visual celebration of nature for thousands of visitors. Come down and see it!”

The installation will remain in place throughout the summer as a backdrop for people visiting SouthGate Bath’s shops, restaurants and entertainment venues.