Hundreds of people flocked to Temple Gardens to welcome home Llandrindod’s long distance walker Jude Boutle - and tuck in to the ‘nation’s biggest picnic’ - on Sunday, June 3.

The Big Lunch Event, organised by the Eden Project and funded by the National Lottery, saw crowds gather nationwide for similar events, with Llandrindod Wells the host venue for the ‘Team Wales’ walker Jude Boutle, who completed a mammoth walk back to her home-town via Cardiff and Swansea as part of the event.

The 56-year-old project officer left Morecambe on May 16, walking up to 15 miles a day, visiting community projects and individuals improving local neighbourhoods to highlight voluntary and third sector work taking place in the community.

Reflecting on her journey, Jude said: “Taking part in the Big Walk has been an absolute privilege. I never thought I’d be chosen to be the Welsh walker!

“On our journey through Wales I have met and connected with incredible people using their energy, compassion and love of place to transform lives and communities. Our job was the easy bit, we just had to walk, the people we met work tirelessly at the projects that they are passionate about. Some visits touched my heart - we met people discarded and broken by circumstance and mended by members of their community.

“I’ve also been inspired by the concept at the heart of the Big Walk; I want to shout about all the great things that go on in Llandrindod Wells because there a lot of people doing great stuff but sometimes people simply don’t know about it.”

Organisers say hundreds of residential streets across Wales were closed to traffic and turned into neighbourly street parties. Over nine million people took part in last year’s event.

Peter Stewart of the Eden Project, organisers of The Big Walk, added: “It’s been an incredible journey for Jude and all our walkers. With over 100 projects visited this year, we are still only just scratching the surface of what goes on across the UK. In every town and city there are people making a difference to others and we can’t wait to set off again next year and visit even more!”