Well only four days to go and here is the latest on the Bradford on Avon Green Fair (loud fanfare!) We do now have a dedicated website at www.bradfordonavongreenfair.org.uk which will in time display photos of the event together with our plans for next year. (Yes, we’re going to do it even bigger and better next year so if you want to get involved you know who to contact.)
Brigit and her team have been working at all hours of the day (and night!) to prepare the bus for its first public outing and I’m told she looks beautiful. We are pretty damned lucky to get a sneak preview before she starts touring the country in earnest next year and it’s been fantastic to be involved as the whole project develops. I have met some lovely, generous and knowledgeable people along the way. Only this morning I was contacted by Jenna at Rocket Gardens in Cornwall who are supplying plants for the bus to offer the school gardening club a winter veg kit which will be with us in time for planting on Friday.
The fun kicks off on Friday at Fitzmaurice School when the whole school along with interested parents will tour the bus. There will be a chance to learn about compost, build a wormery and pedal your way to a delicious smoothie on the bicycle powered smoothie maker. (Thankyou Ivy House Farm for donating your lovely milk.)Brigit Strawbridge will be on hand with her team to offer plenty of advice on the kinds of projects the school is undertaking as part of its preparation for Eco School status and maybe even joining in the harvest ‘water carrying challenge’ fundraiser.
The Children’s Centre will also be part of the event. Wiltshire Scrapstore are running an open craft session, followed by a visit to the bus for their clients.
Then we are all back again on Saturday for the Fair which starts at 12pm. Please use public transport to get there if you can or park in the town and enjoy a stroll up through Barton Farm Park and along the towpath. The entrance to the school is up the short hill opposite the Lock Inn. Postcode for those of you who prefer to do it via Googlemap, routeplanner or sat nav BA15 1LE.
As well as the bus twenty or so local organisations and businesses will be there offering hands on advice and demonstrations. Find out about beekeeping, keeping a few hens, organic gardening, hurdle making, composting….we’ve something for everyone. Sign up to take part in the community tree planting in Barton Farm Park buy some fairtrade produce or bring your bike for a quick overhaul and get some advice from our very own ‘Dr Bike’.
Children can hug a hen, find out how a wormery works, learn to grow their own veg and take part in craft activities using recycled or natural materials.
As well as this we will have workshops and talks going on all day. Andy and Dave Hamilton authors of The Selfsufficientish Bible are calling in to share their tips along with a number of others. If you fancy learning how to weave using a pegloom, you can do that too.
Delicious homemade refreshments available courtesy of the Cooperative Cafe in town (and one or two cakebaking friends).
See you at the Fair
