What a Scorching Success!

 

I knew it wasn’t going to rain and I knew it was going to be hot, but I couldn’t have imagined how much of a scorcher it actually was at our Summer Fair on July 7th.

Ben's catering trailers were a roaring success all day. Although no one was envious of those working behind the griddles in that heat!

Volunteers Chris, Rosemary, Max and Charlotte M, helped out on the Saturday to set up for the Sunday. 

Chris and Max moved and stacked 30 hay bales for the Hay Bale Tunnel, banged 49 posts in for the Post Maze, scrambled around in the Dutch barn, under the portacabins and in the tool shed to find all the different items needed to run the event. 

Meanwhile, Charlotte M was in the office printing and laminating signs for all the activities, Rosemary and Charlotte H were putting up marquees and I was pulling together the last minute preparations for the day. 

Dan (from Dan’s Cannons) was so dedicated to the event, that he brought his cannons along on the Saturday ready for firing on the Sunday morning.

Saturday was a long and hot day and we thought we thoroughly deserved an evening in the pub to celebrate!

 

Sunday morning, we were up bright and early with the sun.  Stall holders began to arrive from 7am and the day just continued to gather momentum. 

At 09.30hrs the RAF Helicopter came into land piloted by Chris Phipps.
 

Barbara turned up with her working horses Tyler and Billy and Mark and Karen set up their shave horse for the greenwood working stall.

The ladies from the Ellesmere spinners guild were spinning yarns, Andy arrived up with some massive logs to demonstrate the ancient technique of hewing and Helen and Kelvin began weaving their magic on some beautiful willow baskets….the slightly more noisy Paul also joined in with his chainsaw carving demos!

 

Jonno and The Good Tree Company had rigged up a pulley system on a tree in our ancient woodland where kids had the chance to scale the heights of a big old Sweet Chestnut.

Maggie and Geoff kept ususpecting groups entertained with their Maypole dancing and folk music.

Jester Jack and his Hobby Horse Project had people falling all over themselves to try out the stilts and hula hoops and learn some circus skills.

Kids could have a ride on the donkeys Primrose, Rainbow and Teddy.

Volunteer Nim had a great day as farm tour guide on the tractor and trailer rides, provided by A.R. Richards who at the very last minute were able to hire the trailer from the West Mid Show ground - phew! By the way, Nim was the one dressed as a bumble bee (sadly no photos!).

 

And fortunately, we had TWO ice cream stalls to cool people off throughout the day…!

Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped set up and run the day and special thank you to Lesley for baking lots of delicious cakes for our tea and cake stall.
 

It was a pleasure to host all of the wonderful stall holders, thank you for coming along and enduring the heat.

And last but not least, thank you to all the families who came along and supported us on the day – hope to see you here again soon!

Despite the Wimbledon final, the Grand Prix and the 27C of sunshine, everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable day.

Check out these fantastic photos taken by Bernard Beekes 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/azimbern/sets/72157634527648243/

Thank you all,
Becca x

It's going to be a hot one...

Don't forget that this Sunday, here at Fordhall Farm, we are holding our 8^th annual Summer Fair, from 10am – 4pm. It will be a fundraising, family day out celebrating bees and butterflies.

Town Crier - Geoff will be here to open the event

We are having a local producers’ market at the event with items for sale ranging from soaps to dog kennels to goats’ ice cream and the market will run alongside lots of free family activities around the farm. 

There will also be rural and traditional craft demonstrators on hand to show off their skills and the ladies from Ellesmere Spinners Guild will be here with their spinning wheels and yarn.  Two working horses from Carnog will be showing the traditional skill of logging and Andy Hyde will be demonstrating the skill of log hewing. We also have expert basket weavers, Helen and Kelvin Stanley, who will be creating willow baskets.

Dan's Cannons are going to be back - this time with an even BIGGER cannon to try.

Jester Jack and the Hobby Horse Project will be here running a circus skills workshop - come and have a go at a unicycle....or stilt walking!

We are also delighted to have an RAF helicopter flying in, which children will be allowed to scramble around and ask the pilot questions.  The helicopter will be stationed amongst other large machinery, including old Land Rovers, heavy farm machinery and a working steam engine.

Pilot Chris will be touching down on Sunday morning

Everyone at the farm is really looking forward to the Summer Fair. There will be so much going on; from tree climbing to beehive building and welly wanging to country dancing and the added bonus that the weather looks like it’s going to be a scorcher! 

The Hay Bale Tunnel will be out

There are going to be lots of free family activities to enjoy and to complement our bee and butterfly theme, we are encouraging everyone who attends to unleash their inner butterfly…or bee... Becca and the team are going to be fluttering about in fancy dress too - see if you can spot them on the day!

Lots of traditional games will be available with a bee/buttefly twist....

And all of this is only £3 per person and under 4’s are free. If you need more information look at our website, www.fordhallfarm.com or give us a call on 01630 638696.