Looking Ahead

We have our renewal from Fairtrade Wales, but we're not resting on our laurels! Over what we can laughingly call our "summer" we have had a presence at Jo Eliot's Open Garden, where we raised money on the tea stall, the Hay Together Fair in the Castle grounds, and our Community Picnic. All the wine at the recent Hay Film Festival was Fairtrade, too. Soon it will be time for our Christmas Fair, and we're already looking forward to Fairtrade Fortnight next February (a cheese and wine evening is in the planning stages).

Community Fair

There's a new group in Hay called Hay Together, which is trying to act as an umbrella group - a way of getting the voices of ordinary Hay people heard when official decisions are being made by the County Council and so on. Yesterday they held a Community Fair at Hay Castle, and invited every group and organisation in Hay to attend to publicise what they do and to show what a variety of things are going on in Hay. Of course, Fairtrade Hay was represented there. I couldn't be there until the very end, but it seemed as if everyone had a good time - the atmosphere was laid back and relaxed, and the members of the Fairtrade group who manned the stall were very enthusiastic about it all. Apart from the Fairtrade stall, there were groups for the Cheesemarket restoration, and the local Lions Club, the Campaign for Realistic Parking, Rob Soldat the local storyteller, singers and musicians, Foxwhelp Morris, and lots more. There were a couple of local policemen there, too, and members of the Town Council - as well as our County Councillor, Gareth Ratcliffe, who was handing out leaflets for the local golf club when I saw him.

Community Picnic

It was a bit of a grey day, but about 50 people turned up for the picnic and activities at Hayfield Gardens. There was a bit of shelter in the form of the geodome, belonging to the people who own the field - who also kindly provided a sand truck! Paul Hartley played co-operative games; Christina made nature art with the children; there was sticky sticks to play and willow weaving. Phoebe showed people round the community garden, and there were snacks available for anyone who didn't bring their own picnic.

Community Picnic

The weather in July was awful, and the ground was far too wet for a picnic, so we decided to postpone the event until September. The new date is Sunday, 9th September, from 12 noon to 4.30pm, at the Hayfield Community Garden just up the hill from Hay bridge. We invite everyone to bring a picnic and a blanket, and there will be all sorts of free activities going on during the afternoon. Paul Hartley will be there doing his co-operative games, and there will be live music, face painting, basket making, crafts and nature art. There will also be guided walks around the Community Gardens, and a raffle! There are composting toilets on site, and there is wheelchair access. Here's hoping the weather improves!

A Triumph!

Congratulations to Jo and Noel with their open garden yesterday! 186 people came, and they raised £262 on the teas! This means that the Fairtrade group can put £200 into Shared Interest bonds. And they're doing it all again in September.

Open Garden

As part of the Open Garden scheme, Montpelier Cottage will be opening their garden to the public on 12th August. It's tucked away on the Brilley side of the River Wye, and it really is well worth seeing. There are photos of the garden on http://www.noelkingsbury.com/57/Home.aspx - Noel is a writer about plants, gardens and the environment, and a garden designer. They will be raising money for Fairtrade, and hope to get enough to buy a Shared Interest bond with the proceeds. This is a form of investment that goes straight to Fairtrade producers, and Hay Fairtrade have already put money into the scheme. More information can be found at www.shared-interest.com

Planning for the Picnic

The Fairtrade Fayre in the Buttermarket went quite well over the Festival - we were there on the Tuesday while Jubilee things were happening on the Square. We also had a table at the Africa Day on Sunday, in the Parish Hall. So last night we met to sort out what to do for our next event, which will be the Community Picnic at Hayfield Gardens on Sunday 8th July, from 12 noon to 4.30pm. Paul Hartley will be coming again, with his community games, and Christina will be doing her Nature Art, which was popular last year. Ellie Spencer, of the Beavers, will be doing crafts all afternoon, and the face painter will be there again. There will be games - giant snakes and ladders, a treasure hunt game, and Sticky Sticks construction game - and refreshments - but the idea is to bring a picnic with you! Then on Sunday August 12th and Sunday September 16th, Jo Eliot and Noel Kingsbury will be opening their garden in the National Garden scheme. The charity, of course, will be Fairtrade, so Fairtrade teas and cakes will be available. Noel has a blog, at noels-garden.blogspot.co.uk