Get set for FREE Cambridge Food & Garden Festival
From the Cambridge Evening News
The 4th Cambridge Food, Garden & Produce Festival returns once again over the weekend of September 17 & 18 – which coincides with the start of British Food Fortnight, and hopes to attract even bigger crowds than the estimated 18,000 who attended the shows in previous years.
Brought to you by the team behind the annual Town & Country Show in June, Oakleigh Fairs say they are delighted to be producing another family based free event right in the heart of the city and they are keen to encourage even more local associations as well as businesses to get in touch with them to book space at this high profile event.
There is also Food: A Celebration with an amazing array of Cambridge Chefs from local restaurants – where you can come an enjoy everything that is great about cookery – from watching their signature dishes come to fruition through to cook-offs and Ask-the-Experts panels. There will also be Cooking Demonstrations with a range of cookery skills and tips from the novice to the experienced cook as well as wine and beer tasting sessions
As well as Garden and Gardening related stalls, we can also confirm that the Gardening Question Time Roadshow will present three shows each day; the panel accepts questions from the floor with a range of fantastic prizes to be won!
The Produce Marquee will have a wide range of produce and flowers – anything and everything to delight, encourage and maybe even educate the public in everything ‘outdoorsy’! With a range of classes to enter for both adults and children who are Potty about Produce covering fruit, vegetables including Heaviest Marrow, Potato and Pumpkin, as well as Homefare and Flower Arranging – so whether you are a dedicated allotment grower, keen amateur or simply fancy trying out your green fingered skills, all you need to do is download an Entry Form from www.oakleighfairs.co.uk or call the office on 0800 141 2823.
Mother of two young daughters and organiser of the show, Emma Owen, Director of Oakleigh Fairs says:
"So many people are concerned about food miles and traceability these days and more and more of us are turning to growing our own food wherever possible – and of course it’s cheaper. We hope this event will once again showcase all that is great about growing your own."
With Arts, Crafts and Gifts marquees as well as Lifestyle stalls and a fantastic Food Hall there will be something for everyone; where else will you be able to source everything you need for the home and garden as well as other handworked, individual products and tasty goodies from around the country all under one 'roof’?
Then why not sample one of the real ales and ciders from around the country; including a mixture of both well known and micro brewery brands, many produced using traditional ingredients and methods – a great way to learn and understand about this considerably expanding market.
Trade stands are also available. There will be no entrance fee, but some activities may carry a charge.
The event will be fully catered and there will be a licensed bar. The show will close by 5pm.
Visit the Town and Country Show - and get your picture in the paper
From the Cambridge Evening News
Come along to the Cambridge Town & Country Show this weekend – and get your picture printed in the newspaper.
The Cambridge News will have a photographer there taking people’s pictures, for use in a special souvenir supplement to be published in the paper on Friday, June 17.
We will be taking family portraits, as well as shots of couples and individuals – and fun pictures in our Duke and Duchess of Cambridge peep-through cartoon display.
The show takes place on Saturday and Sunday, and the photographer will be there between 11am and 3pm on both days.
Visitors will also be able to play the Cambridge United Youth and Community Trust’s Speed Gun Challenge, from noon to 4pm each day, to find out if they are the fastest football shot in town.
And there will be a chance to win a Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort Park computer games. To enter, fill in the coupon on this page and take it along to the News marquee.
Editor Paul Brackley said: "We would love to see you at our marquee, so come along and have your picture taken and see yourself in our special supplement."
Youngsters under 16 will need the permission of a parent or guardian to have their photograph taken.
The show, on Parker’s Piece, is open from 10am each day and also features country crafts, heavy horses and other farm animals, falconry displays, steam engines, miniature ponies, ferret racing and a variety of other activities.
Food and wine tasting sessions are also taking place, as well as cookery demonstrations, and there will be a medieval village, with music, story-telling, weapons display and single combat battles.
On Sunday, the Companion Dog Show will be staged, with registration from 11am. Judging will start at 1pm, and proceeds will go to Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Make sure you get your copy of the News on Saturday – we will have a full run down of the programme for the show.
And in Monday’s paper, there will be reports and pictures from the weekend.
Everything from ferrets to heavy horses lined up
From the Cambridge Evening News
Battling knights, Napoleonic sharpshooters and birds of prey will be among the attractions for this year's Cambridge Town and Country Show.
Up to 50,000 people are expected to attend the action-packed fair on Parker's Piece on Saturday and Sunday.
Other attractions at the free country fair, supported by the News, include a children's farm, ferret racing, donkey rides and heavy horse demonstrations.
There will also be cookery displays, wine and beer tasting, a display of model steam engines and dozens of trade stands.
Demonstrations of traditional rural skills such as stonemasonry and thatching will also take place throughout the weekend.
Organiser Charlie Owen, managing director of Oakleigh Fairs, said: "We are really looking forward to returning to Parker's Piece this year.
"We are particularly pleased that Cambridge Newspapers are supporting the event. As well as some old favourites we are adding loads of new entertainment to the programme."
An open dog show will be held on Sunday, for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Popular Show makes return
From the Cambridge Evening News
Steam engines, birds of prey and locally-brewed ciders will be on offer at Parker's Piece for the annual Cambridge Town and Country Show.
The countdown to the two-day extravaganza is now on – and organisers say this year's event will be bigger and better than ever.
Now in its fifth year, it is being held on Saturday and Sunday, June 11 and 12.
The show, organised by Oakleigh Fairs, is sponsored by the Cambridge News and the Cambridgeshire Journal.
Charlie Owen, managing director of Oakleigh Fairs, said: 'We are really looking forward to returning to Parker's Piece this year and we are particularly pleased that Cambridge Newspapers are supporting the event this year.
"As well as some old favourites, we are adding loads of new entertainment to the programme for 2011. As usual, the event is free to enter but we are always interested in offers of corporate or other sponsorship.”
Throughout the weekend, there will be heavy horse shows, steam engine displays, birds of prey displays, historic re-enactments, children's entertainment and hands-on cookery, wine and beer-tasting demonstrations.
There will also be a children's farm, ferret racing and on the Sunday, there will be a companion dog show.
Other attractions will include farm machinery displays, masonry and thatching demonstrations, arts and crafts marquees and lifestyle and food stalls.
The News will have a stand at the show and has a range of exciting activities planned – see future editions for details.
Mayor of Cambridge, Cllr Ian Nimmo-Smith, will formally open the show at 10.30am on June 11.
It will be open from 10am-6pm and be fully catered, with a licensed bar, on both days.
Country fair delights hundreds of visitors: Slideshow
Slideshow and more from Cambridge Evening News
Hundreds of families enjoyed a fun weekend at Grantchester Fair.
The country fair, supported by the News, took place at Grantchester Meadows.
Displays included seeing Suffolk Punch heavy horses put through their paces, ferret racing and a demonstration with birds of prey from the Raptor Foundation.
Mother-of-two Amy Littleton, from Cambridge, told the News: "We're having a wonderful day. The children have loved seeing all the animals here and watching the big birds in a demonstration."
Francine Gerrard, from Willingham, said: "There's lots of beautiful little crafty things in the tents.
"It's lovely to have a traditional country fair here."
As well as the many animal displays, there were medieval battle re-enactments by the Knights of Skirbeck, a parade by the 44th East Essex Regiment of Foot and a chainsaw carving demonstration.
Local traders could be found among the many stalls and two craft tents on the meadows, with cupcakes, handmade jewellery and homeware all on offer.
Popular with youngsters were William and Bruce – the huge Suffolk Punch horses from Horkesley Park, near Colchester, who were on hand all day to be patted.
Daniel Bunting, handler of the horses, said the event was a great example of a traditional country fair and he enjoyed bringing his horses to raise the profile of the endangered breed and show off their talents.
Visitors also enjoyed having a go at archery and shooting, and children enjoyed inflatable slides and trampolines.
Missed the Home Food And Garden Show in Newmarket?
Watch the Video from Cambridge Evening News
Crowds flocked to the Hyperian Lawn on Rowley Mile Racecourse for the first Newmarket Home, Garden and Food Show this weekend.
The racecourse was filled with stalls selling furniture, sculptures, photography, art, homewares, cosmetics, home and garden accessories, furnishings and plants.
There were also preserves, pies, olives and nuts, confectionery, sausages and vegetables available to peruse.
Racecourse to host garden, food and home event
Full article from Newmarket Weekly News
Newmarket racecourse is set to host its first home, garden and food show.
The event, which is backed by the News, will take place this weekend on the Hyperian Lawn at Rowley Mile Racecourse and will be full of great ideas for the home and garden as well as including some tasty delights.
Organiser Oakleigh Fairs is well-known for being behind the hugely popular arts and crafts show which takes place at the Millennium Grandstand every November.
Charlie Owen, of Oakleigh Fairs, said: "We are delighted to be organising a further show at Newmarket – it is such a great venue and to be holding an outside event there is exciting."
Stands include plants and gardening tools and decoration, as well as furniture and pots, carvings and sculpture, patios and drives, homewares, home accessories and furnishings, as well as preserves, pies, confectionery, sausages and vegetables.
One of the highlights will be The Daily Mail Gardeners' Question Time Roadshow with prizes on offer for top questions.
See heavy horses at big country show
Thousands of country lovers are set to flock to a massive show at Wood Green Animal Shelter this weekend.
The West Anglia Country Show and a craft fair promoted by Oakleigh Fairs, and backed by the News, will be held on Saturday and Sunday in Godmanchester.
A spokesman for the event, now in its fifth year, said: "We are delighted to be kicking off our outside season at this, one of our very favourite family country shows, which makes the West Anglia Country Show a must-do destination for those looking for some traditional family fun."
At the show will be Horkesley Park's Heavy Horse Demonstration Team, Totally Ponies, the Raptor Foundation, ferrets and a children's farm, as well as children's entertainment.
There will be Knights of Honour battle re-enactments and medieval village and Fighting Knights, together with the Essex 44th Regiment of Foot. The show is from 10am-5pm each day and entry is £5, concessions £4, children £2.
Visit www.oakleighfairs.co.uk/wgcs
Animal shelter's craft fair attracts 2,000 eager buyers
More than 2,000 people flocked to an animal shelter's craft fair at the weekend.
Gift buyers to the Spring Crafts fair at Wood Green Animal Shelter, Godmanchester, visited more than 60 stalls selling photographs, candles, handicrafts, aromatherapy products and a selection of food and wine.
The annual event, organised by Oakleigh Fairs and supported by the News, made profits which will go towards the care of animals at the shelter.
The company, which has been organising events for 30 years, hailed the event as "a great success".
Emma Owen, director of Oakleigh Fairs, said: "People were keen to come out and the weather was very kind to us.
"We were very pleased with how the weekend went at what was such a fantastic venue. To go out this early in the year just after Christmas when people are still recovering from the festive season was very positive and it was great to see so many people out and about.
"The main attraction had to be the interesting products on sale. If people want things a bit more individual and things that you may not be able to buy from the high street, then events like this are ideal."
Martin Harwood, hospitality manager at Wood Green Animal Shelter, said: "The car parks were jammed full with more than 2,000 people attending.
"The day had everything from jewellery stalls to a plant pot sale. These sorts of events are great fun and 100 per cent of the profits went towards the care of the animals – which for us is a massive bonus.
"The more people who come to these events then the more money we can raise towards the cost of the maintaining a good service for the animals."
The next Oakleigh-organised event at Wood Green will be the Easter Country Show on Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April, 10.
Heavy horses, working dogs, medieval re-enactments and miniature pony stables are set to be on display.
Admission will cost £6, £5 for concessions, and £3 for children aged between 5 and 16. A family ticket for two adults and two children will cost £15.
British Charcuterie
Listen to Hector speaking on BBC 4's Food Programme...
he starts at 20mins 30 secs in.
Feast East 2011 Winners
- Winner Of Best Dressed Stand:
The Booja Booja Company
www.boojabooja.com - Runner Up
The Artisan Smokehouse Ltd
www.artisansmokehouse.co.uk - Chairman's Commendation Award
John Read of Musks Sausages
www.musks.com
Enjoy tastes of the East at mouth-watering Feast
Food and drink producers from across East Anglia will gather for an annual festival which boasts a mouth-watering line-up.
The 17th annual Feast east food festival, will take place at Chilford Hall, Linton, from March 3-5. See the rest or find out more and book tickets.
Cambridge Food and Garden Festival
Thousands of people flocked to a show celebrating food and produce in the centre of Cambridge.
The third Cambridge Food, Garden & Produce Festival was held on Parker's Piece over the weekend.
Visitors enjoyed a series of gardens with an emphasis on fruit, vegetables, and biodiversity as well as a children's garden.
The produce marquee drew the crowds and there were competitions in a range of classes for adults and children, including the heaviest marrow, potato and pumpkin.
A wide range of chefs from 10 Cambridge restaurants showed off their signature dishes, while real ales, mulled wines and ciders from around the country were on offer for those who fancied a tasty tipple.
The Gardening Question Time Roadshow offered expert advice each day and there were lots of activities for children including bird box-making workshops.
Families had a go on bouncy castles and children learnt about the benefits of keeping rabbits and chickens.
Emma Owen, organiser of the show and director of Oakleigh Fairs, said: "It went fantastically well and the weather was brilliant on Saturday.
"It was the biggest food fair we have ever had on Parker's Piece and it really championed local businesses.
"Everything from the scaffolding boards to the compost was from the eastern region.
"This was all about showing people whatever size garden you have, or even if it's a window box you can grow plants.
"Grown, dig, cook eat, enjoy."
The Anchor Inn, Nayland wins awards
We are delighted to share the following news with you. Hector Bunting, who as many of you will know as one of our main demo chefs at many of our shows, is the owner of the Anchor Inn at Nayland
The Anchor Inn, Nayland have been lucky enough to attend two amazing awards ceremonies on Thursday night , after the pub was nominated for the ' Best Green Pub' award and a Suffolk Tourism Award for "Taste of England".
The Great British Pub Awards were hosted at the London Hilton, Park Lane where we were joined by the incredibly funny Lenny Henry and 650 people from the hospitality trade. The Anchor Inn was competing for the Best Green Pub of the Year and were crowned the winners of the East Anglian Region Best Green Pub and presented with a certificate and lovely flowers although we did not scope the supreme UK champion.
While Head Chef, Carl Shillingford and Hector Bunting were enjoying themselves in London, two of the Anchor's long standing members of the team, Becky King and Rachel Hamilton went off to the Suffolk Tourism Awards which took place at Trinity Park, Ipswich where we were delighted to be awarded the winner of "Taste of England."
Rockingham Castle
From fighting knights to majestic falconry displays, craft workshops to wine tasting sessions, a wonderful weekend event for all the family will be taking place at Rockingham Castle over the weekend of the 25th and 26th September.
Summer Celebration
East Anglian Daily Times, 6 July 2010, by James Hore
Thousands of people flocked to a summer fair held over the weekend as the countryside way of life was celebrated.
The Westwood Park Summer Fair was held at Little Horkesley, with visitors able to enjuoy bird of prey displays, sheep shearing working dogs, a children's farm, traditional livestock and much more.
All 15 Suffolk Punches from the Horkesley Park's heavy horse demonstration team were on display along with "Bowler", a colt born at the start of May.
Army Families will celebrate rural traditions
Essex Country Standard, Friday June 25, 2010
Army families from Colchester Garrison are among those invited to a celebration of rural crafts, heritage and tradition.
The new family event is taking place on July 3 and 4 at Westwood Park, Little Horkesley, between 10am and 6pm.
From The Cambridge News
A natural way to spend the weekend
Cambridge News, 18 September 2009
AN event like this really brings the community together," says Emma Owen. "There's
a genuine sense of everyone working as a team - though I hear there's a lot of competition
in the allotment fraternity to see who can produce the biggest marrow . . ."
Emma is the organiser of this weekend's Food and Garden Festival in Cambridge. Launched
last year, it's already become an annual event:
taking place on Parker's Piece, the 2009 festival will include everything from a
giant food hall and plant stalls to art and craft tents and a good, oldfashioned
produce show.
"There are all kinds of classes, from biggest pumpkin through to best miniature
garden," adds Emma, a Cambridge mum-of-two.
"The festival showcases all that's great about growing your own - something which
is becoming more and more popular these days, because people are concerned about
food miles and traceability.
"And it's also a great opportunity for families to get out, enjoy themselves and
do something a little bit different."
Running tomorrow (Friday, 18 September) and Sunday, the Food and Garden Festival
is set to attract thousands of people to Parker's Piece. "I always think of Parker's
Piece like Cambridge's village green," laughs Emma.
"People use it for all kinds of things: walking the dog, having a picnic, getting
to and from the town . . . as a Cambridge person it's really nice for us to be able
to do a fair here."
The food hall - which will be twice the size of last year's - will be selling sausages,
steaks, pies, pickles and even cupcakes. Among the stallholders will be Cambridge
vet Angelika von Heimendahl: the boss of CamCattle, she owns the cows that graze
on Midsummer Common.
"The Food and Garden Festival has a really good atmosphere," says Angelika, who
appeared at the fair last year. "And it's a really good way to introduce people
to CamCattle and our meat."
Angelika, who hails from Germany, says she always wanted to work with animals (despite
her mother's protests: "She cried for three days when I told her I wanted to be
a vet - she thought it was dirty, smelly and too much hard work").
Living in central Cambridge, the mother-of-five says she had reconciled herself
to the fact that, though she worked with farm animals, she couldn't have any of
her own.
And then, quite out of the blue, she got chatting to one of the Friends of Midsummer
Common who said they were keen to see cattle back on the land; a long-standing tradition,
the grazing had been brought to a halt by Foot and Mouth. Investing in just eight
Red Poll cattle, Angelika says they were the perfect breed for the job: native to
East Anglia, they are placid and have no horns. "That's important when you have
500 people stroking them," laughs Angelika.
In the last three years, Angelika's herd has expanded from eight to around 120.
As well as roaming Midsummer Common, they now graze many other green spaces in and
around the city: Stourbridge Common, Sheep Fen, Grantchester Meadows, the grounds
of Trumpington Hall . . .
Angelika says the meat from her cattle has a really good flavour; she rears them
up to the age of 28 months, far longer than most.
Although they feed on grass, Angelika tops up their diet with a combination of minerals.
"That's why you might see me walking across the common with a bucket, shouting 'Come
on boys'," she laughs.
Angelika will be selling everything from roasting joints and steaks to minced beef
at the fair, with prices starting at £3 per lb. Rearing the cattle is, she
says, a very satisfying business.
"I love to see Midsummer Common on a summer evening, when the light is very yellow
and the cattle are lying down under the trees," adds Angelika. "It's beautiful:
it reminds me of a painting."
With her mother a tailoress, Barbara says she has been sewing all her life.
But it wasn't until she suffered a mental breakdown in the early 1990s that she started to do craftwork as a hobby: beginning with cards and papercraft, she went on to specialise in textiles.
"It became my way of relaxing," explains Barbara. "I found it very therapeutic and realised that I enjoyed being creative . . . things just went from there."
Since taking early retirement four years ago, following a second breakdown, Barbara has set up TeeBee Crafts and created an entire collection - from aprons and tea cosies to handbags and necklaces - all fashioned out of fabric.
A regular at local art and craft fairs, she says she likes the Food and Garden Festival in particular, again because of the "lovely atmosphere".
Barbara says she is always on the look-out for new and different ideas:
her line of tea cosies were inspired by her sister-in-law, who spotted a gap in the market, while her accessory sets for children (comprising a co-ordinating apron, bag and pencil roll), were created with her 2-year-old granddaughter in mind.
"Nobody passes my stall without making a comment," adds Barbara.
"Making all these things gives me a lot of pleasure - it's nice to think they give other people pleasure too."
In front of the art and craft tents, the festival will have a whole area of outdoor stalls selling plants and gardening equipment.
Another marquee will house the Gardening Question Time roadshow, a panel of BBC and ITV garden experts. They will be taking questions from members of the public and also asking some questions of their own - with prizes, from a lawnmower to a packet of seeds, awarded for a right answer.
The produce show and a series of cookery demonstrations, conducted by the Cambridge Cookery School team, will take place in the fifth and final marquee.
There will also be a refreshment area, boasting a selection of real ales and ciders from around the country, and a fairground specially for small children, complete with a bouncy castle and a miniature train.
Emma, who runs Oakleigh Fairs (the company behind Cambridge's Town and Country Fair) with her husband, says this weekend's festival is set to be a great event.
"Even the weather's going to be good," she laughs. "I know because I booked it . . ."
Town and gown cross the divide
THOUSANDS of people flocked to the Cambridge 800 Town, Gown and Country Show over the weekend.
The free event, which attracted around 45,000 to 50,000 revellers on Saturday and Sunday, took place under the sun on Parker's Piece in Cambridge.
Charlie Owen, organiser of the event, said: "It has been marvellous - there were people everywhere enjoying themselves.
"It's the best we've ever had."
The mayor of Cambridge Cllr Russ McPherson officially launched the 20th Cambridge Environmental Festival on Saturday morning, marking the start of the show.
More than 40 events will take place over the next two weeks, including talks on natural history, nature walks and tours of the city's recycling centre.
Cambridge University supported the event as part of its 800th anniversary celebrations.
Entertainment included birds of prey and flying displays, a medieval village re-enactment including fighting knights, The Sheep Show, the Suffolk Punch horses, donkey rides, full and scale steam engines, food hall stands and arts, craft and gift marquees.
There was also a fairground and bouncy castle.
The show also marked the start of Cambridge Bike Week.
Free lessons organised by Cycle Cambridge - a campaign to encourage people across the county to cycle safely and more often - were taking place on Parker's Piece as part of a bike fair.
There were also performances by a BMX stunt team, a cycle orienteering competition, bike security workshops and a bike sale.
Photo Gallery from BBC Cambridgeshire
Cambridge's largest free to enter family event!
The Cambridge 800 Town, Gown & Country Show, Parker's Piece, Cambridge CB1 1JF Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June 2009
Parker's Piece is once again the setting for arguably what is Cambridge's largest free to enter family event (2008 welcomed crowds of 45,000) – the third Cambridge 800 Town, Gown & Country Show and organisers Oakleigh Fairs are delighted to announce that this year the show is being supported as part of the University's 800th Anniversary celebrations.
Charlie Owen, MD of Oakleigh says, 'We are so pleased that the University is supporting us – it will bring an interesting and unusual twist to the show this year – whether it be Tudor storytellers giving the real history of the Town & Gown, the fascinating Cabinet of Curiosities or even the chance to try your hand at making your own fossil, all will add to the Town's understanding of what goes on behind the scenes within the various Departments – but right in the heart of the City'
With something for everyone, from Horkesley Park's Heavy Horse Demonstration Team, full size and scale Steam Engines, The Sheep Show - an educational as well as fun show, Children's Entertainment, Donkey Rides, Swords of Chivalry battle re-enactments and medieval village and Fighting Knights, as well as hands-on Cookery demonstrations from the Cambridge Cookery School, as well as Burwash Manor and the Countryside Restoration Trust who bring the Farm to the City. On Sunday this year we also have the Companion Dog Show – so bring along a canine friend and have a go! (And all proceeds from entries will go to Marie Curie Cancer Care).
Bike Week as well as Cambridge City Council's Sustainable City team will also be on hand.
And if that's not all – as well as demonstrations of stick furniture making and thatching, the children can also have a go at making traditional Corn Dollies. There will also be other rural demonstration skills to enjoy and you can sample and buy in our Arts, Crafts and Gifts marquees as well as Lifestyle and Food Stalls.
So, whatever the weather there will be something for everyone at this two day event. The Mayor of Cambridge has very kindly agreed to formally open the show at 11am on Saturday.
Special Interest Groups are warmly invited to take part and we welcome enquiries from trade stands
Fully catered and there is a licensed bar.
The hunt is on for biggest pumpkin
Cambridge News, 30 August 2008
EVERYTHING from the heaviest potato to home-made jam is featuring in a new aspect
to the fast-approaching Cambridge Food and Garden Festival.
Organisers of the event, Oakleigh Fairs, which takes place on Parker's Piece on
Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21, have introduced a special home
produce and children's class element to the show.
And green-fingered residents, of all ages, are being urged to enter before the closing
date, Friday, September 12.
Classes include decorated eggs, collections of fruit, assorted vegetables, heaviest
pumpkins, marrows and potatoes, jams and chutneys, cakes, flowers, biscuits, play-dough
farm animals and even the tallest cress "hair" in a decorated egg.
Emma Owen, director of Oakleigh Fairs, said: "We want the produce show to be a showcase
for all those green-fingered residents out there to demonstrate their skills, whether
it's a few tomatoes in a grow bag or some herbs in your window-box.
"The hunt is now on for Cambridge's heaviest marrow or pumpkin."
All entries must be sent to 2 Tenison Avenue, Cambridge CB1 2DY.
For an entry form and more information visit www.oakleighfairs.co.uk
Halstead: Country show whisks vistors back in time
Gazette (Colchester and North Essex), 4 August 2008
A popular country show and craft village attracted thousands.
The annual Halstead show at Peterfield Antique Village, Gosfield, included birds of prey flying displays, which captivated the crowds.
Suffolk punch horses, which weigh more than a tonne each, were admired as they harrowed over the earth and ferret racing brought a smile to people's faces.
Walkabout minstrels played medieval music and working gun dogs showed off their skills in the arena.
Members of the public were eager to test their aim with the clay pigeon shooting.
There were traditional rural demonstrations including spinning, braiding and weaving, besom broom making as well as stick furniture making.
On Sunday, the sun shone for the colourful and entertaining Jive Pony horse acrobatic show.
For children there were inflatables, donkey rides and a Punch and Judy show.
Ewe'll be face of Melford country fair
Suffolk Free Press, 19 June 2008
A design by a talented nine-year-old artist will be seen by thousands of people at a major charity event this weekend. Callum Rice's picture will appear on the cover of the programme for a two-day midsummer country fair at Melford Hall.
It was chosen after the organisers ran a competition for children at Long Melford primary school.
The fair, which will have more than 60 stallholders and numerous other attractions, is in aid of a half-million pound appeal for the village's Holy Trinity Church.
Callum's mum, Deborah Underwood of Martyn's Rise, Long Melford, said: "I am very proud of him.
"He is very creative and really loves anything to do with art. It is his favourite subject at school, and he is always making things."
Event organisers Oakleigh Fairs from Cambridge are running the fair in the grounds of Melford Hall on behalf of the Holy Trinity appeal committee.
Attractions lined up on Saturday and Sunday include Billy Kinghorn's sheep show, Cyril the Squirrel terrier racing, Suffolk Punches from Horkesley Park, falconry, agility dogs and a have-a-go bakery.
For youngsters, there will be donkey rides, magic and Punch and Judy shows, plus a farm and a fairground.
Craft workers will demonstrate traditional skills like hurdle and stick furniture making, spinning and braiding.
There will also be displays of antique farm machinery and, on Sunday, a companion dog show in aid of Labrador Rescue.
The appeal still needs to raise around half a million pounds for renovations to the church including restoring stained glass windows, work on the bells and bell frame, and new lighting, sound system and heating.
The fair will be officially opened by Sir John Mowbray, chairman of the appeal committee
Stallholders roll up for Long Melford's new summer fair
Suffolk Free Press, 12 June 2008
Stallholders are flocking to take part in a midsummer country fair which will raise funds for one of Suffolk's most beautiful churches.
More than 60 people are queueing up to sell arts, crafts, gifts and food at the event in Long Melford, on June 21 and 22, in aid of the Holy Trinity Church appeal.
The appeal still needs to raise around half a million pounds for renovations, including restoring stained glass windows, work on the bells and bell frame, and new lighting, a sound system and heating.
Event organisers Oakleigh Fairs, from Cambridge, are running the Midsummer Country Fair in the grounds of Melford Hall on behalf of the appeal committee.
Oakleigh's Emma Owen said this week that the venue had proved very popular with stallholders.
"We are very pleased. It has obviously really caught their imagination and they are coming from a wide area," she said.
A host of attractions have been put together to entertain the thousands of visitors expected at the show.
They include Billy Kinghorn's sheep show, terrier racing, Suffolk Punches from Horkesley Park, falconry, agility dogs and a have-a-go bakery.
For youngsters there will be donkey rides, magic and Punch and Judy shows, a farm and a fairground.
Craft workers will demonstrate traditional skills like hurdle and stick furniture making, spinning and braiding.
There will also be displays of antique farm machinery and, on the Sunday, a companion dog show in air of Labrador Rescue.
The fair will be officially opened by appeal committee chairman Sir John Mowbray.
Country show has some animal magic
THOUSANDS of people flocked to Parkers's Piece over the weekend for a major country show.
Among the attractions at the Town and Country Show were sheep and duckling herding, as well as displays of cattle and Suffolk shire horses.
There were also action-packed demonstrations of medieval fighting by the Swords of Chivalry historical re-enactment group and steam engine displays by Burwash Manor Farm.
Mayor of Cambridge, Cllr Mike Dixon, said: "It was very much in the tradition of the old fairs we used to have in Cambridge, with lots of animal displays.
"The children I saw there were having a great time watching the sheep dogs and cattle - it was a very successful day."
Last year's inaugural show pulled in 30,000 visitors, and organisers believe they topped that total this year.
Country fun at the stately home
Northampton Chronicle, 9 June 2008
Warm weather attracted big crowds to The Country Show at Castle Ashby at the weekend.
Thousands of people enjoyed the chance to browse around the dozens of arts and crafts stalls set up in the grounds of the Northamptonshire stately home owned by Lord Compton.
The entertainment on offer included a duck herding display, plus birds of prey and agility dogs. Children were amused by Punch and Judy shows, a stilt-walker and a massive inflatable slide.
Emma Owen, director of Oakleigh Fairs who organised the event, said: "I am really pleased.
It is a gorgeous setting and people have come out in droves to enjoy all the different entertainment on offer.
There is something for everybody with sheep shows, agility dogs display, falconry and fantastic arts and crafts stalls.
People have been staying for a long time. We look forward to coming back next year."
One of the most popular attractions on Sunday proved to be the sheep show, presented by New Zealand high country shepherd Stuart Barnes, who also invited children from the audience to help herd a group of ducks.
The gardens and tea rooms at the house were open to the public and the Knights of Honour, a 14th century medieval re-enactment society, carried out demonstrations throughout the weekend.
Amie Somerset-Williams, wedding and events planner at Castle Ashby, who along with Mark Brooks, head gardener, helped organise the show, said: "We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the turnout.
To see the grounds come to life makes it all very rewarding.
We would like to thank all the staff who have helped."
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Town & Country Show to attract thousands
Thousands of people are set to flock to Cambridge as the city stages a major outdoor show.
The Town & Country Show will be held on Parker's Piece on the weekend of June 14 and 15, and organisers reckon huge crowds will come along - last year's inaugural event attracted 30,000 people.
There will be an arena featuring displays, including a sheep show and duckling herding, and attractions such as the Raptor Foundation and Shepreth Wildlife Park will take part, as well as Suffolk Punch shire horses.
The Swords of Chivalry historical re-enactment group will demonstrate fighting skills, and there will be a wide range of farming demonstrations including livestock and machinery by Burwash Manor Farm, the Countryside Restoration Trust, and Chivers and Glebe farms.
A spokeswoman for the organisers said: "We will have hands-on cookery demonstrations in our kitchen marquee, and Monica Askay, local chef and 'foodie', will be cooking on site.
"Her recipes will include summer salads, summer herbs, strawberries and puddings, with ingredients sourced where possible from local suppliers. Marquee sponsors Divertimenti will hold knife skills workshops.
"With arts, crafts and gifts marquees as well as lifestyle stalls and a food hall, there will be something for everyone."
Children's events include donkey rides, Punch and Judy and Kondini The Human Toolbox. Demonstrations of rural skills are also planned as well as a medieval story teller and a historical re-enactment village. Full size and scale steam engines will also be on show.
Entry to the Town & Country Show - which is being backed by the News - is free, but some activities such as a children's fairground and inflatables will carry a charge. The event will be fully catered and there will be a licensed bar.
Several firms are sponsoring the event - Waitrose, Ridgeons, the Cambridge Building Society, Carter Jonas and Divertimenti.
Line-up revealed for Melford's big new summer fair
Suffolk Free Press, 29 May 2008
Long Melford is hosting its first midsummer country fair to raise funds for the Holy Trinity Church appeal.
The ambitious event, a country fair and craft village, takes place in the grounds of Melford Hall over the weekend of June 21 and 22.
Organisers Oakleigh Fairs, of Cambridge, were approached by the church's appeal committee and have put together a packed two-day family show with a varied programme appealing to all ages.
Entertainment includes Scot Billy Kinghorn's sheep show, Cyril the Squirrel terrier racing, local Suffolk Punches from Horkesley Park, falconry and bird of prey displays, agility dogs and a have-a-go bakery.
For youngsters there will be donkey rides, magic and Punch and Judy shows, a farm and fairground.
In addition traditional craft workers will demonstrate hurdle and stick furniture-making as well as spinning and braiding.
Other features include displays of antique farm machinery, arts, crafts and gifts marquees and a lifestyle and food hall.
On the Sunday only a companion dog show in aid of Labrador Rescue will be open to all dogs.
Emma Owen of Oakleigh Fairs said: "From a professional viewpoint the country fair has received tremendous support from local people. There's a real sense of community we've been able to tap into.
"We're very grateful to Sir Richard and Lady Hyde Parker for allowing us to stage the event in the grounds of Melford Hall, which makes a perfect backdrop.
"Holy Trinity Church is one of the finest wool churches in the country and the fair is a great way ot highlighting what the appeal committee is trying to do."
Churchwarden David Hamand said: "We need to raise more than £600,000 and the parochial church council is tremendously grateful for the amount of work our fundraising committee has put in to initiate the whole weekend.
"Our church needs new lighting, acoustic and heating systems, the Tudor stained-glass windows have to be restored and renovation work is needed on the bells and bell frame.
"It is a huge task but we're hoping for a lot of support from local people as well as from further afield and, of course, a fine weekend."
The fair will open from 10.30am to 5pm and admission is £5, concessions, £4, children aged five to 16, £2, family ticket, £12. To book in advance at discounted rates, visit www.oakleighfairs.co.uk/melford.
Long Melford - country fair plan
Suffolk Free Press, 25 February 2008
Long Melford is to host its first country fair, with profits going to the village church appeal.
The Midsummer Craft and Country Show will be in the grounds of Melford Hall on June 21 and 22, and promises to be a major event.
Professional displays will include agility dogs, falconry, and antique farm machinery, while demonstrations of traditiADVERTISEMENTonal rural pursuits will bring history to life.
Plenty of children's entertainment is planned, including donkey rides, a children's farm and a fairground. Other attractions will include a food hall, and arts, crafts and gifts marquees.
The fair is being organised by Oakleigh Fairs on behalf of the Long Melford Church Appeal.
An impressive £84,000 has already been raised since the appeal was launched eight months ago, but it still has a long way to go. Churchwarden David Hamand said: "We need to raise about £600,000 to restore and enhance the church. We want to update the facilities for the general public to use."
Heating, lighting and sound equipment all need bringing up to date, and restoration work is needed on the Tudor stained glass windows. Mr Hamand said: "We are almost ready to install the new lighting inside and have got permission from the diocese, but we urgently need £200,000 for this."
Donations to Holy Trinity Church can be made via www.justgiving.com/longmelford/supportus.
News from Last Year
You also can read what was said about Oakleigh in the News in 2007.
