FlowerScapes at the Floral Fringe Fair

Last weekend saw the Floral Fringe Fair at Knepp Castle. Our company FlowerScapes advised event-goers how to plant nectar and pollen rich flowers to help our declining insects. The fair was a great success and had a lovely mix of wildlife, vintage, yummy food, plant and craft stalls. Knepp Castle is privately owned by Sir Charles Burrell, and has been in his family for 220 years. Until recently most of the land on the Estate was devoted to traditional arable and dairy farming, but in 2001 they shifted their focus entirely, and embarked on a series of regeneration and restoration projects aimed primarily at nature conservation and a less intensive way of meat production. This method of re-wilding has been successfully introduced in Holland.

Strange and unusual plants being sold

Knepp Castle

Our FlowerScapes stall, before being prettied up with flowers

Not just vintage cars but people too.

Vintage bus

View of the castle and fair

Willow weaving

Lots of plant stalls

Vintage brocante

Steve in action at the FlowerScapes stall

Although there was a constant stream of people, because the stalls were spread out, the atmosphere felt relaxed

I want one!

Wood and willow weaving stall

Restored camper van, yep, want one of these too!

A nice event and the event goers really nice too, all very interested in creating more insect-friendly planting.

The Christmas Fayre

On Saturday Ardingly held the Christmas Fayre. BB had decided to have a toy sale to sell his unwanted items, clearing his bedroom to make space for new Christmas toys!  So toys in boxes in the garage and in the loft were gathered together and squeezed into the car, and we hotfooted it down to the village hall to set up a stall.

The fayre was on from 12 to 5pm, so it was a long day

My lovely friend, Nadia, helped out on the village school's fundraising stall

The crowds just came and came...

Lots of home produce and hand-mades

Lots of children and grandparents in the market for good quality second hand toys

It wasn't always easy persuading BB to stay at his stall, as there were many school friends to catch up with! And despite selling toys for between 20p and a couple of pounds, BB made £60 towards his new lego.

The ladies on the Church stall having a sneaky lemon cupcake

And ho ho ho it was time for Santa to leave his grotto, no doubt children at other fayres and fetes awaited his attendance

And to round the Fayre off, we switched on the lights on the village Christmas tree, sung carols and had a mug of hot mulled wine and mincepies..

There are definite benefits to this time of the year...