Learn new skills at Coaching Barn

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Head to The Coaching Barn at Littlestoke Manor Farm on July 20th & 21st and 27th & 28th and join the Modern Makers Collective

Learn some new skills as the Modern Makers bring you two weekends of fun and creativity at the fabulous Coaching Barn near Wallingford – the perfect space to switch off.

Spend two days of meditative stitching with Aimée Alice Payton on July 20th & 21st as you create a beautiful gathered lampshade. Aimée is an upholsterer and lampshade maker who uses exquisite textiles to create bespoke items for beautiful interiors. Her handstitched and hand-rolled lampshades are full of colour, life and stories. She will share her knowledge to help you achieve a professional finish to your lampshade.

Mark aka Lino Lord will introduce you to the art of lino printing on July 20th when you’ll design, carve and print a black under his guidance. You may choose to create three beautiful stacking rings using traditional silversmithing techniques with award-winning jeweller, Charlotte Berry or how about creating a beautiful summer wreath with Jane Body, both on Sunday 21st.

Charlotte creates exquisite fine and heirloom jewellery from her workshop based in South Oxfordshire using traditional techniques and the finest materials and specialises in helping couples create their dream one-of-a-kind ethical wedding jewellery to cherish for a lifetime.

With a background in art and photography, Jane combines her expert eye for design with her love of the natural world. Much of Jane’s foliage comes from her own abundant garden which is delicately arranged with luxurious decorative elements. With a range of bespoke wreaths on offer, Jane also runs workshops and provides kits to be made at home.

The following weekend you can learn the ancient art of block printing fabric using Lino in a day long workshop with Oxfordshire-based textile printer Albert Harvey on 27th or spend time making a beautiful basket with basketmaker Louise Arthur from Rough Around the Hedges to use for storing and displaying items within the home or for gathering fruit, eggs, mushrooms and berries in the great outdoors.

The workshops weekend closes with another Lino printing class on Sunday 28th as above and a fun day making Boho jewellery earrings and necklaces with Kate Wilkinson.

For all events refreshments are provided with additional lunch options available from The Goring Grocer.

For full details of all the workshops and to book, visit Summer School | modern makers uk (modernmakerscollective.co.uk)

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Do you dig Greys Court?

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As part of this month’s Festival of Archaeology, archaeologists from the National Trust and South Oxfordshire Archaeology Group will investigate some of Greys Court’s fascinating buried archaeology. Katy Dunn tells us more…

The known history of Greys Court, between Henley and Rotherfield Greys, stretches back over 900 years, with the earliest known record being the Domesday Book of 1086. The de Grey family constructed the original manor house on the site, and early historic fabric survives, notably the Great Tower and adjacent wall fragments, dating from the 12th-14th centuries.

The archaeologists will examine the evidence of a series of “parch-marks” which are revealed on Greys Court’s oval lawn in particularly dry weather. These hint at a courtyard wall with a possible gatehouse structure. There were also other buildings on the site, now demolished. The team will also be guided by a geophysics survey across the lawn.

National Trust archaeologist Adrian Cox said: “We are hoping to add to our knowledge of the fascinating early history of Greys Court. We have a range of information already, including aerial photographs and the evidence of an 19th-century engraving depicting the site and showing its courtyard walls. We want to better understand the medieval and post-medieval layouts of the manor, so that we can give visitors a more accurate picture of how it looked in the past. We are aiming to give visitors close access to this archaeological research as it unfolds on site.”

The National Trust is proud to support the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) Festival of Archaeology, the UK’s biggest annual celebration of archaeology.

Shannon Hogan, National Archaeologist with the National Trust said “We’re delighted to be working with Council for British Archaeology on the Festival Archaeology at the places we care for. Archaeological experiences and activities offer opportunities for more people to find ways to connect with and learn about their local history and heritage. The Festival of Archaeology helps us deliver more for communities by uniting children and adults alike in a range of heritage activities and events.”

Archaeologists will be working at Greys Court from 15th to 21st July, and will be very happy to speak with visitors and explain the work and there may be opportunities to get involved.

To find more National Trust Festival of Archaeology events, visit Festival of Archaeology 2024 | National Trust

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Planet friendly living in Petersfield

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Head to Petersfield Heath on July 14th for ideas, advice and fun ways to celebrate earth-friendly living for the whole family

Find out more ways to enjoy earth friendly living at this year’s Petersfield Eco Fair on Sunday, 14th July when along with day-long live music, food and drink, it will be a celebratory occasion.

There will be more than 30 stalls themed around various aspects of eco living and plenty of activities for children, such as face painting, storytelling, the Woodland Theatre Company and a children’s activity marquee – all adding up to a fun day out for all the family at Petersfield Heath.

Find out about our local bees, bats, birds and more and what you can do encourage nature in your garden with ideas and inspiration at the Nature stalls: Petersfield Community Garden, Friends of Petersfield Heath, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Hampshire Bat Group, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and RSPB.

From solar panels to insulation and heat pumps, there’s advice on how to make your home more energy efficient and learn about plans for community energy in our local area.

Travel more sustainably advice on bikes and electric vehicles. There will be bicycle repairs on offer, bikes for sale and EV owners to chat to, courtesy of Petersfield Bicycle Buddies and JPAC Electrical.

Pick up some great ideas on low waste living from recycled products to plastic-free alternatives, with ways to help you consume less and recycle more. Among those offering low-cost living advice will be Petersfield Men’s Shed, Coffee Pod Creations and Green Boutique.

Discover the wide range of local community groups doing their bit to respond to the climate crisis, and join them in making a pledge to protect our planet.

There’s a brilliant line-up of live music to keep you entertained, plus woodland theatre, storytelling, face painting and other children’s activities, delicious food and refreshing drinks local suppliers with Crepe Britain, Dylan’s Ice Cream, Langhams Brewery, Roots and My Little Coffee Co at the Eco Fair. A cup deposit scheme will operate at the bar, so bring an extra £1 for your drink which will be refunded when the cup is returned.

And there’s the chance to showcase your skills with a photography competition where you can be in with the chance of winning a hamper of eco goodies and a young writers competition – can you write a short piece of fiction or non-fiction that has a nature or eco theme? You can win a book token prize.

For more details about the day and the two competitions, visit petersfieldcan.org/projects/eco-fair-2024 

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Big Butterfly Count is flying high

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You can help protect the future of local species under threat thanks to Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count, 14th July to 6th August

Butterfly spotting can be one of summer’s most wonderful experience. As the sun appears, and flowers bloom, more and more sightings of our fluttery favourites can be seen.

You may be able to identify some common butterflies quickly. The Brimstone, for example, is a yellow-green butterfly that’s one of the first species to be spotted in spring. The Comma is another favourite for many, and has distinctively scalloped wing edges and its underwings resemble dead leaves as a form of camouflage.

A number of stunning day-flying moths bring the same buzz. The Six-spot Burnet has striking red spots on each forewing. Butterfly Conservation has a handy online identification tool. You may also like to familiarise yourself with different species’ habitats. Red Admirals enjoy almost any habitat from hedgerows to the top of mountains. Others, such as the Speckled Wood inhabit woodland.

Holtspur Bottom Butterfly Reserve, HP9 1DH, covers an area of about 4.5 hectares (11 acres), and is managed thanks to the hard work of local Butterfly Conservation volunteers.

And, Yoesden HP14 4AR, is home to an impressive array of butterflies, considered by many one of the jewels of the Chilterns AONB, with some 28 species recorded, including three scarce blue species: Adonis, chalkhill and small blue butterflies, all of which rely on the flower-rich grassland that makes up half the reserve, owned & managed by Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust. Park at Bledlow Ridge; more info at Yoesden | Berks Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (bbowt.org.uk)

The Big Butterfly Count is the largest citizen science survey of its kind. By recording your sightings, you’ll provide valuable data on the populations and distributions of common species. Last year revealed species such as the Common Blue and Holly Blue had a good summer, with an increase in sightings of 154% and 120% from 2021 respectively.

It takes just 15 minutes and whether you’re in a park, garden or looking out of your window, taking part helps us understand UK butterflies’ plight. Some 80% of butterflies have declined since the 1970s and two thirds of common moth species have declined in the last 40 years.

Visit Big Butterfly Count (butterfly-conservation.org) to take part & Big Butterfly Count (butterfly-conservation.org) to find out more.

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Step out in Haslemere

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Haslemere’s annual Walking Festival is back with expertly guided walks exploring the history and wildlife of the area from Friday 12th to Sunday, 14th July as Adaleigh Buckrell writes

Delve into the rich past and exquisite countryside of the area as part of Haslemere Walking Festival which offers a varied programme of free walks around the town centre and its surroundings.

Depending on your choice of walk you might be led at a leisurely pace through the market town’s charming streets, the ponds of Waggoners Wells, or around the Devil’s Punchbowl in the Surrey Hills, one of the UK’s protected National Landscapes.

The joint initiative run by Haslemere Town Council and Visit Haslemere allows everyone to get outside, learn new things and have fun with all the family. Those coming from further afield can easily travel to the town by train or bus to access the beautiful heathland, woods and rolling hills on its doorstep.

All the walks in the festival are led by informative volunteers who are experts in their field and experienced in guiding walks. Local tree warden Clive Davidson invites you to discover the most notable trees in Haslemere and the tallest trees in Surrey. Additionally, you can join local historian Tim Winter if you are keen to learn about Haslemere’s political, artistic and war-time history.

Returning due to popular demand, the wonderful local author and playwright Jo Owen Smith and a supporting cast will bring to life Sir Robert Hunter, one of the founders of the National Trust, and friends. The group will shed light on the fascinating history of Hindhead Common in this dramatised walk.

More drama will be uncovered in John Casey’s historical walk discussing, amongst other things, the murder of a sailor on the Devil’s Punchbowl in 1786 and the 1945 plane crash on Gibbet Hill, the second highest point in Surrey.

Don’t miss out on the new Blue Plaque Trail of Haslemere and Hindhead, led by Chris Harrison from the Haslemere Society. The homes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Viscount Montgomery of Alamein are just two of the remarkable places you would visit, contributing to the richness of the area’s cultural heritage.

Whether you fancy a breath of fresh air to clear your mind, an activity to do with the kids and grandparents, or a longer trail where you can meet friends, old and new, a walk for everybody can be booked online at Haslemere Educational Museum – Art Tickets.

The festival programme with descriptions of the walks and their lengths and challenge levels can also be found at Haslemere Visitor. Further walks will be announced on Facebook when they are finalised, so keep an eye out.

Numbers are limited so do book early. For any enquiries call Visit Haslemere on 01428 645425 or email [email protected]

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Vintage vehicles at Woodcote Rally

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Heritage transport at its very best is on display at Woodcote Rally, July 13th & 14th, and as Andy Crockett tells us the event has much more to offer too

The Woodcote Rally is a festival of steam, vintage and veteran transport with entertainment for all the family.

We have a wide range of exhibits including large and miniature steam engines, stationary engines, cars, motor bikes, tractors, military, models and commercial vehicles. During both days, the exhibits will display in the main arena and there will be separate tractor working area.

We have a large craft marquee with a range of hand-crafted goods and an enticing food area. Outside the marquee is the country area where you can watch demonstrations of traditional country skills including wood turning, stick making, hedge laying and willow weaving. We also have a wonderful birds of prey display and a children’s petting farm.

There’s a range of trade stands including jewellery, metal artwork, garden furniture, tools, clothing and accessories, die cast models and food products including gluten free.

In the children’s entertainment area there’s a face painter, entertainer and circus skills workshop. The funfair is a great attraction for all ages.

During both days live bands will play on the main stage and continue long into the evening. By the stage you’ll find CAMRA’s famous Festival of Ale and, new for this year, an additional marquee selling a range of alternative drinks to real ale such as lagers, craft beers, spirits and wines. In this area you’ll find a range food stalls to satisfy all tastes. Look out for the Round & About logo on your beer cups.

All of these attractions combine to make the Rally South Oxfordshire’s premier event of its kind. Since 1964, the Rally Committee has donated a total of £532,000 to local charities and other deserving organisations.

This year’s event will be held over the weekend of 13th and 14th July. The Rally is located about 10 miles north-west of Reading on the A4074 Reading to Oxford Road. We are in a new field off Church Lane, Ipsden, OX10 6BZ. The What 3 Words location is “less.hoped.pens”. The car parks and entrances will be well sign posted from all directions.

Public transport is available to the site on the X40 Thames Travel bus service between Oxford and Reading which runs about every 30 minutes. There are bus stops (both ways) just by Church Lane with a short walk to the Rally site from there. (Check the bus website for times).

Please visit us at The Next Woodcote Rally for further details.

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Petworth’s world class arts festival

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If ever there was a year to enjoy the thrill of live performance in Petworth, this is clearly it with an array of world class performers in the South Downs from July 10th to 27th

“We have always sought to bring the greatest quality of performance to Petworth, but when you add in the sheer charisma of so many of this year’s artists, I can only look forward to the festival with the most extraordinary degree of anticipation!”

Petworth’s Artistic Director Stewart Collins is clearly delighted with this year’s line up and backing up his comments, he points to a whole series of unique talents who will be taking to the Petworth stage.

Classical stars Simon Keenlyside, Boris Giltburg and Joanna MacGregor all have what Stewart describes as ‘that crucial x-factor’, as do stellar talents from other genres, jazz musicians Eliane Correa and Petworth favourite Joe Stilgoe, world music star N’famady Kouyate, performance poet and storyteller Luke Wright, and Mike and the Mechanics front man Roachford, who brings his own band to the festival. 

Image by: Sasha Gusov

Image by: Pal Hansen

And it goes way beyond this. The South African cellist Abel Selaocoe is a force of nature whether playing Bach or traditional African music; Martin Harley is genuinely one of the modern blues-guitar greats; percussionist Delia Stephens playing in tandem with harmonica genius Will Pound… virtuosity simply doesn’t sum it up!

Image by: Mlungisi Mlungwana

Image by: Silvia Cruz

And that’s not to mention the ‘Big Gigs’ at The Petworth House Stable Yard and Midhurst Rother College

Thurs 18th: The Wonder of Stevie – a triumphant celebration of Stevie Wonder’s music
Fri 19th: Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours – a vivid recreation by The Transatlantic Ensemble
Sat 20th: Jazz in the Stables – headlined by Anglo/Cuban powerhouse Eliane Correa
Wed 24th: Aretha – the brilliant Vanessa Haynes of Incognito stars
Thurs 25th: Roachford – the dynamic front man of Mike and the Mechanics with his own band
Fri 26th: Comedy Double Bill – with Mark Watson and Mark Simmons

Petworth Festival kicks off on Wednesday, 10th July and runs through to Saturday, 27th July when events culminate with a performance of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue (‘blue’ being a theme that runs through the festival) in the hands of yet another astonishing talent, Ronnie Scott’s supremo pianist James Pearson.

Events run every day including a dozen daytime/lunchtime events with family events scheduled for both Coultershaw Heritage Site and the Leaconfield Hall. More information and tickets at petworthfestival.org.uk/whats-on

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Readi for pop and more

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The three-day all-ages charity festival by the bank of the Thames in Caversham returns from July 12th to 14th raising funds for the local community

This year’s Readipop not only offers Ash, Echobelly, Republica, Fabio & Grooverider among many more but it is also set to be the most sustainable yet.

Joining the headliners are a diverse array of new and established artists including energetic festival mainstays Dub Pistols, Welsh tongue-in-cheek rappers Goldie Lookin’ Chain (playing a legends set), Manchester indie-dance pioneers A Certain Ratio, BBC 6Music favourites from Holland, Pip Blom and 1980s Reading punk band International Resque playing their final show together.

Readipop will be showcasing their valuable work across the weekend, including AAA takeovers, presenting an array of local talent who learn musical skills at the charity’s weekly AAA youth club alongside live sets from artists signed to their Riser Music label and their community bands. In addition, Readipop XOX Project Live will be performing a set of classic tracks to demonstrate the vintage drum machines and synthesisers that will make up part of Readipop’s upcoming XOX Project museum.

Festival Producer Molly Banbury says: “We’ve seen our highest ever ticket sales to date for this point and are so grateful to everyone that has already shown their support for this year’s event. Not only will it be our biggest Readipop Festival so far but also our most sustainable!”

She adds the small team “are determined to see our charity festival flourish with community and sustainability at the heart of everything we do. This year we created a sustainability ‘pathway’ plan. This pathway maps out our ambitions creating achievable steps for us to reach our green goals over several years, helping us to make continuous environmentally conscious improvements.”

Molly believes the location is one of the biggest positives for Readipop with its proximity to Reading station, a mere 10 minute walk, and less with nearby bus routes. She adds: “We want to continue to improve upon this by encouraging travel by bike this year and offering secure bike storage inside the grounds.”

BBC Introducing in Oxfordshire and Berkshire have selected three up-and-coming acts which they will host in the Purple Turtle tent on Friday 12th.

Readipop’s family area will be open on Saturday and Sunday afternoons featuring craft, music and dance workshops, story telling, immersive performances and other fun activities featuring local arts and music organisations including Jelly, Dance Reading, Tankata Percussion, MiniMixers DJs and more.

Reading’s Indie Market also comes to the site on Saturday and Sunday bringing all stalls full of locally produced festival-friendly arts, crafts and clothes stalls. Purple Turtle bars serve local craft beer and real ale all weekend alongside a selection of lagers, ciders, spirits and wine.

Tickets and more at READIPOP FESTIVAL

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Godalming Photographic Club exhibition

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Featured image by: Mark Rolfe

Godalming Photographic Club are holding their annual summer exhibition at Godalming Museum, July 9th to 27th, showcasing members’ printed and digital images. Mark Rolfe tells us more

Photography has changed dramatically since Godalming Photographic Club was founded in March 1980, but what hasn’t changed over the decades is the friendly, supportive atmosphere aimed at inspiring, informing and involving members.

A group of friends got together more than 40 years ago in the Borough Hall explaining their hopes and intentions. By the end of the evening 30 people had joined. Meetings were held once a month, but this was soon increased to three a month before becoming weekly.

Image by: Brian Houghton

Image by: David Hughes

The new club joined the Surrey Photographic Federation (later to become the Surrey Photographic Association or SPA) and entered its inter-club competitions.

Competitions were seen as a way to increase skills and several trophies were soon provided as awards for the best work. The founding group paid for the Founders’ Plate, awarded to the winner of the series of internal print competitions, and the Woolwich Building Society donated a trophy for the best print at the annual exhibition.

Since its foundation, the club has more than held its own among its peers in the SPA and has won both Open and Nature sections of the annual inter-club competition. The club has also represented the SPA at national inter-club championships organised by The Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB).

With a subscription income, the club continues to have outside judges for its competitions and expert speakers on a broad range of subjects. Practical workshops, technical sessions and discussion of different aspects of photography are featured. Other events include photographic trips, a Christmas dinner and a summer party.

Members primarily use digital cameras and smartphones and competitions are divided into Print and Projected images, covering themes from Open (any content) to Nature, Landscape, Monochrome, Street and fun topics, such as ‘Match the style of a famous photographer’. Competitions are split into three groups, so everyone can compete at their own level.

GPC meets each Wednesday evening from September to May at Shackleford Village Hall. Come along and experience a meeting with no obligation or contact us for more details via our website. New members are always welcome. For enquiries, see Godalming Photographic Club, Facebook, or Godalming Photographic Club (@gofocal). The exhibition runs Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm at Godalming Museum. Entry free. Some of the photographs will be on sale at modest prices. You can vote for your favourite image.

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Crowd-pleasing Henley Royal regatta pic!

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We love this collage by digital artist Henry Reichhold. What do you think?

This year’s Henley Regatta (2nd-7th July) galleries will feature an extraordinary collage by digital artist Henry Reichhold.

As people make their way into Henley Regatta’s Stewards enclosure they will come across a huge collage created from more than 1,500 images, and on closer inspection they will quite likely find that they are probably in it.

Covering six days of the 2023 Regatta and taking over 7,000 images, photo digital artist Henry Reichhold has put together an artwork packed with all stories that make up this iconic UK sporting event. Discover the classic ‘coxswain toss’, the trolley packed with champagne bottles, the festive pleasure boats and the rowers who race cheered on by the crowds lining the riverbank. Catch the prize giving, the packed grandstands and the leisurely strolling around the bandstand and take in the roar of a WW2 Lancaster bomber flying or the majestic Red Kite as it soars around the St Mary’s church tower. The artwork is available at the Regatta’s official shops.

Henry Reichhold was educated at Dartington College of Art and Warwick University. His interest in photography developed at a very young age and he remains as captivated with the process now as he was then. His work has always been at the cutting edge of technology from his early mobile stills and film making, 3D printed/Lidar scanning work to his current work using time-based collage photography and point cloud imaging he relentlessly pursues his fascination with pushing back the boundaries of the photographic world.

Henry worked for over 12 years at Saint Martins College of Art and his recent and ongoing work with St Paul’s Girls School’s explores the role of photography in virtual environments. His work has been seen by a global audience with a series exhibitions at Heathrow Airport, London Bridge Railway Station and other major venues including the Royal Albert Hall.

To find out more about him visit https://www.reichholdarts.com/

For more about his installation at Heathrow on until the 18th July check out the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B-QzkT4XVg

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