Cranborne Chase Woodfair

Traditional Swill Basket Making at the 2011 Woodfair

2011-11-11T03:18:00.001-08:00

The Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB is undertaking oral histories of coppice wood workers.

As an accompaniment to this project we asked Barbara Gibson of Spoken Histories to interview traditionally wood workers at the Cranborne Chase Woodfair 2011.

In this first video learn about the historic craft of Swill Basket Making from Owen Jones.

Visit www.historiclandscape.co.uk for more information

Woodfair Photos - we owe it all to you!

2011-11-04T07:45:00.000-07:00

Thought many of those attending the Woodfair this year might be interested in viewing our encapsulated image library of photos taken at the Woodfair this October. I've uploaded them to our Flickr account which you can view by clicking on the image below: See if there's anyone you recognise, you could be in for a surprise.

Click here for the photostream on Flickr

Thanks for returning questionaire

2011-10-31T05:09:00.001-07:00

Many thanks to everyone (over 50 of you) who returned thoughts and comments to the questionaire sent out to traders and demonstrators of the Cranborne Chase Woodfair last week. We're holding a wah up meeting this week where we will discuss ideas put forward.

Woodfair Video on YouTube

2011-10-31T04:31:00.000-07:00

We're pleased to announce that the successful 2011 Cranborne Chase Woodfair is now featured on a video linked below on YouTube, this is in addition to our original video from 2007 which can still be found online. Take a peek and see if you can spot someone you know.

Woodfair a great success and we owe it all to you!

2011-10-11T06:10:00.000-07:00

The 3^rd Cranborne Chase Woodfair went off without a hitch at the Larmer Tree Gardens last weekend. Over six thousand people visited the site to be amazed at the quality of the woodcraft on display and demonstration as well as to learn more about this fascinating landscape that is so often taken for granted.

As 2011 celebrates the 30^th anniversary for our local Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty the event also celebrated our local history and landscape. Cranborne Chase is synonymous around the world although few people today actually know why. It is because following the Norman invasion this area was set up and became the last royal hunting ground and chase law meant many harsh lifestyle changes for the local Saxon people residing in this area. Regia Anglorum a specialised re-enactment team portrayed this lifestyle to great effect and to the enjoyment of the crowds attending the event.

Local businesses and food providers were pleased with the public interest with the overall 'feel' being country, family, wood, enterprise and very child friendly. Children climbed trees and enjoyed theatre shows, climbed straw bales and enjoyed arena displays of falconry and horsemanship. Whilst big boy machinery displays worked alongside speed chainsaw carvers and pole lathe turners turned bespoke furniture and willow weavers wove baskets and chairs. A good day out for all the family, across all generations.

Photos courtesy of Andrew Chorley

Visit a Living Medieval Village at the Cranborne Chase Woodfair

2011-09-19T02:52:00.000-07:00

The Cranborne Chase Woodfair is celebration of the historic woodlands of the area and the associated crafts and industries that it represents. From timeless crafts to contemporary designs; from modern day forestry techniques to the demonstration of a range of practical rural skills, there is something for everyone. It is being held on the 8th and 9th October 2011 at the Cranborne Chase Woodfair.

In order to celebrate 30 years of the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and also the culmination of our Historic Landscape project, Regia Anglorum will be re-enacting what life would have been like living and working on the Cranborne Chase. It will also be a demonstration of why the Cranborne Chase is famous worldwide for being a medieval hunting forest.

'We are not purely a combat society and have come a long way from the old hack and bash image associated with many re-enactment societies. There is always a certain glory to be found in recreating and reliving famous and the not-so-famous battles of times past - but they are not the sum total of history. They are specific points in time which were interspersed by long periods where the people living then, got on with their normal existence which is equally fascinating. In this way, we are not in fact just a 're-enactment' group, but a 'living history society'.

Come back with us to 1086 and see us demonstrate the changing fashions of the times, and see how people living then, got on with their normal lives.

Explore our medieval village where you can find out more about the life and times of Medieval Britain. Regia hopes to inject some reality into these once everyday activities. Whilst this can include getting cold, wet and reeking of wood smoke, just sitting around the campfire with your friends is an atmospheric experience in itself, which we hope brings the 11th century back to life for you.

Woodfair is closed to ALL exhibitor applications

2011-09-08T02:48:00.000-07:00

We have now closed the Woodfair to new exhibitor applications. We have over 150 traders and demonstrators and the complications in accepting new applications at this stage means we have to close. Apologies to those who may be disappointed but if you want to attend next time and we do not have your details, do please email them to info@cranbornechase.org.uk.

We are looking forward to another great event and hope to see you there. You can get your advanced discounted tickets from www.woodfair.org.uk or telephone 08452 305177

2011-08-01T09:04:00.000-07:00

Planting new forests and woodland helps counteract the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by burning fossil fuels. Commercial interest in investing in tree planting for carbon capture is increasing, but until now there have been neither standards against which to measure claims, nor any mechanism to report the greenhouse gas emission reductions.
The Code provides a consistent approach as well as clarity and transparency to potential investors over just what their money should buy them. Project providers need to register with the Commission and provide details about their project then have it evaluated by an independent assessor. Once approved, projects will then appear in a national, on-line register, and may use the WCC logo.

Please take some time out from your busy life to think about trees and woodlands and the value they could provide for you and your company and also whether woodland planting might help you to reduce your company's carbon footprint in the future. Visit the Woodland Carbon Code page on the Forestry Commission's website www.forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
If you would like someone to come and talk to you about the benefits of investing in woodland planting projects to capture carbon and combat climate change then please email mailto:chris.waterfield@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

AONB's Big Society is not Dead!

2011-08-01T04:38:00.000-07:00

After putting out a call for volunteers for the forthcoming Woodfair I was delighted to return to an inbox full of willing offers. I will get in touch with all of you shortly once I have put the final touches to the Volunteers Pack.

Many, many thanks for all your support.
For the timebeing we are unable to accept any more applications.

Applications for Demonstrations

2011-07-18T01:39:00.000-07:00

Nicky Matthews Woodfair

Apologies for the delay however, I am endeavouring to get the the Contracts out to everyone who applied as a demonstrator today. We have been overwhelmed this year with applications and as a result it is taking longer to wade through and also to nail funding.

If you have not heard from the office by 1st August then please do get in touch.

Are you interested in volunteering at the forthcoming Cranborne Chase Woodfair?

2011-06-29T04:15:00.000-07:00

One of the principle aims of the Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs AONB team is to support the Woodfair for future years. A big part of this will be achieved by keeping costs down and engaging local communities. In past years many people have been incredibly enthusiastic about the event, enthusing about the ambiance, ethos, creativity and friendliness of the event.

In order to capitalise on this, this year we are seeking out as many volunteers as possible to help us run the event. We will ensure that you are well fed and give you a family pass (max. 2 adults/3 children) so that you can come back another day with your family to enjoy the event at your leisure.

Responsibilities will be varied but could include, helping with trailer rides, general stewarding, marshaling, leaflet distribution, shovelling wood chips, site set up, helping in the information tent and being a general all round good egg!

We are accepting applications from anyone aged over 15 years
You must have a friendly outgoing personality You must be available for at least one full day on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday (you can do as many as you like).

This is a good opportunity to help a local event, have some fun and can provide a useful reference for future job/university applications.

Please get in touch with nickymatthews@cranbornechase.org.uk who give you a volunteering pack that will outline everything you need to know.

Foodies at the Woodfair

2011-06-28T04:40:00.000-07:00

We have just finalised the applications for food retail at the Woodfair. We shall be sending out Contracts for those selected this week. Apologies to those we could not accommodate, there is always a fine line between having too few and having too many so that traders get disappointed with results. We hope we have got the balance right with the right sort of look and feel, and of course varied yummy food and drink for all.

Facebook and Twitter

2011-06-06T04:28:00.000-07:00

As so many of us dip our toe into the muddy waters of social media then we too thought we would give it a go. It's very much a case of work in progress but for those of you out there we are trying and we trust that we'll get it together shortly. We have listed ourselves on YouTube as Cranborne Chase Woodfair and also have a Twitter account for CranborneChase phew!

2011-05-18T05:38:00.000-07:00

Here we go!
As we build up to the third Cranborne Chase Woodfair we are looking for new acts, demonstrators and exhibitors who can make the 2011 event even better (as if it were possible!) than the 2009 event.
Have you seen anyone who you think would be perfect for the Woodfair? If so, then let us know; if it's a good lead then we'll give you a free family ticket!

Welcome to the Woodfair Blog

2011-05-18T05:27:00.000-07:00

We are busy receiving bookings for the forthcoming event and have so far been pleased with the response. Most people responding are repeats from previous years so it would be nice to see a few newer faces.

How about us using Twitter and Facebook though, do people use these facilities? If so I am trying to get some evidence that they will be of use before committing time to resources that although time savers take way too long to design. Nicky