May 2010
Swindon Festival of Literature
3rd – 15th May
(Bed and Breakfast available at £25 per night)
An opportunity to get in on the start, or come part way through for a day or two, or more, to join other Festival followers at the heart of this home-grown, nationally-known high spot on Wiltshire’s cultural calendar.
It begins with the amazing Dawn Chorus at 5.30am on Bank Holiday Monday, and goes on with novelists, poets, politicians, scientists, philosophers, performers, dangerous discussions, serious sessions, and lively literary larks. Authors, speakers, performers, and events will include Cherie Blair, Carol Ann Duffy, Maureen Lipman, Brian Moore and many more!
If you want to know who and what, get the full 36-page colour programme, available from 18th March. Phone 01793 771080, email or see the Festival website.
Willow Weekend
with Norah Kennedy
21st – 23rd May £ 147
Make willow baskets, garden structures, plant supports, sculptures, and decorations. Learn an eco friendly skill using local renewable materials! There will be time to make at least two small baskets – or one larger one. After an introductory film on Friday night, there will be tuition from 9.30am until 4pm on both the Saturday and Sunday. For both beginners, and for those with experience.
Norah is an experienced, practising basket maker, and has been teaching this age-old craft here, and all over the country for many years. It may be possible to book for one of the days only. Please ask.
There will be an extra charge of £5 - £20 for materials.
Working Weekend
21 – 23 May • No Charge
This is a chance to get to know the farm, turn your hand to old jobs and new, enjoy good company and good food too!
Our Working Weekends are run in the spirit of the wonderful WWOOF organisation: we feed and accommodate you, you work, with us. No money changes hands. An opportunity to have bright ideas by the compost heap, happy talk in the hen house, and cool chat in the kitchen. Join us to prove that many hands make light work and that today’s stranger is tomorrow’s friend. For more information on WWOOF, see www.wwoof.org.uk.
Yoga and Massage Bank Holiday Weekend
28 – 31 May • £159
Yoga, Massage, Meditation, Walking, Talking, Singing… and almost anything to put a spring in your step and have a good ‘Spring Stretch’!
This long Bank Holiday weekend is an opportunity to take part in yoga classes, try new kinds of exercise, play games, have fun, and RELAX. There’ll be a full programme of activities – from one or two daily yoga classes, therapeutic massage workshops, and meditation instruction in the Hayloft, to Circle Dance in the farmyard, volleyball in the front garden, table tennis in the barn, a walk on the Wiltshire Downs, a run along local cycle paths, or warm chats and favourite songs round the campfire. There will also be opportunities to book an individual massage.
Meals will be an important part of the weekend – plenty of salads, tasty bakes, home-baked bread, delicious desserts – healthy, but just a touch of indulgence too!
The weekend begins with introductions on Friday evening, and ends after lunch on Monday.