I was lucky; I was there on the Sunday. Hilary and Michele had to set up in pouring rain on the Saturday but by Sunday it was merely just dull, drizzly and windy. Still, we were in a good solid marquee so sheltered from the elements. Finding the actual festival site was quite tricky as it’s a 1,000 acre site with tracks going in all directions and not signposted for the likes of tradesmen! However, having gone down one incorrect muddy track I was sent in the right direction by a lady walking her dog. The Festival was held in a large, wind-swept field but it had a very nice ‘feel’ and all the stallholders and visitors were charming. People came properly dressed for a hike in the country and were interested in what we were doing. Despite the weather, there were lots of visitors and we were kept busy all day. The only other craft being demonstrated was wood carving but there were badger, bat and bee people there, some clothing and card stalls and an amusing guy from St Albans selling wholefoods. There were several food outlets and I had some excellent hot samosas for lunch.
Panshanger Park is beautiful. It lies roughly parallel to the A414 between Hertford and Welwyn Garden City and is managed for both people and wildlife by Tarmac (the owner), Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust and Herts County Council. Owned by the Cowper family from the late 17th to the early 20th century, the Panshanger Estate was shaped around the Mimram Valley following advice from Humphry Repton and Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. Panshanger Park is registered as a Grade: II* park and garden by Historic England. Since the 1980s, the park has been owned by Tarmac and parts have been quarried for sand and gravel. Much of the site has now been restored to arable farming and a range of valuable wildlife habitats including a new section of chalk river and a number of lakes. Recently, Longhorn Cattle, as envisaged by Repton, have been introduced and more of the site will be opened up as the remaining extraction processes come to an end. This is the second year that we have been invited to demonstrate at the Park, and I am very glad I went along. It was a most enjoyable day. Mary Comments are closed.
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