An exciting new event is launching just before Easter at Hay Castle in Hay on Wye. The first Hay Spring Fair takes place on Saturday 12th April from 10am to 5pm and organisers are hopeful that if the event is a success it may become an annual fixture on the Hay calendar.
The Spring Fair takes place in Hay Castle and its grounds, with talks and debates taking place within the Castle Hall, along with stalls and activities housed in marquees in the ground. There will also be live music and refreshments including a beer tent selling local ales.
Hay Spring Fair is being funded in part by Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) and aims to look at ‘green’ issues in a fun, interactive way. The day promises a range of expert speakers covering issues from community energy and transport, to eco design and green home improvements. Hands-on activities for all the family include willow-weaving, upcycling crafts, writing workshops, knitting, spinning and weaving. There will also be a variety of informative and interesting stalls from local charities and businesses, including a plant and seed swap. Live music and fun activities for kids will take place throughout the day, and there will be a great range of local food and drink on offer.
Event organiser Louise Davies also runs a fair trade shop in Hay called Eighteen Rabbit explained the thinking behind the new event.
“We have always had an interest in sustainability, particularly how to make green issues appealing to a wide audience. We hope that people in Hay will be inspired to make small lifestyle changes to minimise their impact on the environment. Our aim is to promote sustainable living, showcase groups and organisations in the local area who can offer advice to residents who want to be greener, and information on how businesses can manage their operations in a more sustainable way. We have been really pleased with the response so far which just shows the appetite there is for this type of event in Hay.”
Helen Roderick, SDF Officer for Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority said: “SDF grants have supported a wide variety of exciting and innovative projects across the Bannau Brycheiniog and we have been delighted to have been able to assist the Hay Spring Fair kick-start their very first annual event. We hope that the Hay Spring Fair will be another success story that will encourage more local innovators and entrepreneurs with ideas about how to bring long-term sustainable benefits to the local people and local economies to come and ask us how we can support them.
There are five funding rounds available for the financial year of 1 April 2014 to the 31 March 2015 and the next closing date for applications will be 11th June 2014.
To find out more please contact sdf@beacons-npa.gov.uk or telephone 01874 620 471