Gallery: Cambridgeshire's first ever wood fair proves popular
Cambridgeshire’s inaugural wood fair was held over the weekend at Burwash Manor in Barton – and it looks to have been a tree-mendous success.
The Wonder of Wood took place on Saturday (September 14) and Sunday (September 15), showcasing some of the region’s finest wood workers, crafters and artisans.
Part of the thinking behind the event was to introduce children to the joys of engaging with nature and to get them away from their screens and back into the great outdoors.
From willow weaving to artisan carpentry, den building to spoon carving, survival skills to tree surgery, and pond dipping to storytelling, there was plenty to see and do for the estimated four to five thousand people who attended, while locally produced food and drink and live music were also provided.
Duncan Dodds, of Artisan Structures, who was one of the organisers along with Tim Radford of Foxcotte and WonderWood, said: “It went so well. Sunday was the busiest day but Saturday was great as well.
“With it being our first event, we really didn’t know how it was going to go, but we were quietly confident because all of the stallholders that we’d invited were able to come.”
Duncan continued: “There was such a good variety of people, and so many children.
"The children were blown away and were involved in so many things, from creating a hedgehog from branches to weaving willow swords and shields.
"All of the food and drink stalls did really well, the music was great, and all of the stallholders that we spoke to were raving about how incredible it was that this was our first show.
"The weather was fantastic, and it just helped everyone enjoy the day.”
