Festive folk face fierce weather at Arne’s Forage Festival

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Events such as the RSPB’s 4th annual Arne Forage Festival are often overlooked or forgotten by families who opt instead for a less a controversial choice for the kids.

With unpredictable weather to add to the lack of appeal, it’s a wonder as to how events like these still manage to survive.

Well in my opinion, these events are fantastic opportunities to have unique experiences and meet interesting and inspiring people.

They are always littered with charming characters that make a significant difference to the area, are stuck in their quirky traditional ways, or just keen to meet new people and sell their produce or educate them.

Here are just a few of the fascinating people I got to meet:

[tabgroup] [tab title=”Meet Alexander Huxley”] [one_half][/one_half] [one_half_last]

• Occupation: Runs Huxley Sticks
• Origins: London
• Interesting Facts: He has been crafting sticks since a child
• He does coppicing to help ensure he gets the finest and straightest sticks to work with
• Alexander was at the festival presenting his recent works and demonstrating his craftsmanship

[/one_half_last] [/tab] [tab title=”Meet Bill Crumbleholme”] [one_half]

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• Occupation: Potter, running his own beaker folk pottery company and helping to manage the Ancient Wessex Network
• Origins: Upwey, Dorset
• Interesting facts: Sees himself as an artisan or craftsman
• He helps archaeologists in experimental archaeology such as ancient potting
• Bill was at the Forage Festival demonstrating his skills in beaker making and educating those willing to listen

[/one_half_last] [/tab] [tab title=”Meet Peter Moors”] [one_half][/one_half] [one_half_last]

• Occupation: Runs Shalimar Designs, since circa 1995.
• Origins: Dorset
• Interesting Facts: Peter can make beautiful chairs made entirely from sticks
• Peter’s daughter felt he loved working with wood so much, she made his email address: i_love_wood@…
• He was at the show displaying his furniture and bowls which could easily be seen as purely works of art

[/one_half_last] [/tab] [tab title=”Meet John Bartholomew”] [one_half][/one_half] [one_half_last]

• Occupation: Anthropologist
• Origins: Zimbabwe (although you’d never tell from the accent)
• Interesting facts: He likes to explore material culture and human perception through the making and display of objects
• He’s been involved with the Ancient Wessex Network for around 8 years
• John was at the show demonstrating how to use a Warp Weighted Loom

[/one_half_last] [/tab] [tab title=”Meet Charley Beer”] [one_half][/one_half] [one_half_last]

• Occupation: Wife of the owner of Marshwood Vale Cider Company, Tim Beer
• Origins: Marshwood Vale
• Interesting Facts: They do all the work in-house, aside from the crushing which is done in Somerset
• They illustrate all their bottles with birds from Dorset
• Charley was at the show to represent her husband’s cider company and promote small boutique cider companies

[/one_half_last] [/tab] [tab title=”Meet Ben Sugden”] [one_half][/one_half] [one_half_last]

• Occupation: Co-Owner of Dorset Charcuterie Company with Lee Morton, 27
• Origins: Dorset
• Interesting Facts: The company sell and cure Seasonal Game produce such as pheasant, rabbits, and venison, etc.
• The pair are passionate about an artisan style of curing meats using a blend of traditional and modern techniques
• They were at the festival promoting their products and their aim to get a more charcuterie aware Britain

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