Stuff of Life festival

October 09, 2010 12:45

Date Published: September 19, 2010 21:52 by Watcher |

Tagged as: culture local_communities

Headley Villas Park, Sherwood Rise, Notingham

The fourth annual Stuff of Life festival takes place this coming Saturday 9th October at Hedley Villas Park, Sherwood Rise and sees Mums takes centre stage. Hedley Villa’s resident Rosie (mother of Dylan, 2) will be selling old, retro and vintage clothes and costumes, whilst her mum is coming all the way from Wales and will be demonstrating her own recycled art (hand bags from plastic bags, chairs from newspapers). Event co-organiser Jack from Hedley Street also has an artistic mum who will be offering to paint people’s portraits. Mother of three, Angela (from Albany Road) will be this year’s compere and another local mother, Tracey will be doing crafts with children.

The event celebrates the diversity and history of the local area by bringing several hundred residents together in the tiny park that was renovated five years ago by the Residents’ Association. Participants can listen to live music from local bands and performers, view original artwork displayed on the railings around the park by Nottingham artists, browse a variety of individual craft stalls and sample food provided by neighbours. The former Pyclet factory will be open for apple pressing and a back yard café will be serving freshly ground coffees and cakes (baked by more local Mums!)

Three bakeries used to operate around Hedley Park at different times and this is commemorated through a Bread Baking Competition, where anyone can enter by bringing a loaf along on the day and possibly winning a prize. It was this connection that gave the event its name – bread is part of the history of the area, but it’s also part of the present – it’s common (in many different forms) to all the many cultures and nationalities that make their home in Sherwood Rise.

The event starts off at 12pm with more performance – a cheekily named ‘Stuff the Goose’ procession around the neighbouring streets led by Chris, who describes the rhythmic accompaniment as ‘urban street beats with a Brazilian twist’. Residents’ Association chair, Mike Peverill adds that ‘the event is a bit different to Goose Fair and certainly a lot cheaper – why not come along and discover the friendliest neighbourhood in Nottingham!’ The free festival is on till 6pm and more details can be found at www.uptherise.co.uk

As part of their Vegan Free Food Giveaway project and to mark the 10:10:10 Global Day of Doing, Veggies will be offering samples of the Reduced Carbon Vegan Chocolate Cake, featured by the 10:10 Campaign.