Come and celebrate the start of the Summer season this May Bank Holiday when the family- focused Fairy Fair returns to the lovely Bradmoor Woods on the West Acre Estate.

 

This jam packed event features lots of children’s nature learning activities and workshops alongside more traditional entertainment such as live music, storytelling, walkabout characters, family shows and food and craft stalls. Fancy dress is encouraged.

Children over three years old can take part in unique magical workshops run by The Fairyland Trust charity which take place in beautifully decorated tents, and where children can learn some fairy folklore and lots about nature. 

Magic Potions being prepared

A drop-in workshop

Some workshops need to booked in advance when you buy your ticket and cost £ 3/ child ( see Add-ons at Eventbrite pages). These are: Bumble Burrows, Fairy Training, Elf Training, Fairy Gardens, Fairy Lights, Wildlife Hospital, Magic Potions and Magic Wands.

The Fairy Fair runs on both Sunday 28th and Monday 29th from 10.30 am to 5.30pm. The format is the same for both days so if there is a bookable workshop that your child really wanted to do that is sold out, do try the other day in case there is more availability there.

There will also be other activities on the day that children can drop into once a space becomes available. These are: Fairy Fair Crowns (£3/child), Bumbling Bees, Pixie Post ( £2/ child) and Fairy and Elf Houses ( free). Plus, the brave can enter the Pirate Fete and play daft games with the Pirates such as Unlucky Dip and Splat the Ships Rat for £2 for a play- all- day wristband.

Families can also (free) have an audience with The Fairy Queen and the King in their beautiful hut.  Look around The Fairy Queens’ garden, picking up tips on gardening for wildlife from the attentive Wildflower Fairies and Fairy Gardeners. 

If you are feeling active you can take a spin around The Maypole, dance to The Foreign Locals, The Moonshiners and Penny Less, or sit down and laugh a lot at The Pirate Pantomime or listen to a story told by Mike and Callum. Be entertained and enchanted by our beautiful Wildflower Fairies, Mr Bees, Big Bugs and Stripey the Caterpillar. Special guests this year include Sybil the Giant Snail from the Insect Circus and Rowanbank Stilts (all free).

A Fairy Fair is not complete without a lot of dressing up and home made plastic free costumes are encouraged but not obligatory! Families will have a chance to show off their outfits in a special Show each morning from 11am to 11.30 am.

There will also be lots of local food and drink stalls on site, including the Fairyland Trust’s own Corncockle Cafe and The Good Elf Pub, plus a Fairy Market selling local and handmade sustainable goods.

A two minute taster of the Fairy Fair:

Get yourself a cuppa and enjoy this immersive 15 minute visit to the Fairy Fair 2022:

The Agenda

1030 – 1100 Opening

The Wildflower Fairies, Rowanbank Stilts and the Mr Bees will be there to greet the first arrivals with Penny Less providing some toe tapping tunes. Drop in workshops- Festival Crowns, Bumbling Bees, Fairy Houses and Pixie Post all open for business as well as The Pirate Fete ( all closing at 4.15pm). Have a look around our brand new Wildflower Fortune telling caravan ( and if you are a Supporter you can get your fortune told) and The Fairy Queen’s Garden. Don’t forget to visit all our lovely Traders selling sustainable goods plus Face Painting, Pedro the Party Pony and Wild Touch Wildlife Rescue.

1100 – 1130 No new plastic home made fancy dress show 

Come and show off your creations in this open show which will be on the Outdoor Stage ( or in the Performance tent if its wet). Small children must be accompanied and family groups are most welcome.

1130 – 1215  Bookable workshops session 1, Pirate Pantomime, Sybil the Snail 

Bookable workshops, Bumble Burrows, Elf Training, Fairy Training, Fairy Lights, Magic Potions, Magic Wands and Wildlife Hospital session 1 starts. To book these go to Add-ons when you purchase your entrance ticket. Look out for the truly enormous Sybil the Snail who will be out on the main lawn. Or sit down in the Performance Tent and be prepared to laugh a lot at the Pirate Pantomime, hosted by Captain Barnacle who is back by popular demand.

1230 – 1315   Bookable workshops session 2, The Moonshiners, Big Bugs, Stripey Caterpillar 

Bookable workshops, Bumble Burrows, Elf Training, Fairy Training, Fairy Lights, Magic Potions, Magic Wands and Wildlife Hospital session 2 starts. To book these go to Add-ons when you purchase your entrance ticket. Or head for the Performance tent for a dance to The Moonshiners. Look out for the Big Bugs who can bust some moves on the dancefloor. Make it a Bug Ball. Stripey the giant caterpillar will be out and about looking for food. He will need more legs so get on board.

1330 – 1415  Fairy King and Queen, The Foreign Locals, Sybil , Bees and Wildflower Fairies

The Fairy King and Queen will be opening their beautiful decorated hut for visitors. Last entry will be at 4.15pm. Or stay in the Performance Tent for a proper knees up with The Foreign Locals enthusiastically accompanied by the Mr Bees and some Wildflower Fairies. Sybil the Snail will be out and about again.

1430 – 1515  Bookable workshop session 3, Pirate Pantomime 2, Stripey

Bookable workshops, Bumble Burrows, Elf Training, Fairy Training, Fairy Lights, Magic Potions, Magic Wands and Wildlife Hospital session 3 starts. To book these go to Add-ons when you purchase your entrance ticket. Or settle down for the second instalment of The Pirate Pantomime 2. Stripey the Caterpillar will be out and about again.

1530 – 1615  Bookable workshops session 4, The Moonshiners, Stilts and Big Bugs

Bookable workshops, Bumble Burrows, Elf Training, Fairy Training, Fairy Lights, Magic Potions, Magic Wands and Wildlife Hospital session 4 .To book these go to Add-ons when you purchase your entrance ticket. The Moonshiners and The Big Bugs are back in The Performance Tent for the second time and Rowanbank Stilts will be out on the lawn.

1630 – 1730  Foreign Locals, Supporter Tea Party and Grand Finale 

The Foreign Locals will kick off proceedings in the Performance Tent. All the walkabout acts will be out and about. The Fairy King and Queen will be hosting a Tea Party for our paying Supporters from 4.45pm to 5.15pm in the Queen’s Garden after which they will come out to greet you all before saying farewell with a last dance. Everyone welcome. 

FAQs

How Do I Find Bradmoor Woods?

If using w3w What3Words  the entrance to the track into Bradmoor Woods is entrust.clean.demanding 

Bradmoor Woods is now also shown on Google Maps but we advise not to follow Google Map directions which may route you up Narford Lane, which is very narrow, has a hump-backed bridge, and can become blocked.  You may get delayed and miss your Workshops or other activities.

Instead first head for PE32 1HU, on the A47 (postcode for Norfolk Woods Resort and Spa), and follow our yellow signs, turning north onto the B1153.  Then then right into Wilson’s Drove and right onto Walton Road and right, down into Narford Lane.

If coming by train the nearest station with lots of taxis is Kings Lynn. 

The site is about 6 miles from Swaffham and 12 miles from Kings Lynn.

Do I have to pay for parking?

Yes, £1 / car. Please make sure you have your cash ready to prevent hold ups in any queue.

Can I bring my dog ?

Only assistance dogs are allowed on site. Please do not leave your dog in the car as there is no shade .

Do I have to print out my tickets?

No, but please make sure you have found them on your phone before you get to check in.

Can I get a refund?

Yes, but only up to 7 days before the event.

Is there anything for under 3s to do?

Under 3s can make a Fairy or Elf House with their family and visit The Pixie Post Office, explore the woods; enjoy the music, atmosphere, Maypole dancing and walkabout characters but all the Fairyland Trust workshops are designed specifically for 3 – 8 year olds.

Can I bring my under 3 into a workshop my older child is attending?

No, sorry but this is not allowed. Under 3s will disturb the workshop for everybody else as these workshops are designed for older children with longer attention spans . There are also small choking sized materials used throughout . Please organise for another adult to look after your under 3.

Do I have to accompany my child in the workshops?

If your child is under 6 then you must come into the workshop. But if they are over 6 you can sit outside, as long as they know where you are. But this is at your own risk as the 2 crew cannot chase after your child if they suddenly decide to leave. And the workshops are fun, so please stay.

What is the accessibility like?

The site is flat and comprised of  wooded glades with mown grass and leafy paths, suitable for robust wheelchairs or buggies. All workshops  can accommodate a wheelchair but please arrive a little earlier so that the crew can make sure there is plenty of room.

If the bookable workshops are sold out what else can we do?

There are three drop in workshops: Bumbling Bees ,Festival Crowns; Fairy Houses. The Pixie Post Office, The Pirate Fete, The Fairy King and Queen, plus lots of walkabout entertainers, bands, storytellers, Pedro the Party Pony and WildTouch Animal Rescue, see other tabs for details.

I can’t find my tickets? Did you post them?

Tickets are emailed to you as soon as you purchase them. If you have lost that email do not worry, just get in touch with your booking name and we should be able to find them. But please do not leave this to the last minute as we will be in a field in Fairyland by then, with intermittent signals.

When can or should we arrive?

The car park opens at 9.30am but the site only opens at 10. 30 am.  If there is something very specific you want to see or do e.g The Fancy Dress show or a Bookable workshop, please try to arrive an hour before this, as at busy times ( 10.30 – 1pm), queues can build up.

Can I change the day I’ve booked for ?

Yes, but first we suggest you book your new tickets and then ask for a full refund for your original tickets. But please note this can only be up to 7 days before the event.

Can I buy entrance tickets on the  day ?

Yes for £12.50/ person but only if we have not sold out (which we often do).

When do ticket sales close?

At 10pm the night before the event day.

Is there wifi on site?

No

Is there a cash point on site?

No, but cashback  may be available from The Fairyland Trust crew stall and at quieter times from the Good Elf Pub (+fee). Most Traders will have card readers but please bring cash in case.

Can we camp overnight?

Only Fairyland Trust crew can camp on site. If you can volunteer for 3-4 hours for both days of the event, you can camp and enjoy the event for free in your time off. Please email ben@fairylandtrust.org for more details.

Do you need more volunteer crew?

Possibly, it depends when you are reading this and whether we have roles unfilled. Crew have to volunteer on both days for 3- 4 hours. But they get to camp and bring their children for free. Please email ben@fairylandtrust.org for details.

Can I buy bookable workshops on the day?

Yes but only if we have not sold out (and we often do), so it is best to buy them now to avoid disappointing your child.