Update March 2021
We’re sorry but if you have not already heard from our email update list, we’ve had to cancel the 2021 Fairy Fair that was scheduled for 30 and 31 May. The main reason was a shortage of volunteer crew. We do plan to hold The Real Halloween at the lovely Bradmoor Woods on 30 and 31 October.
Once lockdown restrictions are eased, we will also be trying hard to take opportunities to take our workshops to other events over the summer. Look out for updates.
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More –
Having to cancel the Fair for a second time was a difficult decision and was not made because we thought the Fair might pose a significant health risk to visitors or crew: in fact it looked likely that we’d get official clearance and the whole event had been redesigned to be covid safe.
The key factor was that we did not have enough trained crew to put on a high quality event teaching children about nature.
Even in normal times, the Fairy Fair needs well over 100 volunteers to come together for several days and the covid safe version needed dozens more.
Unfortunately a side effect of covid was that some of our trained crew became unavailable as the Fair dates coincided with their first opportunity to see their families and a consequence of lockdown rules was that we have not been able to meet and train new crew.
We held on as long as we could and are grateful to extra people who stepped up to volunteer but we reached a critical point where we had to commit to spending large sums on things like infrastructure, printing and promotion and risked our site deposit if we cancelled any later, so we reluctantly decided the responsible thing was to not put on the Fair.
We have every intention to put on The Real Halloween this autumn, when hopefully many of the current problems have been resolved.
Please make sure you are on our update (email) list.
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Thank You To Our Supporters
A very big thank-you to everyone who became a Supporter in 2020, and to all who were already Supporters: only your generosity has enabled us to keep the Trust in operation through these awful times, and to go on teaching families about nature through our Youtube Channel. Of course, more than anything we are yearning to get back out in the field and create nature events and workshops for children. We very much hope to see you again soon.
With all best wishes
Sarah Wise, Co-ordinator, Fairyland Trust
Overview – the Fairy Fair that never was – 2020
(This is an overview – for more details – see Bookable Workshops, More Magical Activities, Entertainment, Eat Drink Shop).
The Fairy Fair is a magical family event set in a beautiful woodland at Bradmoor Woods, near West Acre in Norfolk. It has been likened to an Organic Disneyland, and voted Best Day Festival by FestivalKidz. There will be bookable Magical Workshops run at set times, most with a unique story, their own decorated tent or woodland setting, and drop-in activities which also have a magical nature ‘make’ to take home.
Plus there’s live music, food, drink, story tellers, craft stalls, walkabout Flower Fairies, Bees and even Trolls, as well as a Games Emporium, Maypole dancing, a Fancy Dress Competition, Woodland Trails and new for this year – a Bug Ball. It wraps up with an address by the Fairy Queen and her entourage.
Tickets go on sale at this website, on March 15th. A printed programme and site map are provided at the Gate. We hope to see you there!
Many of the activities take place around the Main Lawn, on the edge of the woods (Fairy Fair 2019)
Key Info
Sunday 24th and Monday 25th May Open from 10 am to 5 pm
Tickets: £7.50 per person (online via this website, from Eventbrite, as of 15th March)
On the day £12 per person (at the gate if available)
Under 3s come free
Coach tickets £4.50 (from Norwich, bookable with online tickets – a new service, limited places)
Car Parking £1 / car (cash)
Sorry no dogs
See also Info for how to get to Bradmoor Woods and much more
Key timings:
Applying camo’ in Elf Training (a bookable Workshop)
The Bookable Workshops are Bumble Burrows (new), Fairy Gardens, Fairy Pets (make a Swallowtail butterfly and caterpillar), Fairy Training , Elf Training and Wildlife Hospital. These take place in tents except Elf and Fairy Training which are more active and outdoors in the woods.
Drop-in activities take place in tents or in the woods. Just seek them out.
There’s no need to book for our drop-in workshops and activities
Drop in activities include Fairy Crowns (£1 for Crown base plus £1 / flower), Woodland Wings (£3), Maypole dancing (see blackboard for times – Free), Elf and Fairy Houses (Free), the Games Emporium (£2/ wristband – play as long as you like and re-entry), Face Painting (£4), Pixie Post Office (£1.50), Rainbow Trail (Free), and visiting the Fairy King (10 am to 12.30pm) and Fairy Queen (12.30pm to 3.30pm) and the Message Tree (all Free). Crowns, Wings and Face Painting can all be found in the Transformation Tent.
The (no new plastic) home-made fancy dress competition is free and this year it’s ‘Bug’ themed. The categories are
Child 3-8
Child 8-12
Adult
Judging and prize giving at 10.30 am in the Performance tent.
Also bug themed is the new Bug Ball which takes place in the Performance Tent at 12pm and 3pm, and is free.
We also have a range of other free entertainment for all ages, including Music, Storytelling, and the walkabout characters: The Trolls, Pink Fairies, Bees and the Wildflower Fairies. All of them will also be found in the Royal Finale at the end of the day, presided over by the Fairy King and Queen. You can also visit the Fairy King and Queen during the day and find them and the nearby Message Tree by following the Rainbow Trail.
Music will be by The Shackleton Trio, Pennyless and the King Discrolls
Callum in mid-story – Storytelling is by Mike Dodsworth and Callum McGowan
The Fairyland Trust Supporter Tea Party (hosted by The King and Queen and other characters) is at 4.15pm and free (Supporters only plus 1 adult guest and 2 child guests)
Inspecting the magical decor in the Good Elf Pub
Food and drink is available from the Good Elf Pub (real ales, local cider, apple juice), The Corncockle Café (teas, coffees, juice and cakes) and food stalls in the Fairyland Market where you can shop for hand made/ fair trade crafts, Eco supplies and vintage /fancy dress/ preloved clothing. The catering is all vegetarian.
New this year is the coach service from Norwich – book when you buy admission and bookable workshop tickets at Eventbrite (places are limited).
Thanks to all the volunteers who make it possible