Green Fair at St. John’s Church, Sandiway

This was the first time we had tried such an event but it proved to be very successful! The weather was very much in our favour, so all the gazebos we had gathered to protect people from possible rain, were actually protecting them from the sun!

We had the support of other church groups – our publicity person helped us with the posters, our “techy” expert helped us with the arrangements for the speakers; the Social and Fund Raising Group organised the refreshments (tea/coffee/cold drinks and homemade cakes); we had music all afternoon from a group that meets in our church hall, plus our church organist; we had a very friendly team of welcomers at the gate; plus some much appreciated help in setting up and clearing away afterwards.

The church also had a stall selling “pre-loved” books. A number of stalls were organised by local village groups. Both our primary schools organised stalls, as did the Brownies and Beavers. The person who organises the village planters and the village Litter Picking group shared a stall with the local Allotment Group.

From further afield we had a stall from the Mid Cheshire Bee Keepers and a group doing Hapazome! We also had some craft stalls selling items made from recycled materials - glass, wood and fabric. Whilst this was happening outside, we had a number of 20 minute talks inside the church – from the Mid-Cheshire Ornithological Society, the Butterfly Conservation group, and ones about re-using fabrics and about sustainable florestry.

There were opportunities for exchanging plants and seedlings and children could take part in a Scavenger Hunt! It was a very full and lively afternoon for all ages, and definitely to be repeated next year!