Ragged Hedge Fair triumph

After 10 years the legendary Ragged Hedge Fair at Abbey Home Farm near Cirencester was back. I missed it 10 years ago but heard how good it was then. The festival ran yesterday and today - sadly missing it today - but got there yesterday it was brilliant - the rain held off pretty well all day and none of the mud of a Glastonbury festival.

The live music was great and varied in several different venues - dancing including Indian - and loads to do with children - infact I spent lots of time with my partner's granddaughter (her sixth birthday very soon) watching magic men, stunt bike riders and story tellers.

The cafes and food were also great - the legendary Buddhafield with a great curry, but also stalls and tents with pizza cooked in a woodfire in front of you, baked potatoes, crepes and more. Plus there were many, many stalls mostly recycling secondhand clothes and goods, but also the usual festival wonders from India and more.

The whole site was powered by renewable energy including the music and was completely free of corporate commercialism - a rare treat in these days when it is hard to walk or go anywhere without being assaulted by advertisements.

Satish Kumar was among the speakers at the Eco Forum tent - an inspiration but due to a 5 year olds need for a ride on the 'crazy bikes' (bikes with funny wheels so the rider bounced around) I had to leave early - nevertheless did catch Satish Kumar talking about the recent G8 conference where Tony Blair claimed climate change and Africa were top on his agenda - Satish Kumar was not having any of it saying how could he talk one minute about climate then plan 'industrialisation' for Africa - more roads, intensive agriculture etc etc. He asked how could this man (Mr Blair), a supposedly intelligent man follow this crazy path......

Anyway the whole event was wonderfully friendly - unsurprisingly I met many from Stroud area including several people from Randwick and a woman spinning wool who turned out to live in Whiteshill. I hope very much the organisers will consider making it annual or biannual - certainly they are to be congratulated on a wonderful event - many, many thanks!