Well Dressing Weekend - Part One

It's that time of year when Derbyshire villages start well dressing.  Despite a cool and windy Bank Holiday weekend, with the threat of a shower ever present, L, S and I set off to explore the rural delights of our village celebrations.

Although there are a couple of real wells in Brackenfield, they are a bit too far off the beaten track for easy access, so instead we have kind of 'notional' wells.  Basically, you put a jar of water out to symbolise the well (and for people to drop coins into) and carry on regardless. 






The theme this year was "The Seasons" and the school "well" boasted a charming autumn scene of a country cottage, the panel topped with a realistic rendition of a sheaf of corn complete with poppies.  It was widely pronounced the best Brackenfield dressing to date. 


Outside, on the expansive village green, the dull weather did nothing to deter patrons of the bouncy castle, coconut shy and skittles alley. Mr Whippy did not seem to be doing much business, but there was a brisk trade in homemade cake, sausage rolls and egg sandwiches in the old schoolroom. 

Down at Holy Trinty Church, the local flower arrangers had a different theme "countries of the world", and I made sure to take a photo of the floral tribute to Kiwi Country for my uncle Brian in New Zealand.  There was also a nice green arrangement with a Guiness bottle for Ireland, and "Scotland" was celebrated with the help of a tartan picnic rug and a pair of bagpipes.

 "The Ideal Holiday" - a colourful display featuring a hula skirt and a pineapple.  S wanted to take a photo but found her view blocked by a straggling family.  She successfully persuaded them to move by slumping into a pew and adopting an attitude of deeply reverential prayer.  They disappeared immediately.  I must remember that one for future occasions.  

The Methodist church was also serving tea.  Now obviously we couldn't show favouritism, so we had to stop for a cuppa there too.

S admires the detail on the Methodist Church well (awww! look at the teeny wishing well!)

We rounded off our trip with a stroll around the village and admired the brilliant red poppies amongst the green corn in one of the fields.