Penpont 350 Celebration

This October Penpont will be celebrating its 350th Anniversary with an action packed weekend planned for October 1st and 2nd 2016.

General Information

Saturday 1st: 10.00am – 11.00pm

Sunday 2nd : 10.00am – 6.00pm.

Entrance fee : £5 per adult. £2.50 for children.

Please dress for the weather. Car parking will be in the fields to the east of the House, and a Disabled Car park will be allocated in close proximty to the entrance gate. Dogs, if you must bring them, on leads please.

EVENTS AND ATTRACTIONS.

* LAUNCH OF THE TREE TRAIL
Penpont hosts a magnificent collection of fine specimen trees and the event will see the launch of their new Tree Trail which guides you around the trees and gives you information on notable species. Guided walks will be led by Steve Clarke, Arboricultural consultant.

Other things happening over the weekend include:
Gardens Tours: a number of guided walks will be led by Jonathan Williams around the gardens illustrating the important historical features and the development of the garden over the centuries.

The Penpont Artists: Robert Macdonald, Morag Colquhoun, Simon Royer, and Tessa Waite will be exhibiting their new autumn collections.

Simon Harpur: celebrated photographer has been recording developments on the Penpont Estate over the past 25 years, he will be exhibiting a beautiful collection of photographs.

Simon English will be undertaking a piece of land art in celebration of this occasion.

In celebration of the wood associated with the estate we have:

• Gareth Irwin of Penpont Green Wood Work will be demonstrating the art of Green wood work, from Stick Chair making to Spoon carving… he is a master.

• Martin Frazer will be demonstrating his mobile saw mill.

• Kate Mobbs- Morgan will have her Timber horses on site, hauling timber from the dingle.

• Talgarth small woodland group will be here demonstrating a new wood burner,

• Amanda Rayner from Wyldwood will be making baskets and offering ‘Have a go ‘ sessions

• Penpont’s new firewood processor will be on display, and demonstrating its capabilities.

• Josh Hogg from Olive Tree care will be giving Tree climbing Demonstrations

• Adam Humphreys a celebrated wood sculptor will be making a new piece on site over the weekend, and exhibiting a few of his past pieces

WOOL & TEXTILES:
Athene English from The Great English Outdoors will be exhibiting her fine collection of Welsh Tapestry Blankets. She will also be demonstrating her leather work skills
The Tawe Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers will be here turning fleece into yarn.
Ems Cariad Bevan from Ffolkyfelt will be demonstrating felting and felt creations and offering ‘ have a go sessions ‘.

VINTAGE:
Defynnog Vintage society will be on site with a host of wonderful old agriculture vehicles and implements
Stuart Fry will be showing his fine collection of agricultural hand implements
Tools for Self Reliance will be on site

BUILDINGS:
Ty- Mawr Lime will be demonstrating traditional building techniques, and their ethical materials. They are proposing to make a hot lime mix and then share their skills in demonstrating pointing work.

HORSES:
We are very fortunate to have Kate Mably with us over the weekend. She travels the world teaching Classic horsemanship, and she will be offering demonstrations and helping out with any horse problems that you might be encountering!

CHILDRENS WORKSHOPS:
Lynette Mar will be leading an exciting range of children’s workshops over the weekend:
Children’s Arts Workshops with a Celebration Parade on Saturday!
The workshops theme will be based on the turning of the season into Autumn: Greenman/women, woodland creatures such as foxes and badgers. Masks, head dresses & willow wands will made using natural and recycled materials.
Saturday 1st October:
Morning workshop: 10.30 – 12.30pm

Afternoon workshop: 1.30 – 3.30pm
Celebration Parade: 4 – 4.30pm
Sunday 2nd October:
Morning workshop:10.30 – 12.30pm
10.30 – 11.00am Autumn scavenger hunt
Followed by garland, willow wand & mask making to 12.30

Afternoon workshop: 1.30 – 3.30pm
Garland, willow wand & mask making.
2.30pm Animal hide & seek game
The workshops will be covered by the children’s entrance fee of £2.50.
Please make sure that your children are dressed warmly and suitably for outdoor weather.

ACTION FOR CONSERVATION:
A newly formed charity whose remit is to encourage children to take an active interest in conservation issues both local and wider afield will be on site leading workshops… this is what they say:
‘Come and find the Action for Conservation team for lots of fun nature based activities and games, including a wild trail and the chance to win one of our exciting prizes (all ages welcome). Parents, teachers and young people (12+) are also welcome to come and di
scuss the workshop programme we run with secondary schools across the UK or discuss
career paths in nature conservation. Find out more about what we do here: http://www.actionforconservation.org’

HISTORY CONFERENCE: 
A historical mini conference is being organised in conjunction with the Brecknock Society. Places for this are limited to 80 persons. An additional charge of £5 will be levied to cover the cost of this event. This will take place in the Stables. Please email gibbs@keme.co.uk for tickets and further information.

* Cynefin. – an organisation that is attempting to digitalise all the old Tithe maps will have a stall at the conference. They will be bringing with them tithe maps of the Penpont and Trallong parishes. It is hoped that local people will be able to put names to some of the fields that can then be recorded for prosperity.

* Carys Evans from Cynefin will be giving a talk at 2.00pm on Saturday to tell us more about this project. This talk is open to non – conference delegates, subject to numbers
* Mervyn Bramley and Environmentalist will talk at 2.30pm on the great Naturalist- Alfred Russel Wallace, and his connection with the Trallong tithe maps. This talk is open to non- conference members.
* Unique historical documents relating to Penpont will be on display, including the earliest estate map from 1738.

LIVE MUSIC: A program of live music is being arranged starting at approx at 3.30pm and finishing around 10.30pm on Saturday.
Bands and artists booked:
NKOMBA
CLIMBING TREES
FUNKY LOVE POSSE
DEANA SAMKANGE MANGWENYA
DOUG EVANS
At the close of the day on Saturday evening there will be a Fire Spectacular with Goffee the Fire wizard creating a wonderful finale to the evening, as only he knows how to do.
On Sunday there will be live Baroque Music & Singing in Penpont Church between 2.30pm and 5pm.

David Price will be playing the organ accompanied by Sophia McKenna Lloyd on the baroque oboe and soprano Elisabeth Priday. The music will include pieces by Handel, Purcell & Telemann
This is not a formal concert so please come & join us at any time. Any donation towards the upkeep of our beautiful church will be gratefully appreciated & received.

Please dress for the weather over the weekend. Car parking will be in the fields to the east of the House, and a Disabled Car park will be allocated in close proximity to the entrance gate. Dogs, if you must bring them, on leads please.

CAMPING
Please note that there will be no camping at this event. The nearest camp site is 1/2 mile down the valley at Aberbran. Please call David and Nicky Jones on 01874 622929. They are taking camp bookings for this event.

 

FOOD & DRINK
Local caterers will be on site to satisfy your every need.

There will be a bar too and Brecon Brewery have promised that they will create a special Penpont Ale just for the occasion!