SUSSED and Sustainable Wales at Between The Trees Festival
Read MoreBetween The Trees Festival 25 to 27 August 2023
SUSSED & Sustainable Wales will be at Between The Trees festival 25th - 27th August 2023, Merthyr Mawr National Nature Reserve - Nature, science, music, dance & creative arts
Read MoreBetween the Trees, 2018
Between the Trees
MERTHYR MAWR, 2018
It was a pleasure for Sustainable Wales / Cymru Gynaliadwyto participate in this new festival, held over 3 days in August and September, 2018.
Dawn Wood, and partner Andrew, whose brainchild ‘Between the Trees’ is, put in an immense amount of work, first planning, then and carrying out all festival demands.
But the festival could not have worked without the marvelous support of a wonderful team of volunteers.
Indeed, the whole enterprise was voluntary and unsponsored.
‘Between the Trees’ featured music, film, poetry, craft, science workshops, play areas, and a host of local food suppliers. It proved emphatically child-centred, as family groups camped out in the woods and dunes, in some cases for three nights.
Robert Minhhinnick gave a reading from his Wales ‘Book of the Year’ winning volume from Carcanet, ‘Diary of the Last Man’.
Eamon Bourke of Park6 screened his 30 minute film of the same name, some of the poetry from which was written about areas of the Merthyr Mawr/Newton Burrows dunes only a few hundred yards from the festival site.
Local businesses were involved from the outset, not least the new Bridgend-based ‘Bang On’ brewery.
Sustainable Wales spoke to Merthyr Mawr estates manager, Rory McLaggan, during the festival, and he seemed well pleased.
Of course, excellent weather helped hugely!
Rory, Dawn and Andrew hope that ‘Between the Trees’ takes place again, possibly at the equivalent weekend in 2019.
Many people feel ‘Between the Trees’ proved a perfect-sized festival, and trust it does not grow.
With Philip Irwin, of the Gem (who has supplied the images in this article), Robert and Margaret Minhinnick stayed until the festival finale, given by singer Charlotte Church, and up and coming songwriter, Al Lewis.
Thanks to all, but especially Dawn and Andrew. It was a pleasure to be part of your great idea.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i bawb yn yr wyl!
Banner at Carnegie House, Wyndham Street Bridgend
Bridgend Fairtrade Festival latest news
Bridgend’s Fairtrade Festival, Carnegie House, Wyndham Street, Bridgend on Saturday 10th March from 10 a.m. to 2p.m.
African Guests Showcase their Crafts.
Mystery Judge for ‘Bake-Off’
Bake-off!
The Bridgend Fairtrade Festival is a free event and is a celebration of support for an ethical agenda, non – exploitation, fair wages, quality products and care for the environment. It is a family event and there will be Fairtrade stalls, the coffee bar, chocolate tasting, children’s story-telling, music, film, raffles etc. Find out more on the Festival page
African Guests, Hellen and Esther, will be displaying crafts made by Maasai widows from their community and Beti and Adi will be displaying crafts made by Gem Art, from the Gemini Foundation in Ethiopia. They are all keen to talk about their skills and work to support human rights for women, marginalised and disadvantaged people. (see notes below)
Mystery Judge for ‘Bake-Off’. Saturday shoppers are also asked to come on in, taste the cakes , have a coffee and help judge! The ‘Fairtrade Bake-Off’ is part of this year’s Bridgend Fairtrade Festival now in its second year.
“The Bake-Off is an exciting opportunity for bakers of all ages to get involved and help promote fairtrade. So pop on your pinny’s and get baking”. said one of the organisers, Bridgend Fairtrade Partnership. Margaret Minhinnick.
Margaret explained, “On the day, the cake-bakers simply bring their cake along (made with as many Fairtrade ingredients as you are able) to Carnegie House. It will be open from 9.30 a.m. Judging will take place from 10.15 (There will be prizes for best under 15 and best over 15 entry)”.
The cakes/goodies will be used for refreshments at the fairtrade coffee bar and the public will also be invited to vote for the ‘public’s choice’ for an additional prize. Donations welcome to Porthcawl based charity Sustainable Wales.
To register use the online form or contact Luke on info@sustainablewales.org.uk
Check for updates https://www.sustainablewales.org.uk/festival
Notes
Hellen Nkuraiya from Narok, Kenya.
Hellen’s personal experiences have led her to a life of taking stands against child marriage, female genital mutilation, fighting for education for girls, rights for widows and an end to the subservience of women in her community. Now Hellen runs Enkiteng Lepa School, and Tepesua Nursery School. These schools were established in 2004 to provide a safe haven for girls escaping traditional cultural practices, including FGM (female genital mutilation). Hellen works with the whole community to create alternative rights of passage for young Maasai girls. As well as founding the schools, Hellen also supports 15 Maasai widows and is working with them to develop income generation and livelihood projects.
Meseret Yirga from the Adugna Dance Company in Ethiopia.
Initially part of the Ethiopian Gemini Trust, Valley and Vale’s long term link partners, the Adugna Dance Company are the first and only contemporary dance company in Ethiopia. As well as being professional dancers they are skilled community outreach workers. They use creative dance to bring together marginalized groups such as able and disabled young people, HIV positive women, young girls and older people
Adanech Admassu one of Ethiopia’s first recognised female film directors, part of Gem TV.
Gem TV have developed a unique filmmaking style in Ethiopia by which communities themselves are involved in writing their story and acting in the films. These films clearly resonate with communities and are shown as “videos on wheels” all over the country, where they inform, educate and inspire discussion. GemTV makes films on a range of social issues: HIV/AIDS, early marriage, education, human rights and the role of women. Adi, was awarded the One World Media Award in 2012 for her films’ contributions to empowering the voiceless in society. She directed Stolen Childhood about early marriage in Ethiopia.
Fairtrade in Wales
- 82% of our local authorities have achieved Fairtrade status.
- 93% of our universities have achieved Fairtrade status.
- 91 Fairtrade town, counties and village groups in Wales are actively making a difference
- 100s of faith groups
- 50% of welsh schools are registered on the Fairtrade Schools Scheme
- 150 schools in Wales have been awarded Fairtrade Status
- 20% of UK schools that have been awarded Fairtrade Status are based in Wales, despite welsh schools only representing 6.7% of the total number of UK schools.