Alde Valley Spring Festival

The Festival takes place between 27th April and 26th May 2019 this year with over 40 local, regional, national and international artists and makers plus a programme of Festival Talks, Farm Suppers, Open Studios and pop-up Tea Rooms.

The Spring Festival Exhibition:

For 2019, the festival is exploring the world of plants and plant collectors: from historic gardens and their gardeners to botanical collections and illustrators; the use of plants as medicines; the importance of allotments and relocalised food production; the variety of garden and farmed foods; the importance of pollinators; and the adventures of plant collectors, both past and present.

The Festival Exhibition expands upon this theme with Florabundance! A Celebration of Gardens, Plants & Produce; a series of carefully curated solo shows by selected guest artists. Artists include : Maggi Hambling, Perienne Christian, Marchela Dimitrova, Alice-Andrea Ewing, Emma Green, Jelly Green, Lily Hunter Green, Becky Munting, Tessa Newcomb, Ruth Stage, Emma Tennant and Jane Wormell.

Also : small archive exhibitions about Benton End art school and the Suffolk painter Margaret Thomas.

Open Studios - Handmade in Suffolk

Each year the Spring Festival offers a series of Workshop Residencies to artists and makers from Suffolk and other parts of the UK and abroad. These are offered seasonally to selected individuals and organisations during the festival period to help promote and develop their practice. For 2019, the focus is on artists and makers who work with natural materials, including wood, leather, stone, textiles, metals, clays, rushes and wool.

The OPEN STUDIOS are arranged in farm workshops and old stables in the back farmyard. They are open to visitors at weekends and on bank holidays during the four week Festival season between 10am and 6pm – during which time the artists / makers will be demonstrating their work and available to talk about their practice. 

Farm Suppers

The Farm Suppers grew out of The Alde Valley Food Adventures. They introduce up to 30 guests to seasonal farmed and wild foods from East Suffolk, alongside some more exotic ingredients from abroad. Each Farm Supper presents a different three course menu devised and prepared by renowned Suffolk chef Peter Harrison.

The Suppers run alongside the Writing at Great Glemham residency programme. Each week welcomes the writer in residence as a Guest of Honour to the Supper with a menu that takes inspiration from their writing or fields of interest.

The Farm Suppers are served in the farmhouse Dining Rooms by candlelight with a woodstove and open fire lit. BYO beer / wine. £38.50 pp. Held on 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd May 2019 * BOOKING ESSENTIAL *

enquiries@aldevalleyspringfestival.co.uk

Festival Conference - Gardens, Plants & Pollinators

A one day conference on Sat 4th May exploring Gardens, Growing, Seeds and Pollinators; principal guest and co-curator : Tim Richardson. Pannellist include : Anna Greenland [previously head gardener and grower at Soho Farmhouse and Manoir au Quat' Saisons], Mike Mallett [farm manager at Maple Farm, Kelsale], Lily Hunter Green [composer and sound artist; creator of Tuning In at Spring Festival 2019]; Jason Gathorne-Hardy [Director / Curator, Alde Valley Spring Festival; International Patron, Pesta Nukenen dan Kebudayaan Kelabit / Bario Food Festival].

10.00am - Welcome Refreshments
10.30am - Introduction followed by an 'In Conversation' Session' with Guest Speakers/
This will explore themes of growing plants for food, health and pollinators; the re-localisation of food production; food sovereignty; and the importance of seed selection and healthy pollinators.
11.30am - Break
11.45am - Open Forum Discussion of Key Themes including Growing for Health
12.45pm - Light Buffet Lunch with The Great Glemham Bake. A selection of seasonal salads with refreshments [Spring Cordial / Tea / Coffee].
2.00pm - Guided walk around the Farm Gardens + Great Glemham House walled garden.

Tickets : £35 pp including Refreshments, Conference, Talk, Lunch & Farm Walk.* BOOKING ESSENTIAL *

Info / Bookings : enquiries@aldevalleyspringfestival.co.uk

The Big Spring Picnic!

11am to 5pm, Saturday 25th May 2019, Free entry but booking essential, email: enquiries@aldevalleyspringfestival.co.uk

Come and join us for a celebration of local foods from the beautiful Alde Valley and Suffolk Coast. The Big Spring Picnic takes place on the Straits field, home to the farm’s 209m long oak picnic / dining table - the longest oak-topped dining table in Suffolk and possibly on the planet!

Big Spring Picnic BBQ and Food Stalls selling fresh seasonal farmed and wild foods + refreshments will be open from 11.30am  – 4pm.

Other Festival Delights:

Pop Up Tea Rooms - Open 10am – 6pm weekends + Bank Holiday. Free entry

Festival Shop - Open 10am – 6pm Tuesday to Friday, weekends & Bank Holidays 

Farm Nature Walks - Open 10am – 6pm daily from 27th April – 26th May, except non-Bank Holiday Mondays – Free Entry.

See the website for all details www.aldevalleyspringfestival.co.uk