Saturday 24th June from 11am at Hazleton Farm, Horndean
A new event with something for everyone.
East Hampshire District Council is supporting a new event in our area. The Three Parishes Summer Fayre is the first of what we hope will become a regular summer event for residents living in the south of the district
This year the popular Reedland Retrievers, stars of Downton Abbey, will be starring and you can meet them personally throughout the day. There are many stalls offering entertainment for all the family and a fun, pet dog show so that you can show your own furry friend – and maybe win a rosette. A dog agility arena will allow you to test your dogs ability and there are donkey rides for children. Billy the train will be chuffing around the site and there will be entertainment in the main arena including the popular Horndean adult choir, Achoired Taste and a display by ferrets!
There will be several stalls around the ground offering a varied choice of foods, from a Hog Roast to Loaded Loaves, a meal in a roll, to Jai’s Asian Taste and a ‘fire truck’ where you can buy sweets and candy floss. Importantly for adults there is a beer tent selling beer, cider, wine, Pimms and soft drinks so that you won’t dehydrate during the day, Catherington and Clanfield WI’s will have a tea and cake stall and there will be soft drinks available.
Horndean Camera Club is a running a photographic competition and will also have a display of photographs in the marquee. We also have some classic cars and ex military vehicles to admire.
The day will finish with a Barn Dance at 1900 complete with a caller and popular band Squinty McGinty will provide the music there will be a bar to help you keep the energy levels up and a prize for the best dressed person. Tickets for the evening Barn Dance are £10 on the day, £8 if you pre book through our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/easthampshire
This free event is being supported by East Hampshire District Council and we very much hope you can come along and support us.
Guy
My wife and I attended this new event today. We are residents of Horndean living in Wasdale Close.
We are both in our middle 70’s.
We decided to leave our car behind and go by public bus to Horndean centre and then to walk to Hazleton farm. When we got to the access to what was the previous Hazleton Country Store the gate was locked with only instructions to cars to proceed further down the road.
By this time we were joined by families with push chairs and young children.
The families turned back deciding that as they would have to keep the pushchair on the road it was too dangerous. My wife and I decided to proceed down the road on the basis that we believed we could walk on the grass safely.
This walk became a dangerous nightmare once we got halfway along as we had to walk on the road against speeding traffic, many of which did not slow down or move over sufficiently. We are still recovering from the ordeal. I am very pleased that at the last minute our 2 younger grandchildren could not attend.
As you are well aware this road is a very dangerous road for pedestrians and cyclists.. I understand you have future budget for a cycle lane in the long term once the housing development starts.
We complained once we arrived to EHDC stewards and the Fayre organisers to be told that the farmer would not allow the opening of the farm access. End of story. How come he gave free use of the field but not a safe pedestrian access.
I applaud the establishment of the shared village fayre and all the hard work put in but this basic failure for pedestrian access was a large Health and Safety Issue. You also lost many attendees who were not as brave or foolish as we were. I also know that several locals who know the area well trespassed by climbing over the gate. You can guess how we got back.
As you know by now the attendance was low due to the one week proximity to the well established Rowlands Castle fete.
Can you please take up the access matter with EHDC and Parish councils responsible for any future event at this venue. I assume you will get a repeat of the problem tonight for the Barn Dance for those not wishing to take cars.
Brian and Ann Meakin
023 92 595672
Dear Brian and Ann, many thanks for the message and I have fed this back to the team of organisers. As with all things it is a little more complicated. The family who are on Hazleton Farm are tenants and do not own the farm. The Landlord gave permission to use the land for free which was great but only through the entrance that did not affect the part that was in private use. The signage could have been better and this is on the lessons learned for next year. As far as I ama ware there was a full attendance for the Barn Dance.
For a first event there were over 1,000 attendees and a good mix of stands and hopefully year on year we can grow it and improve it every time. As you say, well done to the team who worked hard to put on a great event.