We hosted our first Christmas Fair at Ewhurst Park last Thursday, with plenty of fun activities and attractions to spark off the festive season.
We set up a heated marquee in our market garden. Hambledon Vineyard sold its wines and Hampshire Deli displayed a range of local produce. We had live music from local artists, including a festive sing-along. For the children, there was a colouring contest and performance storytelling. Visitors were able to make a Christmas wreath, and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust set up an information stall.
We were also selling products made with organic ingredients grown at Ewhurst Park, including jams, apple juice and, for the first time, our brand new gin. I’m pleased to say, everyone was really impressed by the gin, so we will definitely be doing more of it.
Visitors in our festive gin cabin.
It was a wonderful time, with a share of the gate proceeds going to support Ramsdell Village Hall.
I hope this will become an annual event. The idea was to bring people together, especially local artisans and food producers. It was a chance for people to showcase what they’re doing and make connections. This is all very much a part of the ethos at Ewhurst Park, which is about showing how community, food production and care for the environment can go hand in hand.
Growing up in Malaysia, I felt part of a community that was really connected to each other. We had vegetable, dairy and chicken farmers. We all shared produce and looked after each other. After school, I might go to my neighbour’s house for dinner or to whoever was cooking that day. The idea was very much: “It takes a village to raise a child.” I lost some of that sense of connection when I left home to travel for work, but I always recall that sense of community – with nature at the heart of it – and this is an idea I want to share.
Indeed, having moved to Ewhurst Park, I want to play my part in bringing people together, to create a sense of community, family and belonging, so we can enrich each other’s lives.
Hopefully, we’ll be seeing a lot more community events at Ewhurst next year and in the years to come. It’s an essential part of our vision to see people connecting around nature and supporting each other.
