I have posted on several occasions about the Cheese Rolling races at Cooper's Hill, Gloucestershire in the UK but I am sad to say that the people that took over the organizing of this outrages event on the British sporting calender, have suddenly announced that this year's event has been cancelled.
According to their press release:
"The attendance at the event has far outgrown the location where it has traditionally been held for several hundred years: last year more than 15,000 people tried to attend (according to official estimates) which is more than three times the capacity of the site."
Only in Britain. Never mind the people that are travelling from around the world to participate.
You can read strong reactions to this announcement here. They suggest that anyone looking for a Cheese Rolling adrenalin rush might try the other side of the country where it has become an annual May Day (actually the first Monday in May) event in Stilton, Cambridgeshire.
This weekend may not be a good time for a quiet walk in the New Forest. The sky above is going to be dominated by the Bournemouth Air Festival, with the Red Bull matadors, a Kitty Hawk and the Avro Vulcan bomber, together with air display favourites the Red Arrows, just some of the aircraft entertaining crowds on Bournemouth's beaches.
The festival kicks of today and includes an attempt this evening to break a world record when 110,000 fireworks will be set off within one minute. Don't blink!
English Heritage have started an exciting Time Travellers Go Club. It is for children of all ages and offers them the opportunity to venture into the past, while assuming the identity of some of history's most famous characters; Roman gladiators, one of Robin Hood's band of merry men or even following the likes of Indiana Jones and rescuing an important relic.
An action packed UK bank holiday weekend has been arranged for the end of this month, with events all over the country that will entertain the whole family. Children are invited to visit timetravellersgo.org.uk, to join the club and begin their historical adventure with games and quizzes.
Wiltshire rocks this weekend as World Music fans head for the WOMAD festival at Charlton Park, Malmesbury.
Peter Gabriel plays live on Saturday July 25th and WOMAD Charlton Park also features Ethiopia's Ethiopiques and Dub Colossus. Other performances to look forward to, include Australia's The Black Arm Band, US soul legend and Grammy award winner Solomon Burke, Nigeria's Afro beat singer/songwriter Nneka, and two of Mali's most talented musicians, Oumou Sangare and Rokia Traoré. As always, there will be plenty to do at this notably, family orientated weekend.
Musical youngsters from the Malmesbury area have been asked to take part in the WOMAD procession scheduled to take place at the end of the festival.
I learned about Paul Smith, known as the Twitchhiker, who has made an impressive 11,000-mile trip from Newcastle in the North-East of England to New Zealand, using only donations from people who use the social networking site Twitter; completing the journey in just under a month.
Paul hopes his adventure will raise thousands of pounds for charity. Read more about Paul and his journey.
Outdoor ice skating rinks during the Xmas festive season have become very popular in the UK over recent years and once again the Eden Project is running what many regard to be the most magical ice rink in the country.
This year the ice rink opened on October 25 with a mission to bring skating and festive fun to all ages and skill levels. Then, from 6-20 December inclusive, competent skaters will be able to enjoy Friday and Saturday night 'Ice Discos'.
Here is a video from Australian, Tony Nahrung, that will give you a feeling of warmth during the cold, damp days of the British autumn. It features the people of the Devon town of Ottery St Mary and their remarkable tar barrel rolling festival. That this festival occurs on 5 November each year should give a clue to what happens at possibly the most crazy event in the UK, eloquently described by Tony as "an insane night of fun, drinking beer, dodging burning tar barrels, chilling by a huge bonfire and enjoying rides at the fun fair." That's right, burning tar barrels.
The chosen few, known locally as Barrel Rollers and affectionately referred to as Devonian Nutters, hoist burning, wooden, tar barrels onto their shoulders and run through the streets. Teams of Barrel Rollers, men, women and children, represent the different pubs in the village, carrying on a 17th century tradition to rid the town of evil spirits.
I recently referred to a list of Halloween events in the US but if your in the UK, how about making a scary visit to Warwick Castle, whose haunted towers and turrets are said to have been inhabited by a host of ghosts and ghouls for hundreds of years.
Between 25 October and 2 November, 2008 families can be entertained with ghost stories of a haunted castle and follow spooky Halloween trails full of creepy characters. Or, you can enjoy an eerie, after-dark, Ghosts and Ghouls Alive Supper being held on 31 October and again on 1 November, 2008. Warwick Castle is not far from Stratford on Avon and Oxford.
It's that time again; the time when wetass speed freaks descend on Weymouth's Portland Harbour for Weymouth Speed Week.
Portland Harbour is to be the sailing venue for the 2012 Olympic games but during speed week, speed sailors take a crack at the World sailing speed record and in particular aim to hit the elusive 50 knot barrier for the first time. All manner of craft enter, including sailboards, kite boards and some exceptionally engineered cutting-edge designs. Competitors come from around the world, although this year, the Luderitz World Cup is being held in Namibia during the period 15 September - 13 October, 2008, which overlaps Weymouth Speed Week 2008, running 4 - 10 October.
Top speed board sailors are now regularly hitting speed in excess of 45 Knots and some like Martin van Meurs have been logged as reaching peak speeds of 50 knots but for the world record, the speed must be averaged over a measured distance, eg. 500m.
The unique geographical location of Portland harbour results in ideal speed sailing conditions of smooth, strong winds and flat water. Spectators are encouraged at the event, which usually includes workshops and demonstrations, and the Weymouth Sailing Centre is open to all during Speed Week.
The PSP Southampton Boat Show begins its 40th year tomorrow, 12 September and runs through to 21 September 2008. Last year more than 127,000 visitors attended this popular boating show, which takes place next door to Lymington, home base for many of Britian's sailing stars. UK sailors have returned from Qingdao, China, with the best Olympic medal haul for over a century and gold medal winners Ben Ainslie, Paul Goodison, Iain Percy, Andrew Simpson, Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson, will arrive on Mike Golding's yacht Ecover 3, at 10am tomorrow, together with other Skandia Team GBR members, to formally open the show.
They will be joined by boating legends and television personalities from the past 40 years to celebrate the Southampton Boat Show's forty year history.
On Friday 12 and Saturday 13, September, 2008, in a beautiful pointy field by a lake, right on the edge of the New Forest, musicians, performing artists, festival goers, fun lovers and several fairies will be gathered for arguably the best music festival in the south of England.
The Pointy Field Faust Fest is where people come together, share delicious food and drink, listen to great live music, and whole families can immerse themseves in workshops and activities.
And you know what, 100% of the profits from the Faust Fest go to the development of cultural centres in Kenya, helping to provide traditional musicians and their communities with a sustainable source of income.
This week we are pleased to bring you a couple of videos posted by Luke Gartside (Lukedreams), so settle down to 10 minutes of action. The first shows surfers in the area just to the east of Bournemouth, that is soon to be transformed by the first artificial reef in the northern hemisphere.
And this second, rather more colourful, video shows highlights from the Animal Windfest at Sandbanks, Poole, which is just to the west of Bournemouth. It illustrates the sort of board, beach and surf activities that cause adrenaline junkies to flock to England's south coast. In case your not familiar with this region, it is bounded by the New Forest, Lymington and Solent Water to the East, and Weymouth, site of the 2012 Olympic sailing events, to the west.
After a long summer of waiting, Europe's first artificial surf reef has started to be laid at Boscombe/Southbourne, just east of Bournemouth on England's south coast. A 45 minute drive west of Bournemouth takes you to Weymouth/Portland, which is to be the sailing venue fot the 2012 Olympics.
The Boscombe reef will be the world's fourth artificial reef and is designed to double the size of waves. It is hoped that when it is finished in October, the reef will produce perfect 70 metre barrels; surfing paradise.
Well here's a great , unplanned, link to the previous post. London's Globe theatre is mounting a production of Shakespeare's magical story of jealousy, love and redemption, The Winter's Tale, within the idyllic surroundings of the Bodleian Library Quadrangle, Oxford. Oxford is not far from Stratford-upon-Avon and would be a convenient venue on a literary tour. The current performance of The Winter's Tale only runs until Friday 22 August, 2008, with tickets booked at the Oxford Playhouse Box Office but the Oxford Playhouse has many other exciting productions in the pipeline.
The Bodleian Library dates back to 1600 and holds around 12 million volumes, offering over 200,000 titles from their Early English books and their Eighteenth Century collections, online. It is also a partner in Google's Book Search initiative and they are scanning many of their 19th century books.
If your in the UK and you fancy visiting an agricultural and equestrian show, you might join the other 90,000 visitors to the 2008 New Forest Show. It is on the 29, 30 and 31 July, (08.30 to 19.00 daily), there is plenty of free parking but with the huge quantity of cars converging on a few fields, access can be a nightmare and you may prefer to use the pay-as-you-go shuttle bus service from Brockenhurst mainline train station. The show was first held in 1921 and now enjoys a reputation as one of the top ten shows in the country. It brings together traditional country pursuits, new exhibitions and practical demonstrations, with something to attract all age groups. This year, visitors will be able to see Christian Moullec, flying his microlight in formation with his geese!
May Day is traditionally the first day of the English Morris Dancing season, and Morris Dance troupes will be performing at the many spring festivals. Here is a light hearted variation on their usual dances.
It was posted by FiddlerNick, who writes, "Man to man combat with beer trays. I think it is Dogrose Morris and Bryony Griffiths on fiddle. Thanks to Rich Keen for original footage." The performance was filmed at Warwick Folk Fest.
I picked up on this event a couple of months ago and suddenly I find that it is almost upon us. A large pagan gathering near Weymouth in the UK, to celebrate the festival of Beltane, is being organised by Dorset druids and witches. Several hundred people are expected to attend the festival, running from May 2 to May 4, 2008, which will culminate in the ritual burning of a wicker man.
Found this video on YouTube. It documents a scuba diving expedition off the south west coast of England by Guildford Sub-Aqua Club, aboard Furious out of Plymouth, Devon. Thanks to Uncie for posting this one.
Today, the UK government published a draft Marine Bill which would provide protection for the UK's coastline and seas, and which would also give the public, freedom to walk around the entire English coast.
The proposed legislation contains the creation of a network of marine reserves, a new Marine Management Organisation and extends the right to roam. However, it could be a couple of years before it becomes law. More.
From 1 April 2008, English residents aged 60 or over and others who are eligible because of a disability, will be entitled to free off-peak travel on local buses anywhere in England. The off-peak time for the national scheme is defined as 9.30 am to 11.00 pm on Monday to Friday and at any time during the weekends and public holidays.
Unfortunately the scheme does not include long-distance coach or rail travel.
For more information and details about how to apply for a concessionary bus travel pass, go to the UK government web site. Their site includes links to the local authorities that are administering the scheme.
This year, England's famous Salisbury Cathedral will be celebrating the 750th anniversary of its consecration which was completed in 1258. There is a full programme of celebration events and activities including a Medieval Fair, Flower Festival and Organ Recitals, a series of seven monthly recitals by leading organists, running April through October, 2008.
The Medieval Fair, 4th and 5th May 2008, features Living History Encampments, Man at Arms displays, led by the spectacular Paladins of Chivalry, along with medieval music, dance, falconry, court entertainers, costumes, food, ales, Medieval crafts and stalls.
Then, for five days over 17th-21st June 2008, a spectacular festival of flowers, designed by internationally renowned floral judge and arranger Michael Bowyer, will fill Salisbury Cathedral with an exuberance of colour and fragrance.
Two tall ship organisations have announced a search for crew. Clipper Round the World, founded by Robin Knox-Johnston, is searching for Singaporean and Singapore-based ex-pats, applicants have to be over 18 at the time of the race but there is no upper age limit.
The current Clipper fleet sets sail from Keppel Bay Marina, Singapore, on Sunday 27 January, 2008, departing the marina at 10.30am to head out to the start line for a race to Qingdao, China, which is the venue for the sailing events of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
In the second opportunity, fifty people from all over Cornwall will join tall ships in Falmouth, England, taking part in a race which leaves Falmouth on 13th September, 2008, bound for Ilhavo in Portugal, then on to Funchal in Madeira, in the Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta 2008.
November 28, 2007 is the 250th anniversary of the birth of Englishman, William Blake, the son of a draper who became a visionary, artist, engraver and poet. Not given the recognition he deserved in his lifetime, one of his most famous works is 'Jerusalem', indeed some would now like it to become a new English national anthem, all of which gives me an excuse to reproduce it here.
And did those feet in ancient time, Walk upon England's mountains green: And was the holy Lamb of God, On England's pleasant pastures seen!
And did the Countenance Divine, Shine forth upon our clouded hills? And was Jerusalem builded here, Among these dark Satanic Mills?
Bring me my Bow of burning gold: Bring me my Arrows of desire: Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold! Bring me my Chariot of fire!
I will not cease from Mental Fight, Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
'Till we have built Jerusalem, In England's green and pleasant Land.
William Blake (1804).
It is surprising that in those days, some amateur archaeologist didn't think it would be a good idea to ship it back brick by brick! - Just joking :-)
If you're in London, fancy walking or cycling to Paris? Or, of course, if your in France making the trip to England? It is proposed to build a cycle route linking Sussex to Paris in time for the 2012 Olympics.
Miles Godfrey, writing in The Argus, reports that Sussex has signed up to an agreement with the French authorities to create the 'Avenue Verte', which will enable cyclists to travel on one unbroken route from London to Paris, crossing the channel via the ferry at Newhaven.
Not only that, the route will also be available for use by walkers and horse riders, and it is expected that, with few exceptions, the 'St Paul's Cathedral to Notre Dame' route will be off-road.
Throughout most of Europe tomorrow morning (at 2am), European summer time comes to its official end and the clocks go back one hour. But to ward off the winter blues, there are plenty of festivals.
We begin this weekend with Halloween and then a few days later, the British celebrate with Fireworks night. It doesn't stop there though, in a multicultural world, these events are followed by the Diwali festival, or 'Festival of Light' also called Deepavali, on November 9. Diwali is a major Indian festival that is observed by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs around the world, to symbolise the victory of good over evil with lamps lit as a sign of celebration and hope for mankind.
Visitors to Leicester, England, have a unique opportunity to experience a 'Taste of Asia' for themselves, with a short break package in this year's official Curry Capital of Britain. The special packages have been put together by Leicester Shire Promotions, the city's tourism board, to showcase Leicester's vibrant Asian culture and exotic gastronomy, combined with its Diwali celebrations, which are said to be the largest outside of India.
Then of course, we move on to the Christmas markets, Christmas and the New Year parties.
Today's end of week video has been especially chosen for all you rail and steam enthusiasts. It is a rail journey on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, posted by David and it even features a cameo appearance by Thomas the Tank Engine. The North Yorkshire Moors Heritage Railway runs through the heart of England's North Yorkshire Moors National Park, between Pickering, a busy market town and Grosmont, a genuine 1950s railway junction where you can take a break in the station cafe, visit the engine sheds and view steam locomotives under restoration. On route, trains call at Goathland village, which is the setting for the television series, Heartbeat and Levisham, which is known for a beautiful forest drive and walking trails.
Different timetables operate throughout the year but on many days it is possible to get a connection to the historic port of Whitby. there is a full autumn program in place and they are already taking bookings for 'Santa Specials'. Enthusiast may be interested to know that the North Yorkshire Moors Railway Heritage Society also run various 'Footplate Courses'.
This video runs for nearly eight minutes, so on a slow connection you may need to click play and then leave it to download for ten minutes before clicking replay, in order to obtain uninterrupted viewing.
Following on from yesterday's post about ospreys in Scotland, it should be noted that ospreys are now also breeding in central England. Two male ospreys can be seen catching fish from Rutland Water to feed their young and various non-breeding ospreys are also seen around the reservoir.
At the end of June, the Man Booker International Prize 2007 was formally awarded to Chinua Achebe during a presentation ceremony that included over 200 guests enjoying Smoked Salmon Bavarois, English Lamb and Summer Pudding, in the Great Hall at Christ Church College, Oxford, England. This hall once housed Parliament, during the English Civil War when King Charles I took residence at Christ Church. I wonder if the guests were aware that their surroundings are better known to millions of Harry Potter fans as the great banqueting hall at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Christ Church is Oxford University's largest College and was founded in 1524. Visitors are made welcome, but being a working academic and religious institution some areas may be inaccessible; the hall for example, can be closed to visitors between 12pm and 2pm. The visitor entrance is through the large gate facing Christ Church Meadow, a remarkable oasis of calm, much loved by one Lewis Carroll, who famously created another magical world 'through the looking glass'.
There is much to see at Christ Church besides the Great Hall, the college houses an important collection of Old Master paintings and drawings, so allow plenty of time to browse.
Shipwrecks, pirates and treasure, its the stuff of fantasy and legend but for a company of modern-day treasure hunters, it is a profitable business.
Odyssey Marine Exploration is a leader in the field of deep-ocean shipwreck exploration and not for the first time, they have landed a record breaking haul of treasure. Their latest find includes over 500,000 silver coins weighing more than 17 tons, hundreds of gold coins, worked gold, and other artifacts. It is believed that this recovery constitutes the largest collection of coins ever excavated from a historical shipwreck site, codenamed Black Swan.
The 17th-century treasure is estimated to be worth around $500 million but sorry treasure seekers, the company hasn't posted the geo-location of the site which is some 40 miles south west of England's Lands End.
The dates for this year's Chelsea Flower Show are 22-26 May, 2007.
Regarded as the greatest flower show on earth, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show sets the latest trends in horticulture and garden design, it attracts worldwide media attention and has long been the favourite place for plant breeders to unveil new plants.
As in previous years, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show web site is offering 360-degree panoramic tours of all the show gardens, videos of show gardens, small gardens and new plants, plus Webcams.
February, 2007, is car-free month in England's New Forest. Visitors can get up to half price room rates, two for the price of one dinners, a spa massage, free transport to and from New Forest railway stations and other benefits, provided they travel by public transport to the national park during the month.
The forest provides great pleasure for those prepared to explore it walking or by bike and although it is likely to be wet under foot, the weather in the New Forest is generally mild during February. Cycles can be hired from a number of outlets in the New Forest.
Twelve top quality New Forest hotels, guesthouses and self catering cottages are participating in the scheme. So leave the car at home and discover the joy to be had from one of the UK's most fascinating landscapes.
Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor were in the Lake District during 2006, filming scenes for the newly released film, Miss Potter. It describes the fascinating story of Beatrix Potter's life and career as a pioneering children's author and conservationist.
Born on 28 July 1866 in South Kensington, London, Beatrix Potter spent many summers on holiday in the English Lake District with her parents, staying at Wray Castle, Fawe Park, Holehird and Lingholm, by Derwent water, now famous for its rhododendron gardens; she loved Derwent water and made many sketches of the landscape.
In 1903 Beatrix Potter, now an established author of children's books, bought a field in Near Sawrey and in 1905 she bought Hill Top, a small farm in Sawrey, where for the next 8 years she wrote still more of her famous books. Hill Top (Near Sawrey, Ambleside, LA22 0LF) is preserved as it was when Beatrix was living there and it is said to be the most visited 'literary shrine' in the Lake District. There is a National Trust car park close by and next door is the Tower Bank Arms, also owned by the National Trust and open for bar lunches and evening meals.
Beatrix Potter married William Heelis, a solicitor in Hawkshead, in 1913 and continued to buy land and property in the Lake District. She bequeathed 4,000 acres (16 km²) of land, cottages, and 15 farms to the National Trust on her death and this has now become part of the Lake District National Park. The office of William Heelis became the Beatrix Potter Gallery where original artwork for her children’s 'tales' is displayed.
You can see many of her watercolours and drawings of fungi, mosses and fossils, which formed part of an important scientific study, at the Armitt Library in Ambleside.
At The World of Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck, Mrs. Tiggy-winkle and their friends, from all 23 of Beatrix Potter's tales are brought to life in three dimensions.
UK sailors have returned from Qingdao, China, with the best Olympic medal haul for over a century and gold medal winners Ben Ainslie, Paul Goodison, Iain Percy, Andrew Simpson, Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson, will arrive on Mike Golding's yacht Ecover 3, at 10am tomorrow, together with other Skandia Team GBR members, to formally open the show.
