The Garden Festivals Company
Unit 12 Bartons Close
Southport
PR9 8NF
Phone : 01704 212 734 (2 Lines)
Press Releases:
| Falconry - SWGF/PR.022 |
Wednesday, April 2, 2008 Ref: SWGCF/PR.024 – Falconry
Close encounters of the bird kind at the South Wirral Garden & Country Fair
The South Wirral Garden & Country Fair at Backwood Hall, Parkgate, over the Spring Bank Holiday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, May 3 - 5, is a golden opportunity to see the magnificent hawks, owls and falcons of the Pen Y Bryn Falconry Display.
Falconer John Islwyn Jones is based on a working farm at Corwen in Denbighshire, North Wales, and visitors can catch his aerial demonstration and static display on all three days.
Highlight of the show – weather permitting – comes when John forms a human runway and brings a hawk in to land so close you can feel the wind from its wingtips on your face. Truly a close encounter of the bird kind.
“Our static exhibition consists of around ten different birds of prey, which gives people a chance to see and even handle them at close quarters,” said John, “In the arena we try and be both informative and entertaining. Spectators have a chance to see high-flying falcons being stooped to a lure and we encourage members of the public to join us in the arena to see the birds flying at ultra close quarters.
"These are real working birds and everything we do is based around the training they receive on the farm and the pest-control work they do for us."
While show supremo Kelvin Pye added: " I am delighted to have the Pen Y Bryn Falconry Display back with us. John puts on a great show and his demonstrations will add to our bigger and better than ever programme of events this year."
That programme includes pig and sheep racing on Saturday, duck and goat racing on Sunday, lawnmower racing on both days, ferret racing, fly-ball canine competitions and an Open Dog Show on Monday, the Parkgate Pony Sanctuary on all three days, live music, Morris Dancing on Sunday, tug-of-war on Monday, sheepdog displays on Sunday, traditional Punch & Judy on all three days and Chirpy the Clown on Saturday, helicopter rides and lots, lots more,
13th South Wirral Garden & Country Fair - 10.00 - 17.30, Spring Bank Holiday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday, May 3 – 5, 2008, Backwood Hall, Boathouse Lane, Parkgate, Wirral CH64 3SZ. Tickets: £7.00 for adults, £5.50 for senior citizens - or just £5.00 for both if booked in advance via the Ticket Hotline on 01492 523410 - children (over three years) £1.50 or just £16 for a full Family Ticket.
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Memo to News / Picture Editors: a selection of high-quality JPG pictures, including John Islwyn Jones’ ‘runway’, is available upon request. If required please call or email Anglian Public Relations on the numbers below.
For further information please contact:
Kelvin Pye OR Laurie Pott The Garden Festivals Company Anglian Public Relations 12 Bartons Close The Red House Southport PR9 8NF The Street Fornham St Martin Suffolk IP31 1SW
Tel: 01704 212734 Tel: 01284 768784 Email: kelvin@garden-festivals.co.uk Email: lauriepott@waitrose.com Website: www.garden-festivals.co.uk
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| Lawn Mower Racing |
April 15, 2008 Ref: SWGF/PR.022 - Lawn Mower [With Pix]
Lawn Mower Racing – a grass roots sport that growing fast
Following a successful debut in 2007, Lawn Mower Racing is making a speedy return to the South Wirral Garden & Countryside Fair which takes place this year at Backwood Hall, Parkgate, over the Spring Bank Holiday (Saturday, Sunday and Monday, May 3 – 5).
Racing takes place on Saturday and Sunday with national championship grand prix points at stake. Once again it is being organised by the North West Lawn Mower Racing Association (NWLMRA) one the country's leading and longest established clubs.
The sport is divided into four distinct categories: Group 1 - self propelled cylinder mowers where the driver runs behind and now very rarely seen; Group 2 - either large cylinder mowers or wheel-driven machines, with lowered handlebars and a tow-seat; Group 3 - small, domestic, ride-on machines; and Group 4 - and the most popular, lawn tractors capable of reaching 40 - 50 mph.
"There will be championship, grand prix points races on both days, counting towards the national titles in Groups 2, 3 and 4," said Tony Dwight of the NWLMRA, "These races will take place round about lunchtime and immediately after practice sessions. There will probably be two or three races for each Group - although obviously this is dependent upon the number of entrants.
“At the end of the day we shall be having a new-for-2008 event. We electronically time each lap for each driver in each race and so can work out an average lap time. So the last race is open to every type of mower but time-handicapped.
“The Group 2 machines are much, much slower that the Group 4, but can start anything up to nine minutes in front ! The first time we tried it out all the drivers were on the final lap and there was only around ten seconds between first and last – so it shows how good the handicapping system was.”
Show organiser Kelvin Pye added: "I think anyone who watched it last year will have realized that lawn mower racing is great fun and we are delighted to be bringing it back to the Wirral this year.”
There is a full programme of events for all three days of the show that includes pig and sheep racing on Saturday, duck and goat racing on Sunday, ferret racing, falconry, fly-ball canine competitions and an Open Dog Show on Monday, live music, Morris Dancing on Sunday, tug-of-war on Monday, sheepdog displays on Sunday, traditional Punch & Judy on all three days and Chirpy the Clown on Saturday, helicopter rides and lots, lots more,
13th South Wirral Garden & Country Fair - 10.00 - 17.30, Spring Bank Holiday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday, May 3 – 5, 2008, Backwood Hall, Boathouse Lane, Parkgate, Wirral CH64 3SZ. Tickets: £7.00 for adults, £5.50 for senior citizens - or just £5.00 for both if booked in advance via the Ticket Hotline on 01492 523410 - children (over three years) £1.50 or just £16 for a full Family Ticket.
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Memo to News / Picture Editors: a selection of high-quality JPG pictures are available upon request. If required please call or email Anglian Public Relations on the numbers below.
For further information please contact:
Kelvin Pye The Garden Festivals Company 12 Bartons Close Southport PR9 8NF
Tel: 01704 212734 Email: kelvin@garden-festivals.co.uk Website: www.garden-festivals.co.uk
OR Laurie Pott Anglian Public Relations The Red House The Street Fornham St Martin Suffolk IP31 1SW
Tel: 01284 768784 Email: lauriepott@waitrose.com
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| Parkgate Ponies |
Wednesday, April 23, 2008 Ref: SWGCF/PR.021 - Ponies
Pony gymnastics – mane attraction - at the South Wirral Garden & Country Fair
Pony gymnastics will be one of the ‘mane’ attractions at the South Wirral Garden & Country Fair at Backwood Hall, Parkgate, over the Spring Bank Holiday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, May 3 – 5.
The display will be courtesy of the Parkgate Pony Sanctuary an animal rescue charity whose premises make them the show’s next-door-neighbours.
Pony gymnastics features vaulting performances are more likely to come from the youthful and enthusiastic riders than the elderly and more sedate ponies and horses themselves !
The sanctuary was founded almost 25 years ago and currently has around 20 animals on the premises . . . with many more ‘fostered’ in homes out in the local community. It survives on the hard work and dedication of its volunteer helpers, as Janis Coulson, one of the four-strong, fund raising team explains: “We are a relatively small, local charity and we rely totally on donations. I guess we have around ten adults involved on a regular basis and the same number of children.
“Events like the South Wirral show are great for us because it gives us a chance to get out and meet local people, let them know who we are, show them what we do and even do a little fund-raising. Our gymnastics team are all very young and relatively inexperienced . . . but are champing at the bit to show what they can do and for the first time will be demonstrating their gymnastic techniques with the horses cantering as well as trotting.
While show supremo Kelvin Pye added: "The Parkgate Pony Sanctuary does wonderful work and I am delighted to have them with us this year as part of our own bigger and better than ever programme of events."
That programme includes pig racing, lawnmower racing on both days, ferret racing, falconry, fly-ball canine competitions and an Open Dog Show on Monday, live music, Morris Dancing on Sunday, tug-of-war on Monday, sheepdog displays on Sunday, traditional Punch & Judy on all three days and Chirpy the Clown on Saturday, helicopter rides and lots, lots more,
13th South Wirral Garden & Country Fair - 10.00 - 17.30, Spring Bank Holiday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday, May 3 – 5, 2008, Backwood Hall, Boathouse Lane, Parkgate, Wirral CH64 3SZ. Tickets: £7.00 for adults, £5.50 for senior citizens - or just £5.00 for both if booked in advance via the Ticket Hotline on 01492 523410 - children (over three years) £1.50 or just £16 for a full Family Ticket.
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Memo to News / Picture Editors: a selection of high-quality JPG pictures – including the pony gymnastics - is available upon request. If required please call or email Anglian Public Relations on the numbers below.
For further information please contact:
Kelvin Pye The Garden Festivals Company 12 Bartons Close Southport PR9 8NF
Tel: 01704 212734 Email: kelvin@garden-festivals.co.uk Website: www.garden-festivals.co.uk
OR Laurie Pott Anglian Public Relations The Red House The Street Fornham St Martin Suffolk IP31 1SW
Tel: 01284 768784 Email: lauriepott@waitrose.com |
| Diary Date |
29/01/08 Ref: NWGF/PR.049.3 - Diary Dates
2008 Diary Dates . . . 2008 Diary Dates . . . 2008 Diary Dates
13th South Wirral Garden & Country Fair - 10.00 - 17.30, Spring Bank Holiday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday, May 3 – 5, 2008, Backwood Hall, Boathouse Lane, Parkgate, Wirral, CH64 3SZ. Tickets: £7.00 for adults, £5.50 for senior citizens - or just £5.00 for both if booked in advance via the Ticket Hotline on 01492 523410 - children (over three years) £1.50 or just £16 for a full Family Ticket.
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For further information please contact:
Kelvin Pye The Garden Festivals Company 12 Bartons Close Southport PR9 8NF
Tel: 01704 212734 Email: kelvin@garden-festivals.co.uk Website: www.garden-festivals.co.uk
OR Laurie Pott Anglian Public Relations The Red House The Street Fornham St Martin Suffolk IP31 1SW
Tel: 01284 768784 Email: lauriepott@waitrose.com
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| MoonStone |
Wednesday, April 9, 2008 Ref: SWGCF/PR.019 - Moonstone
Step into an oasis of tranquility at the South Wirral Garden & Country Fair
Visitors to the South Wirral Garden & Country Fair at Backwood Hall, Parkgate, over the Spring Bank Holiday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, May 3 - 5, will be able to step into an oasis of tranquility . . . of the spiritual kind.
MoonStone Events will be running a ‘Mind, Body and Soul Pavilion’ at the event offering a range of alternative and complementary therapies and treatment.
MoonStone is the brainchild of Elaine Orrett, from Crosby near Liverpool, and whose own shows have been lighting up lives throughout the region for a number of years.
Elaine is a Holistic Health Practitioner offering Reiki, Indian Head Massage, Past Life Regression Therapy, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Bach Flower Remedies and holistic healing for a range of animals – including horses – as well as for humans.
“Our Pavilion will be a haven of calm offering taster sessions is a range of holistic therapies, including Reiki and Reflexology,” she said, “In addition we will also have a wide range of beautiful and unusual items for sale, plus the opportunity to have a reading with a clairvoyant / medium.”
While show supremo Kelvin Pye added: " I am delighted to have MoonStone with us for the first time this year. I have been to Elaine’s events and know she puts on a wonderful show which will certainly complement our own bigger and better than ever programme of events."
That programme includes pig and sheep racing on Saturday, duck and goat racing on Sunday, lawnmower racing on both days, ferret racing, falconry, fly-ball canine competitions and an Open Dog Show on Monday, the Parkgate Pony Sanctuary on all three days, live music, Morris Dancing on Sunday, tug-of-war on Monday, sheepdog displays on Sunday, traditional Punch & Judy on all three days and Chirpy the Clown on Saturday, helicopter rides and lots, lots more,
13th South Wirral Garden & Country Fair - 10.00 - 17.30, Spring Bank Holiday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday, May 3 – 5, 2008, Backwood Hall, Boathouse Lane, Parkgate, Wirral CH64 3SZ. Tickets: £7.00 for adults, £5.50 for senior citizens - or just £5.00 for both if booked in advance via the Ticket Hotline on 01492 523410 - children (over three years) £1.50 or just £16 for a full Family Ticket.
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Memo to News / Picture Editors: a selection of high-quality JPG pictures is available upon request. If required please call or email Anglian Public Relations on the numbers below.
For further information please contact:
Kelvin Pye The Garden Festivals Company 12 Bartons Close Southport PR9 8NF
Tel: 01704 212734 Email: kelvin@garden-festivals.co.uk Website: www.garden-festivals.co.uk
OR Laurie Pott Anglian Public Relations The Red House The Street Fornham St Martin Suffolk IP31 1SW
Tel: 01284 768784 Email: lauriepott@waitrose.com
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| Dogs |
April 16, 2008 Ref: SWGF/PR.020 - Dogs
Paws for thought . . . and bring your dog to the South Wirral Garden & Country Fair
The South Wirral Garden & Country Fair at Backwood Hall, Parkgate, over the Spring Bank Holiday, (Saturday, Sunday & Monday, May 3 – 5) has to be one of the most ‘dog friendly’ events on the Wirral . . . so don’t leave them at home, bring them along !.
There's plenty of fun for all the family – including the family dog - with a bigger than ever Fun Dog Show on Bank Holiday Monday.
The show is being organised by Jenny Tavener of the Wirral Flyball Demonstration Team. And this year there will be a total of nine classes:
• Best Puppy • Best Pair of Dogs • Best Six Legs . . . dog and owner ! • Best Waggiest Tale • Best Bitch (between 1 & 10) • Best Dog (between 1 & 10) • Best Veteran Bitch (over 10) • Best Veteran Dog (over 10 • Best Champion of Show
Entry is just 50p per class with rosettes and prize money paid from the entries.
"The South Wirral is a lovely show and venue," said Jenny, "We have always got a wonderful reception from the audience when we have done our dog agility and Flyball demonstrations. We know it is a very 'dog friendly' event and we thought it would be nice to do something fun that both the audience and their pets can participate in."
The Flyball Canine Competitions where teams of dogs race against other – shuttle-fashion – to retrieve balls from a ‘trap’ have proved an increasingly popular and integral part of the South Wirral Shows over the years. They will be held on both Saturday and Sunday, together with the equal popular dog agility demonstrations.
While shows supremo Kelvin Pye added: "I'm a dog-owner myself and so I really appreciate how much it can mean to have a genuinely dog-friendly event. Obviously we'd like to encourage people to bring their pets along and have some fun."
This year’s programme includes pig and sheep racing on Saturday, duck and goat racing on Sunday, lawnmower racing on both days, ferret racing, falconry, the Parkgate Pony Sanctuary on all three days, live music, Morris Dancing on Sunday, tug-of-war on Monday, sheepdog displays on Sunday, traditional Punch & Judy on all three days and Chirpy the Clown on Saturday, helicopter rides and lots, lots more,
13th South Wirral Garden & Country Fair - 10.00 - 17.30, Spring Bank Holiday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday, May 3 – 5, 2008, Backwood Hall, Boathouse Lane, Parkgate, Wirral CH64 3SZ. Tickets: £7.00 for adults, £5.50 for senior citizens - or just £5.00 for both if booked in advance via the Ticket Hotline on 01492 523410 - children (over three years) £1.50 or just £16 for a full Family Ticket. Check out the website: www.garden-festivals.co.uk for the very latest special offers,
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Memo to News / Picture Editors: a selection of high-quality JPG pictures is available upon request. If required please call or email Anglian Public Relations on the numbers below.
For further information please contact: Kelvin Pye The Garden Festivals Company 12 Bartons Close Southport PR9 8NF
Tel: 01704 212734 Email: kelvin@garden-festivals.co.uk Website: www.garden-festivals.co.uk
OR Laurie Pott Anglian Public Relations The Red House The Street Fornham St Martin Suffolk IP31 1SW
Tel: 01284 768784 Email: lauriepott@waitrose.com
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| Pig Racing |
Thursday, April 24, 2008 Ref: SWGF/PR.024 – Pig Racing [With Pix]
Pig racing . . . what a crackling good idea !
The 13th South Wirral Garden & Country Fair at Backwood Hall, Parkgate, over the Spring Bank Holiday (Saturday, Sunday and Monday, May 3 – 5) is set to be a crackling good show . . . by staging the first-ever Ham National pig-racing 'meating'.
Making its debut on the Wirral, pig-racing is the brainchild of Joseph Fossett - a member of Britain's oldest circus family. He lives in Warwickshire with wife Rebecca, daughter Daisy, aged nine, and son Leo, seven, who are all part of the team.
"We have just starting our third season of pig-racing," explained Rebecca, "The first outing was three weeks ago at the actual Sedgefield Racecourse, which attracted a tremendous amount of publicity and ‘punters’.
"It is National Hunt, rather than 'flat', racing since the pigs go over fences. Pigs are very intelligent creatures and very greedy ! They know there is a meal waiting for them at the finishing line and really that is all it takes: they are a pleasure to work with. All the animals we use are really more part of the family than livestock, So their welfare and well-being are paramount to us.”
Three different breeds of young pigs are used: Gloucester Old Spots, Saddlebacks and Tamworths; although the last two are actually crossed with Iron Age Pigs - a mixture of domestic animals and wild boar, that makes them a little faster and lighter on their trotters.
The Fossetts have started with a new 'stable' - rather than sty - of piglets for the season. They come complete with ‘foxy’ little National Hunt jump jhockey on their back and names such as Red Ham, Desert Porkid, Spare Rib, Francis Bacon, Le Jambon and Crackling Rosy - "she's female, pink and rather fizzy !".
Show organiser Kelvin Pye added: "We have featured the Fossetts and their pig racing at other events and it has always proved great fun nd extremely popular so we delighted to be bringing them to the Wirral this year."
There is a full programme of events for all three days of the show that includes, falconry, an Open Dog Show on Monday in addition to the fly-ball canine competitions, live music, Morris Dancing on Sunday, tug-of-war on Monday, sheepdog displays on Sunday, traditional Punch & Judy on all three days and Chirpy the Clown on Saturday, helicopter rides and lots, lots more,
13th South Wirral Garden & Country Fair - 10.00 - 17.30, Spring Bank Holiday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday, May 3 – 5, 2008, Backwood Hall, Boathouse Lane, Parkgate, Wirral CH64 3SZ. Tickets: £7.00 for adults, £5.50 for senior citizens - or just £5.00 for both if booked in advance via the Ticket Hotline on 01492 523410 - children (over three years) £1.50 or just £16 for a full Family Ticket.
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Memo to News / Picture Editors: a selection of high-quality JPG pictures, including the pig racing, are available upon request. If required please call or email Anglian Public Relations on the numbers below.
For further information please contact:
Kelvin Pye The Garden Festivals Company 12 Bartons Close Southport PR9 8NF
Tel: 01704 212734 Email: kelvin@garden-festivals.co.uk Website: www.garden-festivals.co.uk
OR Laurie Pott Anglian Public Relations The Red House The Street Fornham St Martin Suffolk IP31 1SW
Tel: 01284 768784 Email: lauriepott@waitrose.com
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To gain the latest information, please contact our PR Department
Mr Laurie Pott, Anglian Public Relations
by phoning 01284 768 784
or by emailing lauriepott@waitrose.com