Weston Park, Staffordshire.
14th – 15th September, 2019.
Rosemary Rachael Hart.
What was I doing in a Game Fair? I don't shoot or fish and there wasn't a heavy horse in sight. But only 50% of me is a heavy horse person. The other 50% is a birdlover, and there were wonderful birds present that I don't see at other events.
Potty Parrots Refuge.
(with a Facebook page and so called because you have to be potty to have such a demanding pet) rehomes rescue parrots.
After a while, on to the birds of prey. In the Falconry Village,
John Dowling had a vital conservation message to promote. Some of the wild creatures heading for extinction at an almost unbelievable rate have a role in the environment so vital that in their absence human beings die hideous deaths! In spite of this they attract little support. Being neither majestic nor cute, they sadly lack the right public image...
I always enjoy artists' stands. In the Falconry Village, two artists whose work is on Facebook, Hayley Erica,
of Birds on a Feather, and Charmaine Rachel, of
Charmaine Rachel Art, who has discovered the many
virtues of artists' coloured pencils, have different approaches. Both produce first-class work, as does
Hollie Childe, watercolour artist in the Craft Marquee. The
incredible work of Martyn Brook is an inspiration to artists
like me.
Away from birds, I did eventually find some equines – unicorns! Eloise of
Pampered Ponies, a company that organises “unicorn” visits, pony parties and pony hire, introduced me to Shimmer and Dash, two little greys with colourful manes and tails and certain embellishments on their foreheads.
The Local Group and Local Interest Marquee contained projects ranging from
the restoration of the Montgomery Canal to the survival of bees and a beautiful garden project for people suffering from mental problems.
On the second day the British Stickmakers Guild had a wonderful exhibition of sticks. The effort and creativity that goes into making these walking sticks is marvellous.
Exploring another part of the showground, I found Coch-y-Bonddu Books, with
a tiny sample of their many thousands of books about wildlife and country sports. I've enjoyed many a happy visit to
their huge Aladdin's cave of books in Machynlleth, and have yet to leave empty-handed!
In the antiques marquee I feasted my eyes on old collectable Beswick horses, Border Fine Arts models that were
collectable even before the firm went out of business, and Royal Crown Derby paperweights... and I yielded to
temptation... I also bought an old book illustrated by John Board's spirited drawings of competition horses; it inspired me because of the tremendous energy of the drawings. I don't follow the fashion of painting horses standing four-square as they are posed for the judge – to me they look rigid. I want my horses to be like John Board's, full of life and movement.
Late on Saturday came a treat that the organisers couldn't arrange – the most glorious sunset for a very long time.