May 31^st & June 1^st 2008

At Apple Tree Craft Fairs we are spreading our wings, we’re heading east…..

Earlier in the year we were very kindly invited to organise a fair at Bewl Water on the Sussex - Kent border. It’s an incredibly beautiful place and I am really looking forward to this event because I know that we are working with a top team at Bewl.

For many of our crafters this is much further away than you would normally travel, but we do have a very inviting package here so don’t dismiss it straight away.

The fair is to be a weekend event, over Saturday and Sunday May 31^st and June 1^st. Bewl have offered crafters free camping on the site, with facilities included free of charge, which should make life easier if you don’t mind camping!

Gary & I are planning to make a family weekend of it, as there is plenty for the children (and partners!) to do whilst we are busy with the fair. Also, I think it will be great to relax in the evenings with crafters who are camping and a plentiful supply of wine…..and there will, quite literally, just be a few yards to stagger to the marquee the next morning. Camping is being offered over three nights, so there needn’t be a mad rush to get there, set up, exhibit, pack up and leave again.

The fair is to be held in a large marquee, which will be on hard standing so no soggy grass, over looking the lake. Crafters will be inside the marquee and outside there will be smaller pitches with garden-based items, so it promises to be a very exciting all-round show. The site for the marquee is right next to the visitor centre at Bewl.

It is well to remember that Bewl is less than an hour from central London and well within the commuter belt, so I hope that our fair will attract some very cosmopolitan visitors. Visitor numbers at Bewl for similar events have been high and they have a history of hugely successful events including Bewl Garden Show, The London to Brighton Jaguar Rally, The Dragon Boat Festival and their Art & Photography Exhibitions. The Garden Show ran for nine years before the organiser retired, and it is the regular garden show exhibitors whom we will have in the outside pitches at our show.

The site for the marquee is the car parking area right next to the visitor centre. So, close enough for coffee and the loo…..

Standard 6ft by 2ft trestle tables are supplied, one per stand, along with two chairs per table.

One 13 amp socket will be supplied per table. You can bring your own extension leads and any lights you might need but all appliances must not add up to more than 13 amps.

Each space will cost £50 per day.

This is as low as we can possibly make it, and in my experience, for a large space, in a carpeted marquee, that is an excellent price. More so when you think about the free camping! The team at Bewl have worked very hard to get us these fabulous facilities at such a low price.

You do not have to book both days, but preference will be given to those crafters booking the full weekend.

Camping is free. It is available Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, so that you can have plenty of setting up/packing away time. The marquee must be emptied of all crafters’ equipment on Sunday evening ready for the supplier to disassemble it. Please be aware that neither Bewl nor Apple Tree Crafts are responsible for yourself or your equipment whilst you camp at Bewl.

You will need to supply all the camping equipment you think that you will need. Bewl isn’t set up as a proper campsite, so please realise that there is no electricity supply to tents. There is a stand pipe in the camping field for fresh drinking and washing up water but otherwise we have use of the ‘ablution’ facilities in the old Outdoor Centre, a short walk away.

You will be able to barbeque, but for safety reasons camp fires are not allowed. I love a camp fire, but as we are so far from the nearest fire station we can’t have them. BBQ’s must only be lit when there is an adult to supervise them constantly and used coals/trays must be doused with water and allowed to cool before disposal in one of the many litter bins.

Just because facilities are basic it doesn’t mean you won’t have fun - I think the atmosphere will be fantastic.

There is plenty to do at Bewl. Great walks, boat trips, fly-fishing, bicycle hire and an adventure playground which should keep potentially bored children and partners occupied all day. Hopefully, all the fresh air will have your little ones out for count at night, leaving us grown ups free to enjoy a relaxing drink after a busy day’s selling!

Bewl at sunset........