March Mayhem

Whew – March has been busy. Staying in a beautiful yurt during the Festival is proving a popular option and yurt places are rapidly filling up. We've had bookings from Italy and Japan as well as closer to home and we're looking forward to a rich cultural mix of stories, tellers and audience over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The flier is out! Click here to download it (2.2Mb). If you are able to display or would like to distribute these to give more people an opportunity to enjoy this wonderful festival, contact Sue on 01647 252983 or email sue@embercombe.co.uk and I'll send you some!

Recently confirmed is the involvement of the whole Transition Movement with Rob Hopkins (founder) speaking and Wynne Alice making us the penultimate stop on her six month tour of Britain gathering Transition Tales. The theme of Stories for Change unites us all in envisioning a future where we are connected to the land and the deep wisdom found in stories.

Embercombe is basking in glorious spring sunshine: daffodils are nodding, crocuses are popping up, catkins are everywhere and the snow drops are closing up into the earth again. It's been a long, real, wonderful winter and Spring feels like a true blessing this year.

Remember to book your place before the end of April to take advantage of 10% discount on ticket prices – we are currently mapping out camping areas and we're thinking of offering a family site, a quiet site and some even quieter spots in the woods and near the lake (no children lakeside, I'm afraid), for those who don't mind being a few steps further away from the amenities. All spaces will be on a first-come-first-served basis, so call Clare on 012647 252983 or e-mail her clare@embercombe.co.uk if you want to secure a special place. Maps of the areas will be downloadable on the website soon.

You can travel light to the festival this year, saving car transport. We have yurts available to book, and tents to rent (£5 per night, £12 for three nights). There will also be plenty of food outlets providing organic food (BBQ, café (serving breakfast too), waffles, pizzas from outdoor clay ovens and more) all at affordable prices plus a shop supplying camping necessities including bread, milk etc. We can pick people up from Exeter Railway station for £2 and are hoping to offer a Totnes/ Buckfastleigh/ Ashburton bus morning and evening if there is sufficient interest. So if you want to bus in each day and not camp – ring Clare on 01647 252983 or e-mail her clare@embercombe.co.uk to book a provisional place and ensure the bus runs.

The draft programme has taken longer to draw up than we expected mainly because of lots of last minute offers to bring extra exciting elements to the Festival, some from across the Atlantic – films, spoken word, poetry, community singing - we're juggling to see what we can fit in but it's going to be a packed programme! Who is performing on which days should be down-loadable from the website in early April.

This is going to be a Festival to remember – bring your friends, bring your family – the earlier you book, the more financial security we have and the more treats we can lay on for you!