April Skies

Amidst the drama of ash-clouds and air traffic absence, political placards are sprouting up as fast as the bluebells and wild parsley....and in the WSF office bundles of leaflets are winging their way to libraries, Tourist information centres, cafés, noticeboards, schools, bookshops – inviting friends new and old to take advantage of the 10% discount offer on all tickets which ends on Friday 30th April. Have you booked your tickets yet? Why not get them for less? You can now book on line with Paypal, credit or debit card or you can download a booking form and send it with a cheque.

Only four yurt spaces remain – so if you want to stay at the festival without bringing all your camping gear – speak to Clare fast on 01647 252983 or e-mail her clare@embercombe.co.uk.

Renowned Ashburton storyteller and mythologist Martin Shaw will be at the Festival all weekend running workshops, telling stories, promoting the Westcountry School of Myth (which runs a year course of five weekends on Dartmoor) and he will be interviewing some of the big names of the storytelling world at the Festival on the theme of Stories for Change. Most excitingly, as a highlight on the Saturday, he has announced an all-night telling of the great European grail myth Parsival - a deep story for change – he recommends rugs, a thermos of coffee and a taste for high adventure if you want to plunge into this incredible myth for the night!

Other exciting news this month is that the Marquee will have a solar-powered stage; there will be raft-building on the lake for young people on Saturday and Sunday and for younger children there will be tractor rides. The programme is bursting at the seams and a draft of it should soon be downloadable on the website (all the storytellers are booked but have to confirm days and times yet, so it is very much a draft).

Craft traders are starting to book and there will be a market place to browse for natural goodies. Food at the Festival is expanding as Embercombe prepares to build two more outdoor clay bread ovens in May (we could do it as a course if 10 people are interested in how to make one in their own garden – telephone Sue on 01647 252983 if you're interested – about £100 for the weekend including food and accommodation or cheaper if you don't stay and bring a packed lunch!) This will mean four ovens producing sizzling organic pizzas, plus there will be organic ice creams, waffles, a salad bar, different meals each day including vegan and gluten-free options and breakfast! Of course, Embercombe's delicious home-baked cakes and flapjacks will be on sale all day along with tea, coffee and soft drinks.

So this is the moment to spread the word about the Festival – also remember this blog is interactive – you can comment (I did wonder if anyone was reading it – but there are some followers now, which is encouraging!). Let us know what you liked about past festivals, what you would like to see at this one, how you feel about the new venue and any feedback on the website and publicity in general – it's all very helpful to us.

The Celtic summer will begin on May 1st – this is a time of change and of action if we want to meet the challenges of our age. The Festival will be fun and entertaining and rich with all sorts of things to do, to eat, to buy, to watch, to debate, to participate in, but this is also a chance to get inspired by the possibility for deep change in our own lives and as a species living on the planet. The Festival is for people of all ages to experience community and support as we face difficult issues with renewed vision and it will celebrate the power of story to impart ancient wisdom, open up possibilities for transformation and inspire us to action. Look to the skies!