Soundlarks

Nestled deep in the heart of rural Norfolk lies Strumpshaw Tree Fair, a place where for a few precious days during summer a landscape is transformed to represent the people who form it and have themselves been moulded by it. Crafts folk, musicians, storytellers and travelling showmen are just some of the collective that make up this event, working in unison to create an open and safe space where all welcome. At the head of this group and leading it all is Candy Sheridan, an unstoppable force of organisation and compassion, who weaves together all the elements of the Tree Fair to create something magical.

Both a tribute to our shared landscape and a unintentional statement on how change can be made possible through grassroots work, Strumpshaw Tree Fair manages to simultaneously span and combine the past, present and future, allowing all to mix and offer both lessons to be learnt through tradition, as well as a pathway for us to follow into a future where all are welcome.

In the summer of 2022 my colleagues and I stayed at the fair for the weekend, with the aim to capture the stories of the people who make it the place it is, and to get to the bottom of the question of what exactly is it about the Strumpshaw Tree Fair that makes it so special. Coming away from the fair we were absolutely stunned with what we had captured and decided the best way to produce this show was to allow those who are the fabric of the fair itself to tell its story.

Credits: A huge thank you to Sarah Baylis and Jack Warren for their help in recording and producing this podcast, their help was invaluable, as well as to the wonderful Candy Sheridan for allowing us access to record at the fair. A massive thank you must also be said to all the wonderful people who contributed, as well as to the staff and volunteers who make up Strumpshaw Tree Fair. All that is left to say is do come along next year in 2023 and experience this for yourself!

Strumpshaw Tree Fair website: https://strumpshawtreefair.co.uk/