Harvest arts event in village

Pupils from one of the Ridges & Furrows creative workshops at Welbourn Church of England Primary School with artist Lyndall Phelps and the artworks they have created. Artworks created by the school children will be on display in St Chads Church on the day of the Horkey. EMN-160410-112855001

A traditional harvest inspired event, or ‘Horkey’ will take place in Welbourn this month, bringing residents and visitors together to celebrate the village’s rich agricultural history.

The Welbourn Horkey – a traditional name applied to end of harvest celebrations dating from the 16th Century – will tell the story of ‘seed to loaf’, exploring wheat production and milling as well as traditional bread making methods.

The event, which takes place on the afternoon of Saturday October 22 from 12-4pm, at Welbourn Village Hall and St Chad’s Church, will show off work produced by local school children and residents as well as new artwork produced by commissioned artist in residence Lyndall Phelps inspired by her time in the village for the district’s Ridges and Furrows Arts and Heritage trail project.

There will also be a display of historical agricultural tools and vintage threshing, baling and milling machinery outside the village hall, while inside traditional methods for bread baking will be demonstrated and local residents will take part in their own ‘Bake Off’ style competition.

The Ridges and Furrows Arts & Heritage Trail project is led by the NK Arts Partnership and supported by Heritage Lottery funding. It aims to explore and unearth the history and heritage of villages and towns in North Kesteven, and will ultimately result in a new arts and heritage trail linking the Terry O’Toole Theatre, in North Hykeham, with the National Centre for Craft and Design in Sleaford.

Ahead of the Welbourn Horkey people are invited to join in two free, drop-in workshops running at the village hall to create artworks that will be displayed at the event. Today (Thursday), Miranda Sharpe will be offering adults (16-plus) the chance to learn the skill of vitreous enamelling, creating small artworks inspired by Welbourn’s history and the surrounding countryside, from 2-8pm. Then, on Saturday, 10am-4pm, Lyndall Phelps will be running a family workshop, creating a large-scale artwork which is inspired by the old co-operative shop in the village.

For more information visit: www.facebook.com/ridgesandfurrows