The Real HAY Festival 2024 | Llanidloes, Mid Wales

Last Saturday we had a fab time at the amazing Real Hay Festival in the meadow fields of Newchapel, high above Llanidloes in Mid Wales. This Midsummer festival brings together ecology and wildlife, zero-waste and regenerative agricultural themes.
We met Bluebell and Molly, two working shire horses gathering cut hay on the fields, watched folk learning how to scythe and whittle, enjoyed wood fired pizza and Bill’s Welsh Mountain Cider whilst listening to local musicians perform on the outdoor stage - Marc Harpham and The Klezmonauts.
There were all kinds of creative and wild workshops, walks and talks, circle dancing, an axe and saw demo, a tug of war, kite flying and a BioBlitz to spot resident creatures and wildflowers at this stunning site high in the hills with views all the way to Cadair Idris.
Later we took part in two processions - the first with the Dyfi Samba Band to celebrate Midsummer, and the second at sunset with musicians from the local ceilidh band Sir Dancelot & friends.
This was the 3rd year of the Real Hay Festival which is organised by The Wilderness Trust and Zero Carbon Llanidloes - local charities.
Tunes
A Little Welsh Town - written and performed by Marc Harpham.
Various tunes from The Klezmonauts, our local Klezmer band. You can watch a video of The Klezmonauts performing at the Bank Vaults in Aberystwyth a few months ago: • The Klezmonauts | Klez...
La Mourisque - a Renaissance dance tune played by Cornelius Eger, Graham Brand, Matt Watson, Peter Timmins, and Rick.
Poetry written and performed by Michelle Pearce.
Thanks for snorting horse.wav by soundslikewillem -- freesound.org/s/418427/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0

[@billbleasdale5765]

Yay! Hay! Bien joué!

[@susiestockton-link3902]

Lovely to see Graham, Peter and Corns. Super film!

[@TheTenterhookTimes]

Thanks Susie, glad you enjoyed it, such a wonderful day! 😊

[@grahamthorner993]

Thanks !

[@TheTenterhookTimes]

Our pleasure! 🌾🌼🪁💚

[@rhapsag]

Great work!

[@TheTenterhookTimes]

Thanks! 👍😃

[@andrewharris1837]

Ooh aargh,buy a Combine,it the 21st century😅

[@geegnosis8888]

With a name like yours i would have pegged you as 19th Century. Anyway, scything is much cheaper and more green in small areas of hay. Combines are usually for corn (ie cereals not just maize). I don't think you know your country lore ver well especially as the grass has to be turned and dried before it becomes hay. Only then can it be gathered and bundled for the winter feeding. Combines pick the whole lot up and shred the cereals from the stalks. These stalks are not used for feeding but as bedding. So, all in all your comment was facetious.