South West England Fibreshed networking & farm tour at Harvard Farm, Dorset + optional Rampisham Hill Mill visit
Description
Fibreshed Discovery, Autumn Networking and Farm Tour at Harvard Farm, Dorset (10:30am -3pm) - plus optional visit to Rampisham Hill Mill (3:30-5:30pm).
Join us for a unique autumn social at South West England Fibreshed member farm Harvard Farm in Dorset for everyone involved in growing or working with natural fibres and dyes, especially if interested in rebuilding our regional natural fibre and textile economy. The day is designed to help our community connect, share knowledge and build relationships across the South West and beyond.
Who It’s For: Farmers ~ Growers ~ Textile processors ~ Designers ~ Educators ~ Students ~ Weavers ~ Knitters ~ Natural dyers ~ Sewers and Tailors ~ Anyone interested in regional fibre and dye.
The event will start with a discovery session on South West England Fibreshed and the wider, global Fibershed movement followed by networking session. After lunch there will be a walk and talk for anyone keen to learn about Harvard Farm direct from its custodians Liz and Henry.
In addition, there is an optional visit (3:30pm to 5:30pm) to another SWEF member, Rampisham Hill Mill, after the close of the Harvard Farm day, where we will be guided by owners David and Ruth. Rampisham Hill Mill is just 10 minutes drive away from Harvard Farm.
See agenda below for more detail.
Our aim: We’re creating a warm and welcoming space for everyone doing great things with fibres and dyes - across the region and beyond - to meet, connect and support each other – and be part of revitalising regional natural textile economies.
Ticketing
There are several ticket options depending whether or not you are a member of South West England Fibreshed and/or if you would like to bring your own lunch or purchase a pasty in advance. PLEASE only select the South West England Member options if you are a paid up member (by all means get in touch if you would like to become one!).
Tickets for the Rampisham Hill Mill tour are limited to 20 participants. The tour will take place from 3:30pm to 5:30pm.
What to bring
A product, image or something else to use in your introduction (optional)
Appropriate footwear / wet weather gear for the farm tour.
About South West England Fibreshed
South West England Fibreshed is part of a global movement of regional initiatives that are rebuilding local, equitable textile and clothing systems based on agroecological farming and soil to soil production.
https://southwestenglandfibreshed.co.uk/
About Harvard Farm
Harvard Farm is a certified organic livestock farm implementing organic and regenerative practices to improve biodiversity and landscape resilience. Owners and Manager, Liz, Mark and Henry, currently run a meat and fibre flock comprising five different sheep breeds (including Teeswaters and Gotlands) and further crossbreeds.
https://southwestenglandfibreshed.co.uk/producers/harvard-farm/
About Rampisham Hill Mill
Rampisham Hill Mill is a family run small scale semi-worsted spinning mill in Dorset, specialising in the processing of sheep wool, fleece & fibre to the customer’s specifications, with batch sizes starting with as little as a single fleece.
https://southwestenglandfibreshed.co.uk/producers/rampisham-hill-farm-and-mill/
Agenda
- 10:00 am - 10:30 am
Arrival & Refreshments - Everyone
Doors open and refreshments will be available.
- 10:30 am - 11:15 am
Fibreshed 'Discovery' Session
An introduction to the global Fibershed movement and how Fibreshed takes shape in the South West of England, by SWEF founder/director Emma Hague.
- 11:15 am - 12:30 pm
Networking Session
- 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Lunch
Bring your own packed lunch or order a locally-made pasty in advance (see ticketing options.)
- 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Farm walk & talk
- 3:00 pm
Finish at Harvard Farm
- 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Optional: Rampisham Hill Mill Tour
Participants will need to make their own way (or liftshare) to Rampisham Hill Mill, which is a 10 minute drive from Harvard Farm.
FAQs
- Who is this event for?
Farmers ~ Growers ~ Textile processors ~ Designers ~ Educators ~ Students ~ Weavers ~ Knitters ~ Natural dyers ~ Sewers and Tailors ~ Anyone interested in regional fibre and dye.
- Will lunch and refreshments be provided?
There are two kinds of tickets available - a lower cost option where participants bring own lunch, and another which allows you to pre-book a locally-made vegetarian or beef pasty.
There will also be coffee/teas/ water available for everyone as well as a sweet treat.
- How accessible is the venue?
The networking venue at Harvard Farm is wheelchair accessible, however the farm walk will involve navigating rough ground which may be muddy/wet depending on the weather.
Rampisham Hill Mill is wheelchair accessible.
Please let us know if you have any accessibility needs.
- Can I get there without a car?
Yeovil train station is about 15mins away by taxi from Harvard Farm.
Alternatively, we encourage lift sharing wherever possible and so we will make a liftsharing document available upon booking.
- Parking and Directions
Parking
There is parking on-site, however we encourage lift-sharing wherever possible - please see this lift-share document.
Directions
Harvard Farm is at BA22 9SZ.
What3Words: routs.impresses.evenly
If coming from the north, take the Closworth turning off the A37 and go straight ahead for 1.5 miles until you see a red postbox on your right. Take this turning and follow the signs up to the farmyard. If coming from the other direction, the turning is on your left, about half a mile after Gerald Hallet land rovers.
Rampisham Hill Mill is at DT8 3PE
Turn off the A356 Crewkerne to Dorchester Road (sign posted Hooke and Powerstock) and Rampisham Hill Mill is the first place on the right hand side after about 500 yards. The farm is brick and flint buildings by the roadside.
Lift Share
We encourage lift sharing wherever possible and so we will make a liftsharing document available upon booking.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
