We went to the Festival of Thrift. Its a pretty amazing collection of everything you could think of to do with recycling, reusing and reducing in general. Its an annual event and this year was held in the Mighty Redcar - a place I have some fondness for as I worked there for a few years in my previous life as a daily grinder. I'm not sure but I think its very much a Northeast event and is held up here rather they being a national thing- I hope so because its good to see something so positive happen in an area which often get neglected when it come to culture.. (yes I know that is up for debate but compared to the south it is poorly served).
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| cardboard art |
The traffic approaching the area was terrible but there was plenty of on site parking and in the end the event was worth the waiting in lines along the the A174.. I don't now how the festival organisers could change that - its just a testament to how popular the event is!!!
The festival was much bigger then I expected it to be, sited in the grounds of Kirkleathem Hall, a place which in spite of being on the doorstep I had never been to before. The Hall looked really interesting and I will be heading back to look again when it isn't surrounded by fabulous craft stalls, amazing food, workshops to build go karts (or bogeys as we called them,) bird boxes , tetrapac wallets... and much much more. All giving tips on how to be more environmentally aware, repurposing and potentially save the planet in a fun and often very creative way.
There was skill sharing in abundance... lots of workshops on the go, weaving, lino printing, with woodwork, felting, tea blending, fairy wings, cooking on open fires ..... the list could go on forever such diversity and so entertaining and a really excellent introduction or affirmation of sustainable living!
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| gateposts at Kirkleatham Hall |
It was a fairly huge affair, we kept thinking we had got to the end of it all and then round the corner it would stretch away yet more stalls and more recycling ideas and opportunities to try things. There was live music and street theatre and places to picnic it was a buzzing place and a very excellent day out just wandering about.
After covering every last bit of the festival but still not finding a coffee place without a massive queue we headed down to the Mighty Redcar sea front. The tide was well in so forgoing coffee we got a Lemontop ice cream- possibly one of the best ice creams in the world defo up there with Rome ones and instead of a stroll on the beach we climbed the vertical pier. I personally don't care much for this particular structure - I'm guessing its built from steel to represent the steel works that Redcar is so famous for (not having any more) - I think the pier is ugly but it does give amazing views up and down the coast line and through the telescope on the top it is possible to see Sunderland!!!
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| iconic Redcar with Steel works in the distance |
Sadly Redcar looked very empty... hopefully everyone was up at the festival learning tips to try and save the planet ... but there was still an air of abandonment and slight despair - I really hope Redcar isn't as doomed as it felt on that late Saturday afternoon... hurrah for lemontops I say ... but not much solace to locals losing industry and job opportunities....
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