Trip reports

Ham Street Fayre

Monday, 11 June 2007

For the first time this year volunteers from the group took part in the Ham Street Fayre, which consisted of a Country Fayre and a Transport Fayre. The event is a large one, with many different types of stall, exhibits and shows and draws thousands of people from the surrounding area.

The idea came from Vince our Treasurer who lives in the village and dealt with the permissions and arrangements for the pitch. He and his son Isaac invented a game for the youngsters. This involved a map with different locations and different pictures of birds, the aim being to match the bird to the location where it can be found.
The stall shown in the picture, involved erecting our marquee, always a challenge as there as so many different sized poles and connectors to sort out before even attempting to put the roof and sides on. Each time we use it we get better at this and Ron has overcome the problem of the number labels coming off the poles by making them up individually. Even so, just as we thought we had finished, there were a few tense moments when one of the roof struts came out of it's socket. Vince and Isaac came to the rescue, with Isaac on Vince's shoulders and the ever useful sellotape.
The weather was very good, hot and sunny and if anything a little too hot. As were a long way from the ice crème stall, it was necessary to run all the way back so that it hadn't all melted before reaching those manning the stall.
We were able to give out information about the Group and the RSPB and distribute leaflets about a whole range of bird related issues as well as helping with people's queries. Kirsty Noble did a splendid job of making sure passers by got a leaflet about the RSPB, despite a recent operation to her foot.
We also sold bird food and feeders and Keith Shepherd had set us up with Tombola for both days, which always proves popular.
We had a great deal of fun at the Fayre and were able to take turns looking after the stall so that we could also visit the other exhibits of the show.
We were able to see Peregrines diving almost over our heads to the Falconry display in the main ring, I tried to add Ruppels Griffon Vulture and Bald Eagle to my year list but others in the Group suggested this might be cheating!
Apart from meeting many members of the public and giving out advice and information, we were able to join one couple to the RSPB, and raised £212.80, which included £109.80 on tombola and sales of bird food, plus £17 for Pin Badges. From the game, sales of feeders/books etc and donations we raised £86.
My grateful thanks to Vince and Isaac Watkins, Ron and Jean Strachan, Pam Wade, Jenny Harley, Jane and Steve Cutt, Kirsty, Jez and Denise Noble who helped to put up and run the stall, Tony Dunstan and family who helped take the marquee down, Keith Shepherd for providing the Tombola and Phil, Natalie, and Rebecca Lightman who came along to support us on both days.