Hayfield Flower Festival and Well Dressing 2008

The Derbyshire custom of dressing wells dates back at least to the Celts and is a thanksgiving for the gift of water.  The first of our pictures depicts the dressing outside our church. The actual well, known as gospel well, is about 200 yards away. It is thought that the early Methodists met there before the chapel was built. If so John Wesley would certainly have preached there.

Our Flower festival is held in conjunction with Hayfield well dressing. It speaks of the beauty of creation, and allows our volunteer church members to express their creativity in the medium of flowers. It should not be seen as merely a pretty display but as small, though temporary works of  folk art. This years theme was "Nursery rhymes", and also included some children's poetry.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Our well dressing depicting "The Owl and the Pussy cat"	"The Owl and the pussy cat"	"Hush a bye baby"
"Polly put the kettle on"	"Oranges and lemons"	"The queen of hearts"
"Salt, mustard, vinegar, pepper.	"Mary , Mary, Quite contrary"	"Little Miss Muffet"
"Ring- a-ring a roses"	An interesting arrangement, beautifully created for the sheer joy of doing it. The only one in this years Flower festival which was not themed.