The sun was shining and bees were buzzing for our third HuG Moorlands Green Arts Festival on Saturday 24 June at the Foxlowe Arts Centre. Visitors young and older swarmed from as far afield as Chesterfield, Cambridge and Kent to join the many Moorlanders enjoying a full day of music, poetry, arts and crafts.

MCA’s Events Coordinator Lindsay Trevarthen said, “We were delighted with the turn out for our annual fundraiser for the Foxlowe’s ongoing energy efficiency programme. The sun shone upon us, and everyone commented on the wonderful atmosphere. Many thanks to all who took part — stallholders, councillors, artists, musicians and volunteers and a special shout out for town crier Bill Lomas, who opened this wonderful day. Young people were such a central part of the event, and the Young Phoenix Singers stole the show. The central theme of this year was the importance of bees and other pollinators for our environment. The amazing Pif-Paf Bee Cart – brought to Leek by the OUTSIDE arts project — provided a buzz throughout the day. Here’s to 2024!”

Save the date for next year – Saturday 22 June – when the theme will be trees!