Druidicca gave a lot of thought to what we should do for Beltane this year. May is probably our favourite celebration, the time of year when the winter is finally past and our landscape is in bloom again. As Stonehenge Druids our grove has taken the ‘Mayday’ traditions into Westminster and Stonehenge, with music, dance and Maypole all according to the best old traditions. This year we wanted to support others and to enjoy being part of wider community celebrations that embrace all faiths and reflect the beauty of spring.

The Peterfield Fairy Festival embodies all that is good in the community. It is located within the beautiful setting of natural wood and heathland beside Petersfield Lake in Hampshire, the ancestors ‘faerie mounds’ all around. It is run by local people to raise money for the Rowans Hospice, although entry is free. All of the artists and performers gift their art. The whole thing is put together by Jill and her son Max with genuine hearts and a desire to shine a little light into this world...they do a great job.

Druidicca were delighted and honoured to be able to contribute and we had a great time ourselves. We enjoyed playing ‘Beltane’ for the opening ceremony, a fully amplified folk-rock set on Saturday Afternoon, and we played acoustically on Sunday between showers. We met many friends and made new ones. It was great to find our Druid colleague and Stonehenge Bard John, playing his harp, wonderful as ever.

Frank, Vikki and Jim jamming together before the opening ceremony

This is the joy of May, our local woodland this weekend. Beautiful !

Kelly is happy because her tent is up and it isn’t raining :-)

Our fellow Stonehenge Bard, friend and brilliant Harper...John Corin

They are always hungry!!!!

Jim holds up the first copy of the ‘Pagan Folk Against Fascism CD’, its beautifully finished. We darted off to the car to listen...wow !!

Performances at the festival are normally open air, but because of heavy rain forecast we cobbled together this interesting structure, the roof was hand made by ‘Pete the Wagon’.

Right: Sitting on a faerie mound, a faerie!

Where else would you see a spontaneous sight like this but Merry England in May?

Left: Soundcheck for our first ‘Outdoor, full power electric’ gig, Dean is very happy not to be using his electric kit though, great fun :-)

Happy Beltane!

Jill