St Davids Goes Wild Again! - a review of 2008...

There was enormous fun and fabulous food on offer at the fourth Really Wild Festival in St Davids, Pembrokeshire at the end of August. How we managed to get the driest weekend of the summer was one more of Mother Nature’s Little Secrets and it was a glorious sight to see crowds making the most of fine weather. The Marquee went on for ever, the whole length of the field in fact, but was full to bursting inside and out. Dingles the Marquee Hire Company said they had never put up such a long tent, so that was another first for us!

The new venue worked well, and with little glimpses of the sea and Cathedral Tower and stunning views of the surrounding countryside, it proved to be a near perfect setting. It continues to be a friendly, laid-back and relaxing event as it grows larger each year with the increase in visitors and greater choice of things to take part in or watch. There were more Walks and Talks and demonstrations up for grabs this year and more people to take advantage of them.

For the first time there were all sorts of livestock, of the furry, feathery, woolly, and hairy varieties, plus creepy crawlies, all of which entertained visitors of all ages. And did anyone notice the duckling?

Pembrokeshire Wildfowlers and the British Association of Shooting and Conservation put on wonderful displays of gundog training, and Pembrokeshire Birds of Prey let the public get up close and meet these beautiful creatures. The Pygmy and Boer goats with Tim Caddy were popular with small children and those who decided to chance their luck with a flutter on the ferret racing were not disappointed with the ferrets’ antics, even if their bets were unsuccessful.

The energetic and competitive visitor could indulge in axe-throwing at a target with Stoatwood Bushcraft, or wellie-wanging to see who could throw a wellington boot the longest distance. Fortunately the axe-throwers were decidedly more accurate then a lot of the wellie-wangers. Wellies flew in all directions and provided enormous entertainment. The winners of the Really Wild Wellie Wanging competitions were Holly Ricketts from Frome in Somerset with a wang of 20.95m and David Roberts from Cwmffrwd, Carmarthen with 29m. The children’s competition was won by Finn Livingstone from Bristol with 18.70m. We hope they will all come back next year to defend their titles!

The Really Wild Quiz winner was Paddy Gallagher from Merlin’s Bridge, Haverfordwest, and the Really Wild Decorated Stand Competition produced some superb interpretations but the overall winner was West Valley Honey Farm who had a beautiful display including live bees, honeycomb, beeswax, wildflowers and traditional straw bee skeps.”

Local chefs were showcased this year and from Newport we had Scott Davis and Guy Morris who both work at Llys Meddyg and Alastair Vaan who owns Y Mochyn Drwg. Steven Lowndes who is the chef at The Refectory in St. Davids Cathedral demonstrated how to make best use of ingredients from the wild in everyday meals with local fish, game and hedgerow pickings.

Stories for children, talks for adults and walks for everyone…. with entertainment, music, delicious food and drinks to while away the day, who could find a better place to be than in St. Davids?

2009 Festival - September 5th & 6th
See you there!