BEFORE WE GET INTO IT

BEFORE WE GET INTO IT

Three weeks into my little boy starting school, and life currently revolves around after-school clubs, an intense Riot and Ritual brand project and trying to keep my very tired four-year-old awake long enough to eat his tea.

It’s made me think even more about what MAM is really for. Finding joy where we live. Getting out and doing nice things, whether that’s on our own, with our kids, with old friends or with the new ones we find along the way.

And yes, I’m hearing whispers that something might be stirring in Ludlow for those of us who still fancy a proper dance. Maybe even a bit of dnb, garage and house. More on that another time.

For now, I’ve got a particularly good selection for you this week. Fire feasts, folklore, jazz, giant vegetables and plenty of reasons to make the most of this beautiful place we get to call home.

Sarah Seaton x

Head MAM/Editor

MABON: "I'd cross a border for this dinner"

MABON: FIRE & FEAST | CALDICOT CASTLE

I'm currently attempting to become one of those people who goes to the gym regularly, eats wonderfully nutritious food and generally makes sensible decisions.

My longstanding relationship with pastries is making this slightly complicated. Fortunately, I'm discovering that eating better and travelling for genuinely excellent food are entirely compatible ambitions. And I will absolutely travel for good food.

Last year, I celebrated my 40th with friends at one of Hungry Guy's slow-food feasts, and I've since become rather obsessed with live-fire cooking. My evening at Under the Nut Tree earlier this year only encouraged matters. Which explains why MABON has caught my attention.

This weekend, the grounds of Caldicot Castle will be filled with enormous cooking fires as some of the country's live-fire chefs gather for three days of food, folklore and autumn celebrations. Created by Hang Fire BBQ and Street Food Circus, the festival takes inspiration from Mabon and the autumn equinox, traditionally associated with the harvest and changing seasons.

Friday's four-course banquet brings everyone together around long tables for a feast cooked entirely over fire. The menu includes smoked beetroot with Welsh feta, smoked beef featherblade, pork belly with cider reduction and ember-cooked celeriac. There's pumpkin pie with burnt maple cream for pudding. That menu is doing absolutely nothing to help my restraint.

Across Saturday and Sunday, eight fire kitchens will be serving smaller dishes, alongside cooking demonstrations, natural wines, independent producers and a market celebrating Welsh ingredients. It's the kind of event that makes me excited about the future of our regional food scene.

We have an abundance of extraordinary ingredients, farming knowledge and independent food producers across the Marches. I'm fascinated by the people who find imaginative ways to bring all of that together. And there's something particularly lovely about gathering around a fire to eat, drink and spend an afternoon with people you enjoy.

A few things worth knowing: Children are welcome, although MABON is primarily a food event without the dedicated children's activities found at some other Street Food Circus festivals. Food is purchased separately from individual traders. It's cashless, outdoors and operates timed entry sessions, so book ahead.

25–27 September | Caldicot Castle, Monmouthshire

​Explore MABON and book tickets​

I DO LOVE A BIG VEGETABLE

An accidental family tradition and the nation's most competitive growers

MALVERN AUTUMN SHOW

I've been going to Malvern Autumn Show for the last few years. In fact, I took my little boy when he was just eight weeks old, and we've been back every year since.

Apparently, I've created a family tradition based largely around enormous vegetables. And I really do love the big veg.

The National Giant Vegetables Championship is genuinely one of my favourite parts of the show. The sheer dedication involved in growing something to such extraordinary proportions is fascinating. These growers spend months nurturing their prized vegetables, competing for national titles and, in some cases, Guinness World Records.

We're talking giant marrows, enormous pumpkins, spectacularly long beans and sunflowers that have clearly decided ordinary dimensions aren't for them. I have enormous respect for anyone who becomes this dedicated to their craft.

The competition is just one part of the Malvern Autumn Show, which returns to the Three Counties Showground this weekend. There's also the RHS Flower Show, with spectacular autumn planting displays and some of the country's leading nurseries. The Dhalias there are the best I've EVER seen. The Harvest Pavilion hosts more than 100 growing classes, while the Great Malvern Cake Off celebrates another group of people who take their creations very seriously indeed.

Good old Monty Don is appearing on Saturday, with Joanna Page joining the programme on Sunday. I particularly enjoy wandering among the independent food producers, discovering something delicious to take home and inevitably buying plants I hadn't planned on purchasing.

There's also a vintage village, rural crafts and an opportunity to explore all sorts of traditional skills. And, having experienced this show at practically every stage of my little boy's life, I can confidently say there's plenty to keep younger visitors occupied.

This year brings an expanded farm area, where children can meet animals, alongside the Family Zone and vintage funfair. It's the kind of outing where you can spend an entire day exploring without running out of things to see.

A few useful details: Children under 16 can attend without an admission charge, although they still need a ticket. Standard parking is included, and you can bring a picnic. Sunday is the show's designated dog day, but the additional dog tickets are currently sold out.

25–27 September, 9am–6pm | Three Counties Showground, Malvern

Adult advance tickets start at £22.

​Malvern Autumn Show tickets and information​

SEALS, STOLEN SKINS AND A BIT OF MAGIC

My fantasy-reading obsession has followed me to Leominster

THE SEVEN TEARS OF THE SELKIE

I've been disappearing into some rather wonderful fictional worlds recently. Having worked my way through a considerable amount of Sarah J. Maas, I've also been reading Sarah Painter's Unholy Island books.

Which brings me to selkies. If you've encountered these creatures in folklore or fantasy fiction, you'll know they're rather fascinating.

For everyone else, selkies are mythical beings from Scottish and other northern coastal folklore. They live as seals in the sea but can shed their skins to take human form. Their stories frequently involve love, longing, transformation and the consequences of having their freedom taken away. Quite a lot of emotional baggage for something that spends much of its life looking adorable on a rock.

Having recently encountered them in my reading, imagine my delight at discovering that Leominster's Fetch Theatre is bringing these extraordinary creatures to life this Saturday. The Seven Tears of the Selkie is a new production inspired by traditional folklore and told almost entirely without words.

One puppeteer performs the entire show, bringing a collection of intricate Bunraku-style puppets to life alongside original music and a transforming set. I find it fascinating how these ancient stories continue to inspire contemporary artists and writers.

Folklore has travelled across countries and generations, surviving because people keep finding new ways to tell the stories. There's something particularly satisfying about discovering an imaginative production like this happening in one of our smaller local venues. It's also a wonderful introduction to folklore for younger audiences, provided they're happy sitting through an hour-long performance.

The production is recommended for adults and children aged five and over.

Saturday 26 September, 7pm | District Community Association, School Road, Leominster

Doors open at 6.40pm.

​Book The Seven Tears of the Selkie​

SHREWSBURY IS OUT OUT

Pride, punk, drag and an entire town getting involved

SHREWSBURY PRIDE

Shrewsbury Pride's programme looks particularly spectacular this weekend. Across three days, independent venues throughout the town are hosting live music, art, cabaret, community activities and plenty of opportunities to dance. Saturday's parade begins in the Square at midday, with participants gathering from 11.45am.

There's quite a lot happening afterwards. LOOP is hosting Pride Punk, bringing together live bands, alternative music, burlesque and drag, with SQUARE WILD among the performers.

Over at English Bridge Studios, there's a market showcasing local LGBTQ+ artists, alongside an installation called Monumental Loss, developed through community workshops.

I like the evening plans here, in particular. From 7pm until midnight, English Bridge Studios will host Revolution Grooves, bringing together funk, soul, disco, house, reggae and global beats.

Meanwhile, Albert's Shed is hosting live music throughout Saturday afternoon and evening, while The Hive has Pride Cabaret from 7pm.

There's also Camp Karaoke on Friday evening at In Good Hands. For those who prefer a more relaxed atmosphere, In Good Hands is hosting live performances and a poetry open mic on Saturday.

I truly admire how many independent spaces are involved. Events like this give local artists, performers and venues an opportunity to collaborate while bringing people together. The weekend includes some lovely options for families.

On Saturday morning, Shrewsbury Library is hosting a drop-in art activity where children can create community-inspired portraits with artist Rachel Evans.

On Sunday, The Hive is handing things over to gaming enthusiasts, with Dungeons & Dragons, board games, traders and plenty of opportunities to meet people who share your interests.

There's something for practically every kind of Pride celebration, whether that involves an afternoon exploring exhibitions or staying out dancing.

25–27 September | Various venues across Shrewsbury

​Explore the full Shrewsbury Pride programme​

MAKE SOMETHING THAT LASTS

Help an internationally recognised artist create a little piece of Hay Castle's future

REBECCA LOUISE LAW AT HAY CASTLE

Imagine helping to create an extraordinary work of art, then returning next spring to discover how your contribution has become part of something enormous. That's precisely what's happening at Hay Castle this week.

Artist Rebecca Louise Law is internationally recognised for her extraordinary installations created from thousands of individual flowers and plants. Her work often involves suspending botanical materials to create immersive environments, allowing visitors to experience familiar plants and flowers in completely unexpected ways.

Now she's creating a new installation inspired by the landscape surrounding Hay Castle and she's inviting us to help.

From Thursday to Sunday, Rebecca is running a series of workshops where participants will head into the surrounding countryside to gather botanical materials. Back at the castle, they'll work alongside the artist, wiring the collected plants into clusters that will eventually form part of her finished installation. The artwork is due to be installed in spring 2027. It's all such a gorgeous way to create art.

So much of our landscape changes throughout the seasons. Here, the plants we encounter this autumn will become part of an artwork that people can experience next spring. There's something lovely about that connection between a place, the people who live around it and the art it inspires.

You don't need any artistic experience to participate, and the workshops are open to all. Spaces are limited, however, and some sessions are already filling up.

24–27 September, 9.30am–1pm | Hay Castle

No admission charge, but advance booking is essential.

​Book Rebecca Louise Law's botanical workshops​

A Spitfire, a swing dance and the extraordinary power of knitting

WELSHPOOL 1940s WEEKEND

Welshpool is preparing to transport itself back to the 1940s this weekend. Expect vintage vehicles, historical re-enactors, military displays, swing dancing and plenty of people dressed for the occasion. There's even a Spitfire.

If you fancy trying your hand at something resembling the dance moves of the era, Friday evening brings the Swing Commanders, followed by Saturday's Blitz Ball with the Ashby Little Big Band. Visitors are encouraged to embrace the period's fashions, so expect plenty of excellent vintage outfits.

But there's another reason I'd particularly recommend visiting Welshpool this week. The Longest Yarn: Britain at War is currently on display at Welshpool Town Hall.

This remarkable exhibition uses knitting and crochet to depict scenes from the Second World War, exploring everything from the Blitz to the experiences of people living through rationing and wartime Britain.

The sheer amount of work involved is extraordinary. I do enjoy creative projects that take familiar subjects and tell their stories through unexpected materials. There's something powerful about using a traditional domestic craft to explore such an enormous historical event.

The exhibition runs until Wednesday 30 September, making this weekend a good opportunity to combine it with the town's celebrations.

Welshpool's main weekend programme is largely accessible without an admission charge, although some evening entertainment requires tickets.

25–27 September | Welshpool, Powys

​Explore Welshpool 1940s Weekend​

​Discover The Longest Yarn exhibition​

Ancient stones, wartime secrets and the Wye Valley's hidden stories

ROSS WALKING FESTIVAL

I'm increasingly convinced that one of the greatest pleasures of exploring the Marches is discovering the history hiding in perfectly ordinary-looking places. A field, an old footpath, an abandoned building. There's almost always a story.

Which brings me to Ross Walking Festival. This weekend, experienced guides will be leading walks across the Wye Valley, Forest of Dean and surrounding countryside, with routes ranging from gentle riverside strolls to considerably more ambitious adventures.

Friday's programme includes a particularly intriguing walk from Llandogo towards Cleddon Falls, through ancient woodland and onwards to the Neolithic Harold's Stones at Trellech. You'll also visit a historic well and explore some extraordinary corners of the landscape.

Be warned, though. This one's a fairly strenuous ten-mile walk, so come prepared. Another Friday walk follows the River Wye to the site of a secret Second World War aircraft crash.

Rather than simply visiting the location, participants will hear the story behind the incident and its wartime significance. It's an accessible four-mile route, with dogs on leads welcome.

Saturday offers something gentler. A three-and-a-half-mile afternoon walk explores the River Wye, Wilton Castle and the fascinating history of Ross-on-Wye, which has a claim to being the birthplace of British tourism. There's also a walk through the woodland around Cannop Ponds and opportunities to explore lesser-known paths around the Golden Valley.

On Sunday, walkers can tackle the Skirrid and Sugarloaf challenge or explore two Victorian suspension bridges before finishing with a brewery tasting. The organisers have done a lovely job of combining exercise with local history and experiences that you might otherwise never discover.

Most walks cost £5. A little practical advice: check the distances, terrain and suitability for children or dogs before booking. Some routes involve several hours of walking, and places are limited.

25–27 September | Ross-on-Wye and surrounding countryside

​Explore the Ross Walking Festival programme​

THE NICE PILE

A generous collection of other things happening across the Marches this week. Consider your diary warned.

BEER IN A MEDIEVAL CHURCH

Shrewsbury CAMRA Beer & Cider Festival takes over the magnificent St Mary's Church until Saturday 26 September. More than 100 real ales and around 20 ciders and perries, served beneath centuries-old stained glass and a remarkable carved wooden ceiling. Quite the setting for a pint.

​Festival information and tickets​

SOMETHING FOR THE INDIE-FOLK CROWD

Leeds band The Dunwells are playing LOOP in Shrewsbury tonight, Thursday 24 September, supported by Joel Gardner and Oli Bates. If you're looking for somewhere to go after work, doors open at 6pm and the headline performance starts at 9pm.

​Book The Dunwells at LOOP​

A VERY PARISIAN EVENING IN PRESTEIGNE

Mid Border Arts is hosting The Velvet Violin on Saturday 26 September, featuring Whiskey Moon Face and Little Rumba. Expect accordion, clarinet, folk, ragtime, blues and music that sounds as though it belongs in a slightly disreputable Parisian basement. There's also a rather peculiar musical quiz.

Tickets: £15, or £10 for under-25s.

​Book The Velvet Violin​

GET YOUR HANDS ON A 19TH-CENTURY PRINTING PRESS

Hay Castle is hosting a letterpress workshop on Saturday 26 September, where participants can create their own posters using traditional wooden type and the castle's historic Columbian press. A lovely opportunity to experience traditional printing techniques with experienced practitioners. Tickets are £45.

​Book the Hay Castle letterpress workshop​

SMALL ANIMALS, BIG EXCITEMENT

Also at Hay Castle on Saturday, Kington's Small Breeds Farm Park is bringing guinea pigs, pygmy goats (my absoloute fave), sheep and other animals to the castle lawn. An easy addition to a day exploring Hay with little ones. The animals arrive at 11am, and there's no admission charge.

​Hay Castle's events programme​

FIVE HISTORICAL DISASTERS IN ONE EVENING

Historian and comedian Paul Coulter brings 5 Mistakes That Changed History to Theatre Severn on Sunday 27 September. The show explores some extraordinary historical blunders and the consequences that followed. A particularly appealing combination for anyone who enjoys history with a generous helping of comedy.

Suitable for ages 12 and over. Tickets are £25.

​Book 5 Mistakes That Changed History​

MAKE MONDAY INTERESTING

Herefordshire promoters Weirdshire are bringing former Trembling Bells singer Lavinia Blackwall to De Koffie Pot in Hereford on Monday 28 September. She's performing with her full band, bringing together psychedelic folk, rock and some rather wonderful musical experimentation. For £11, it's an excellent excuse to make an evening of your Monday.

This is an adults-only gig.

​Book Lavinia Blackwall​

SOMETHING COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS

Spike Milligan and Ronnie Barker's The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town arrives at Theatre Severn on Tuesday 29 September. Celebrating 50 years since its original television broadcast, the new stage adaptation promises a healthy dose of surreal comedy, dreadful puns and thoroughly peculiar Victorian nonsense.

​Book The Phantom Raspberry Blower​

TAKE A CREATIVE WEDNESDAY WALK

Meadow Arts is hosting another of its wonderful Golden Valley creative walks on Wednesday 30 September. Led by artist Adrienne Craddock, this session explores the countryside around Cusop, combining walking with creative activities inspired by the landscape. The walks are specifically for Golden Valley residents, with no previous artistic experience required.

Participation is free, but booking is essential.

​Book Meadow Arts' creative walk​

SOME PROPER ROCK AND ROLL HISTORY

Graham Parker is performing at Theatre Severn on Wednesday 30 September. The British singer-songwriter is celebrating 50 years since the release of his early albums Howlin' Wind and Heat Treatment. An opportunity to catch one of the artists who helped shape Britain's pub-rock and new-wave scenes.

​Theatre Severn programme​

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