WONDERFUL IMAGES FROM THE CLECKHEATON HARVEST SHOW
Whitechapel Church joined with Whitechapel Primary School this Saturday to host the third Cleckheaton Harvest Festival which saw amateur bakers, preservers, gardeners and allotment owners of all ages presenting their produce and creations to be judged by local residents and farmers.
Vicar of the Cleckheaton Churches, Revd Brunel James, says, “Thanks to everyone who helped make the Whitechapel harvest show a great success!”
There were a large variety of stalls and children’s activities at the Show along with a ‘Petting Animals Great and Small’ area, a café with homemade cakes and a seasonal display from Whitechapel School’s allotment, including a giant pumpkin weigh–in featuring the vegetable grown by pupils at the School.
There was also a Fair Trade focus this year, as the Revd Tina Walker ran a Fair Trade stall and activity area.
Kirklees has more than 1,800 allotment plots on 100 sites, so the Show was the perfect place to get ideas, inspiration and information for local allotments, as well as giving children the opportunity to see and learn more about where the produce they eat comes from by talking to local animal owners.
PRESENT YOUR PRODUCE AT THE THIRD CLECKHEATON HARVEST SHOW!
Whitechapel Church have joined with Whitechapel Primary School to host the third Cleckheaton Harvest Festival which will see amateur bakers, preservers, gardeners and allotment owners of all ages presenting their produce and creations to local residents and farmers.
The Show is the third of its kind in Cleckheaton and will be held at Whitechapel CofE Primary School on Saturday the 3rd October.
Vicar of the Cleckheaton Churches, Revd Brunel James, says, “The background to this is that we want to have a focus in our churches each October on God as Creator, building on the existing tradition of harvest festivals and expanding into related themes like environmental stewardship and trade justice.
“Our Harvest Show on the first Saturday of October is a community event that celebrates our creative working with God’s gifts in Creation, and it includes an act of worship.”
He explains, “I got a group together to organise these shows as a way of enriching Whitechapel Church’s relationship with the new CofE School next door, and drawing the wider community into a celebration of our God-given creativity, as we work with the gifts of God in creation.
“The Show has helped us connect with local farmers and animal lovers and channels some of the enthusiasm generated by programmes like ‘The Great British Bake-off’.
“We are getting increasing support from the school who have developed thriving Garden and Eco clubs, and they will be showing the produce they have grown and things they have made, such as scarecrows.”
Residents will bring their baked, preserved and home grown produce for judging, while the Show will also host a giant pumpkin weigh–in with the vegetable grown by pupils at Whitechapel School.
The Show will also hold a variety of stalls and children’s activities as well as a ‘Petting Animals Great and Small’ area, a café with homemade cakes and a seasonal display from Whitechapel School’s allotment.
Revd Brunel James adds, “This year we will have a strong Fair Trade focus, as the Revd Tina Walker will be running a Fair Trade stall and activity area.
“The Harvest Show acts as a curtain raiser for all age services and school assemblies over the month – and this year we are focusing these acts of worship on our relationship with animals within the Creation (the Cleckheaton Churches will also be holding pet services throughout October, more information here: http://www.westyorkshiredales.anglican.org/content/first-pet-service-wakefield-cathedral-st-francis).”
Kirklees has more than 1,800 allotment plots on 100 sites, but the waiting lists are growing as the popularity of allotments keeps climbing.
Whitechapel Church’s Harvest Show is the perfect place to get ideas, inspiration and information for local allotments, as well as giving children the opportunity to see and learn more about where the produce they eat comes from by talking to local animal owners.
The Harvest Show is being held at Whitechapel Church of England Primary School, Whitechapel Road, Cleckheaton, BD19 6HR.
Doors open at 1pm and entries for judging to be registered by 1.45pm
Further information about the show can be found at www.white-chapel.org.uk/show