HEDGERLEY EVENTS

Village FUNd raising events that are not just about the money and some that are just FUN
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About Us
 
Hedgerley Events are run by the Hedgerley Events Committee. We hold a series of local events where we hope to promote village life and at the same time raise some much needed funds for St Mary's Church, our fantastic new Youth Hut and other local charities.
 
As in previous years half of the money we raise goes to St Mary's, a quarter to the Youth club and this year a quarter to "The Foyer"

 
In 2008 thanks to the Fun Day and to the very successsful Open Gardens and Art Show run by the Webbs and Mitchells we raised nearly £10,000 of which 50% went to the Church, and 25% each to the Youth Club and to the Chilltern Samaritans. Money was also raised by the Spring Fling - a record profit under new management, the Wine Tasting, the barbecue, the quiz and Maureen's Xmas Event.
History
 
The origins of the Hedgerley festival, like so much in Hedgerley, are lost in the mists of time, but a significant antecedent was a village fete that was held in the grounds of Court Farm. It was for the benefit of the Church and the Conservative association. In the 1970s, the fete shifted to the village green with the addition of the car boot sale, always a controversial aspect. The charitable focus broadened to encompass other charities and particularly those where there was a local connection.
Hedgerley has always had a range of activities going on, run by various groups and often with a charitable purpose.  The Festival week was a natural grouping of some of these and whilst the mixture of events has constantly changed certain features have remained fixed - the fun day on the village green on August bank holiday Monday and the BBQ on the following Sunday. Central to Hedgerley life for centuries has been the church and whilst we live in a more secular age, it still remains a focus for village life. The Hedgerley festival has always been intrinsically linked to the Patronal festival of Mary and evensong has traditionally kicked off the festival on the Sunday before the fun day, finishing with the Patronal service on the Sunday following.
A further aspect that is rarely articulated but is important, is that the festival acts as a catalyst for the community to come together and so strengthen relationships and ties across the village. In these times when a sense of community is all too often lost, Hedgerley stands as a distinctive example of communality in action.