Test Valley Tales

08/05/2024

PLEASE SHARE!

The Whitchurch Folk Festival is a huge community event with over 20 free events for the people of Whitchurch to get involved in. Ahead of the craziness this Saturday (500 tickets have been sold - we really don't think the town knows what's about to hit it!) we want to thank everyone who has been involved.

This includes all the local businesses that have lent their time and space to making this happen. A huge thank you to the hosts of our "Festival Hub" - Steve & Lucy at The Kings Arms Whitchurch, and Rob & Jen at Kudos Living.

Massive thanks to Longdog Brewery for running the bars at All Hallows Church and Testbourne School.

To The Bell Inn and The White Hart, hosts of our singarounds, storytelling and tunes sessions, we couldn't make merry without you!

To Keith Bell at The Whitchurch Acoustic Sessions for gamely stepping up and running our Fringe Stage. (And if you want to perform still, he's the man to reach out to!)

To Testbourne Community School, Parish Hall Whitchurch, and Whitchurch Montessori for the use of your premises, either as dance halls, stages or car parks.

Special thanks to All Hallows, Whitchurch Baptist Church and Whitchurch Methodist Church for lending us your buildings as venues. We promise to put them back into good working order before you next need them!

Special thanks to the Whitchurch Town Council for the use of your buildings and your help with various logistical matters. And to the Gill Nethercott Centre for being our Artists' Hub. Also to Whitchurch Cricket Club for helping out with parking.

We can't wait to dance out on the Whitchurch Silk Mill lawn, so thanks to Sue and the team for letting us do so.

A huge thanks to all our artists and workshop leaders for taking a chance on a reborn festival. To Jackie Oates, Nick Hart & Tom Moore, Magpie Lane, Frankie Archer, Sam Sweeney & Louis Campbell, James Delarre and Saul Rose, Ellie Gowers, Benji Kirkpatrick, The Norfolk Broads, Maddie Morris, Coracle, Miranda Rutter & Rob Harbron, Good Habits, Patakas, Anna Tabbush, FolkActive Youth Ensemble, Testbourne Folk Club, Andover Museum Loft Singers and the Southampton Folk Orchestra, Shoes on Theatre, Jigfoot, Out of Hand and Test Valley Tales - we can't wait to welcome you all to the North Wessex Downs!

We're also very excited about seeing Bampton Morris, Boss Morris and Mayfly Morris strut their stuff, and very keen to eat the fine foodstuffs of Crepe Britain, Thai Bites, Garden Restaurants and The Vegan Street Diner.

It's going to be MASSIVE! We'll see you bright and early this Saturday!

21/07/2023

12/02/2023

... ... Wherwell is wonderful. It is such a great place for a wander, with its little lanes that cross over the river as it makes its way through the village, winding aroundhouses and lapping at the edge of gardens. As you walk along Fullerton Road, you will come across a beautiful wooden bridge which spans the River Test at
its widest point in the village. It sweeps round from the road to the Cow Meadows (as they are called). This bridge is a perfect spot for looking down into the water where you can see huge trout shimmying lazily in unison as the sun shines on the surface of the water that, being a chalk stream, is always cool below ... .... "
Taken from the introduction to 'The Cockatrice of Wherwell' from the Test Valley Tales book and podcast.
💚
💙
Video taken this morning on a chilly day in February, not so much sun shining on the water today, but still a beautiful place to visit, whatever the weather! 😍🍃
💙
💚

04/12/2022

GIVEAWAY!!🎉🍃😁
Hello folks! Don't forget to enter my competition on Instagram to win a copy of my 'Test Valley Tales' paperback to celebrate the lead up to Christmas!! 🌲🤗
I have Pinned the original Competition post, to my Instagram feed so it's easy to find and then all you have to do is follow the steps below! Good Luck!! 🤞

TO ENTER:

🍃Like the competition post
🍃Follow my account and my account
🍃Tag a friend who will also receive one of the books
🍃For an extra entry! 🎉 Share this post in your stories, but please remember to Tag me so I know you have posted!

Thanks 😃x

This giveaway closes on Monday 5th December 22.
Winners will be picked randomly and announced on Tuesday 6th December 22.
🍃Good Luck!🍃

What is Test Valley Tales about?
Test Valley Tales is suitable for all ages and will make a great Christmas gift for a friend (or present for yourself!! 😉).
🍃
From dragons and magical fish to enchanted trees and spectral horses, Test Valley Tales brings the landscape of Hampshire to life through its 10 short stories and accompanying artwork.
Based on folktales and legends, the Test Valley Tales book also includes an illustrated map, facts, folklore and links for crafts😁
🍃
As well as reading at home, the paperback is perfect to pop in a tote bag or rucksack and take with you on story walks and adventures!

For Instagram: This promotion is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram, Inc. by entering entrants confirm they are 13+ years of ages, release Instagram of responsibility, and agree to Instagram's terms of use.

18/11/2022

GIVEAWAY!!🎉🍃😁
Hello folks!
Over on Instagram, I am giving away 2 copies of my 'Test Valley Tales' paperback to celebrate the lead up to Christmas!! 🌲🤗
Test Valley Tales is suitable for all ages and will make a great Christmas gift for a friend (or present for yourself!! 😉).
🍃
From dragons and magical fish to enchanted trees and spectral horses, Test Valley Tales brings the landscape of Hampshire to life through its 10 short stories and accompanying artwork.
Based on folktales and legends, the Test Valley Tales book also includes an illustrated map, facts, folklore and links for crafts😁
🍃
As well as reading at home, the paperback is perfect to pop in a tote bag or rucksack and take with you on story walks and adventures!

TO ENTER:
Find me on Instagram as then:

🍃Like this post
🍃Follow this account and my storytelling account
🍃Tag a friend who will receive one of the books
🍃For an extra entry, 🎉 you could share this post in your stories but please remember to Tag me so I know you have posted!

Thanks😃

This giveaway closes on Monday 5th December 22.
Winners will be picked randomly and announced on Tuesday 6th December 22.
🍃Good Luck!🍃
For Instagram: This promotion is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram, Inc. by entering entrants confirm they are 13+ years of ages, release Instagram of responsibility, and agree to Instagram's terms of use.

16/09/2022

Paul was one of the kindest and most generous people I have ever met. He was also an outstanding musician and I was thrilled that he was able to provide the music and create the theme tune for the Test Valley Tales podcast. He was a great supporter of the project and so it is with the utmost disbelief and deep sadness that I share the following.

The following is a statement from Angela, James, Will and Joe Sartin.

“It is with great sadness that we must announce the passing of our beloved Paul, who left us unexpectedly yesterday evening. We know that he was someone who brought wonderful music into your lives, and that so many of you counted him as a close and dear friend. We have lost a son and a father, and while we ask now that we are allowed to mourn Paul in private, we understand that many of you will have lovely memories that you would like to share. We invite you to do this in the comments beneath this post so that we can read them when we feel ready."

27/08/2022

Congratulations to Samantha Britton for winning one of Maija's amazing Test Valley Tales artworks 🎉
Thankyou Maija for running this fabulous competition.
Maija's artwork and cards are still available to buy at Unity Arts in Andover (along side the Test Valley Tales books) so please pop in to have a look! 🍃💚

25/08/2022

24/08/2022

Please join and myself tomorrow morning at 11am at Unity Art Studios in Andover where we will be sharing how we were inspired by the beautiful landscape of Test Valley to create the stories and artwork for Test Valley Tales.
I may even tell a tale or two😁
Maija's artwork for sale and I will be signing books.
This event is part of Hampshire Open Studios events.
We look forward to seeing you !
Thanks, Amanda 💚🍃
Hampshire Open Studios

22/08/2022

Hampshire Open Studios runs from 20-29 August. It's a great opportunity to meet Hampshire artists by visiting galleries and home studios and maybe invest in some wonderful art.
I'm excited that the new Test Valley Tales paperback is available to buy at Unity Arts in Andover alongside artist Maija Liepins amazing artwork from the book.
She's also created a range of cards of the artwork which are just beautiful and would suit even the smallest budget.
If you are local, please pop in to take a look!

22/08/2022

With the launch of the Test Valley Tales paperback, I have been going through pics and vids from the journey of Test Valley Tales and have found this little vid, taken last year when everything was a little greener.
This is me discovering the location of the first story - 'The Ghost Vicar if Verrnham Dean'
There is a lovely walk from the playground in Verrnham Dean which takes you along a path, through a tunnel of small trees and into the churchyard where you will find the beautiful little church.
Churches are usually found in the centre of the village, but this one is curiously right on the edge which makes it feel very solitary - perfect for the setting of a local ghost legend.
There are wonderful views of the surrounding landscape on the walk up there. It's well worth the wander!
And in the graveyard there are a number of yews which, among other things, were thought to ward off witches and evil spirits, so there's no need to worry about any ghosts you may encounter there.😃

You can read my version of 'The Ghost Vicar of Verrnham Dean' in the Test Valley Tales book, which you can buy via my website:
https//www.merry-go-roundstorytelling.co.uk/shop
Test Valley Arts Foundation
Test Valley Borough Council

20/08/2022

Great to see my Test Valley Tales book on sale today in in Andover next to beautiful art cards!

19/08/2022

This is the new 'Test Valley Tales' paperback which is available to buy from 20th August.
🍃It's full of folktales, legends, facts and folklore about the beautiful Test Valley in Hampshire.
🍃There's even a map, so you can visit the story location yourself.
🍃And with beautiful artwork created for each story, there's a lot to love about this book. 😁But don't take my word for it! Why not have a look yourself!😉
🍃For information about where to buy the book please go to: www.merry-go-roundstorytelling.co.uk/testvalleytales
🍃
(The Test Valley Tales book is part of an Arts Council funded project, and a Test Valley Borough of Culture Legacy project. Its aim is to encourage families to explore the landscape through its folktales and legends).
🍃Music for this video is from the Pyle Family manuscript of 1822, recorded at Wildgoose Records in Wherwell Hampshire - one of the story locations- 'The Cockatrice of Wherwell' !
🍃Maija Liepins, Artist
#

19/08/2022

One day to go before you can buy the new paperback Test Valley Tales!! 🎉🍃

18/08/2022

2 days to go until the 'Test Valley Tales' paperback is released!

17/08/2022

3 days to go for the release of the long awaited Test Valley Tales paperback! 🎉💚🍃
Yippee!!!

08/08/2022

What a great time we had yesterday at Trout 'n About with Test Valley Arts Foundation and artist Lou Dixon.
Here's a couple of pics of me followed by a few baby ducks who were also having a lovely time at Trout 'n About🤗