The second annual Newbiggin village springs festival, held on the green next to ‘Prospect' well had to decamp into the village hall, after wind threatened the marquees. But nothing could stop local community and visitors joining in the spirit of things with music from local fiddlers, traditional children's games, clowning around juggling and fun continuing inside. Even the maypole came into the hall so that local children could display their traditional maypole dancing skills in the dry.

The community enjoyed a traditional Cumbrian ham and salad platter with delicious home made sponge cakes. While children made light work of the coconut shy winning pockets full of prizes. Everyone was definitely a winner at the Newbiggin fair!

At 3pm a break in the weather allowed a fiddler to lead everyone to the green for the dog show. It was a noisy affair with three categories; most handsome dog, most obedient (a contradiction in terms) and veteran dog. This was also a chance for people to look around the wells and enjoy a seat in the sunshine.

The Our Green Space project, run by Friends of the Lake District and Action for Communities in Cumbria, works with local communities to look after and celebrate the open green spaces of Cumbria's towns and villages. It has helped local volunteers to restore and protect the heritage of Newbiggin's village greens and its two springs with their beautifully designed sandstone flow troughs and covered wells. The project began in January 2008 and runs until December this year.

The May Festival was a celebration of all the hard work the community has put into improving their village green and the restoration of the wells. The project has included drainage and repair work to the registered village green, as well as new bench seats, historical research and interpretation boards.
Volunteers and local school children have planted native wetland meadow plants and trees around the wells. The wells project is now a wonderful outdoor classroom environment for learning about local cultural heritage and biodiversity.
An indoor exhibition space within the new village hall will house information on the project and historical research.

Project officer Roe Baker said: "There's been an astounding transformation in the village, it's not just the physical changes at the wells themselves that surprise you it's the spirit of the community. The project has definitely acted as a catalyst to bring the heart back into the village and it's wonderful to see generations of family members coming together at the May Fair to enjoy it. The commitment, hard work and dedication of all involved has been inspirational and they can look forward to many more village green celebrations to come."

For more information on 'Our Green Space' visit www.ourgreenspace.org.uk or contact Roe Baker This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it telephone: 01539 720788.