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220902-13 Birling Gap, Seven Sisters, East Sussex 2nd September 2022

Inaugural Purbeck Photography Festival 2027 – April 2027

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Sandy Hill Arts is delighted to be piloting an inaugural Purbeck Photography Festival from 3rd to 11th April 2027, as a precursor to an ongoing, independent biennial festival.  Dorset already holds a strong portfolio of art festivals like Dorset Art Weeks, Inside Out Dorset, B side and Arts by the Sea, but none of them are particularly focussed on photography.  Photography now plays such a pivotal role in our everyday lives, and with our seemingly endless appetite for imagery we feel it is a good time to develop this new arts festival.

Four venues, free indoor and outdoor exhibitions, workshops, talks, films and projects. Watch out for more information as we confirm them – not least an Open Call Exhibition launching in January 2027.

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Marvellous Moths!

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Come and discover the wonderful world of moths at Sandy Hill Arts with Martin Warren!

We will be opening a moth light-trap that has been run the night before to see what beautiful and spectacular moths have been caught. If you have never been to a moth trapping event before, it is a fun and leisurely event where we have a chance to see moths at close quarters. They sleep during the day so you can see them close up while they rest underneath the egg cartons placed in the trap.

Free workshop, suitable for all ages including families with young children. No need to book – just turn up and look for us on the flat ground by the old black wooden chicken shed at the western end of the site or in Room 14.  The workshop will run outdoors so dress for the weather – we will move indoors if it rains.
We have limited parking. If you are coming on foot you can avoid the busy main road by coming through the station and over the footbridge.

Did you know there are over 2,500 species of moths in the UK and their caterpillars feeding on a wide variety of plants? Moths are an important part of biodiversity as they pollinate plants and provide food for birds, bats and other wildlife. However since the late 1960s total moth numbers have declined by around a third and in the twentieth century over 60 species of moth became extinct. The event is supported by the Dorset Branch of Butterfly Conservation www.dorsetbutterflies.com.

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Planet Purbeck Arty Bug Hunt – 1pm Saturday 17th September

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Join us in an Arty Bug Hunt for Planet Purbeck!

Join Chris Spilling in searching through the undergrowth for bugs and critters and whatever else might be lurking there… damp corners and old rotten logs are ideal :-). Ideal for accompanied children….

Chris will identify and explain what you find, and one of Sandy Hill Artists will help you make a drawing or painting of it to take home.  Last year we found all kinds of intriguing things, as well as a few surprised toads.  We have a wealth of wildlife on our small valley site, from deer to lizards to amazing birdsong, but some of the most exciting things are normally hidden.

The workshop is free, but we would like you to register so we can keep an eye on numbers.  There is an earlier workshop at 11am.

If you like this, then you might be interested in the Marvellous Moths for Planet Purbeck! running on Sunday 18th September!

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Planet Purbeck Arty Bug Hunt – 11am Saturday 17th September

, , , , , , , , ,

Join us in an Arty Bug Hunt for Planet Purbeck!

Join Chris Spilling in searching through the undergrowth for bugs and critters and whatever else might be lurking there… damp corners and old rotten logs are ideal :-). Ideal for accompanied children….

Chris will identify and explain what you find, and one of Sandy Hill Artists will help you make a drawing or painting of it to take home.  Last year we found all kinds of intriguing things, as well as a few surprised toads.  We have a wealth of wildlife on our small valley site, from deer to lizards to amazing birdsong, but some of the most exciting things are normally hidden.

The workshop is free, but we would like you to register so we can keep an eye on numbers.  There is a second workshop at 1pm.

If you like this, then you might be interested in the Marvellous Moths for Planet Purbeck! running on Sunday 18th September!

SHARE THIS
701B9C13-C4DF-44DB-9EAF-EB2D640DB2C0

Marvellous Moths for Planet Purbeck!

, , , , ,

Come and discover the wonderful world of moths at Sandy Hill Arts with Martin Warren!

We will be opening a moth light-trap that has been run the night before to see what beautiful and spectacular moths have been caught. If you have never been to a moth trapping event before, it is a fun and leisurely event where we have a chance to see moths at close quarters. They sleep during the day so you can see them close up while they rest underneath the egg cartons placed in the trap.

Did you know there are over 2,500 species of moths in the UK and their caterpillars feeding on a wide variety of plants. Moths are an important part of biodiversity as they pollinate plants and provide food for birds, bats and other wildlife. However since the late 1960s total moth numbers have declined by around a third and in the twentieth century over 60 species of moth became extinct. The event us supported by the Dorset Branch of Butterfly Conservation www.dorsetbutterflies.com.

Free workshop, suitable for all ages including families with young children. No need to book – just turn up and look for us on the flat ground by the old black wooden chicken shed at the western end of the site.  The workshop will run outdoors so dress for the weather – we will move indoors if it rains.
We have limited parking. If you are coming on foot you can avoid the busy main road by coming through the station and over the footbridge.

If you like this, then you might be interested in the Arty Bug Hunts running on Saturday 17th September!

SHARE THIS
Planet Purbeck

Planet Purbeck – Saturday 17th September

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Join us for a family-friendly variety show at this second Planet Purbeck Arts & Environment Festival. Lots to see and do with food, drinks and plenty to enjoy.  Sandy Hill Arts will have activities and live music over the Saturday and more live music on the Sunday – and don’t forget there are other Planet Purbeck events at other sites too. No need to book!

The first-ever Planet Purbeck Festival took place over one week in September 2021 to an audience of over 1,000 people: 2022 looks like being even better.

Craft Stalls

For visitors to Sandy Hill Arts during Planet Purbeck this year, there’s an opportunity to browse unusual handmade crafts and locally produced items at various stalls dotted around the site.

Planet Purbeck
Planet Purbeck
Willow weaving will feature as well as green woodcarving. Other stalls include handmade candles, honey, natural skincare and art produced using local seaweed. Locally grown succulents and other plants will be at Sandy Hill Arts for sale on the day. Wander inside spaces to see more artwork. Stained glass art, vibrantly coloured embroidered textiles as well as vintage ethnic textiles provide a feast for the eyes. 
The Sprout & Bean pop up cafe will be serving food throughout the day and there will be a bar serving through into the evening.

Clothes Swap

An informal and mindful mending circle with clothes swap in our beautiful rural arts setting next to Corfe’s ruined castle. Experienced menders will be onsite to sit with you and mend items or show you how to make handstitched repairs to a range of garments to extend their lifespan and prevent them ending up in landfill. Learn to darn, patch, use a darning loom, upcycle. Bring along items to mend and sit with us and stitch and chat, or even just sit in our lovely setting under the trees, by the river, have a coffee and cake.

For the swap bring along up to ten items of really good quality clothing or shoes. They need to be in as good condition as you would be happy to receive them in.

Drop off items before heading off for a mooch around our arts and environment festival, browse the stalls, visit the gallery, admire the views, have a delicious lunch with Sprout and Bean popup cafe –  while we sort items ready for you to  return to  claim for your new wardrobe at 1.30pm.

Free Live music during the day from 2pm – times to be confirmed.

2pm – AllSort’d Choir


An choir set to get our afternoon off with a bang. Fresh from winning the Swanage Carnival Talent competition [again], we are delighted to welcome back this lovely choir. Dry eye in the house at the end of this? Doubt it…

Allsort’d Sing are an inclusive signing choir from Swanage of currently 20+ members. We have fun and enjoy singing an eclectic range of songs! Building confidence, and supporting communication using Signalong, is a fabulous way to learn to use sign language. We meet once a week at Durlston Country Park from 5.30-7pm, and new members are always welcome: no experience required!

3pm – Eliza Alder

Fresh to the Purbeck music scene and new to Sandy Hill Arts, Eliza captivates audiences with her smooth, expressive voice and charming personality. She plays and sings a combination of stripped-back acoustic hits and her own melodic originals. Taking inspiration from the folk & jazz greats, she’s definitely one to watch.

4pm – Glenn Ross


Glenn Ross is a seasoned Purbeck based singer songwriter whose music has recently been aired on STV and BBC  introducing to name but a few. Vocally likened to Nick Drake his thought provoking poetic lyrics are sure to connect with fans of acoustic music. Accompanied by Becca Defilet – Violin and Peter Lubbock – Guitar and the one and only Rob Mills on sax.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H-XKphsIJeI

All this leads up to our ticketed evening event – two different jazz improv performances from Skylla/Ruth Goller and Pete Wareham, followed by DJ set until late.

The Planet Purbeck Festival is run by the community, for the community. Many local people recognise that our natural assets are under threat and something needs to be done. Planet Purbeck approaches this problem by creating a fun and enthusiastic platform that invites the community to connect with their environment and foster a relationship with it; the more we care about our world, the more we will protect it.

Have a look at the 2021 highlights…