THE BUXTON FLOWERPOT TRAIL 2023 IS GOING TO THE OPERA!

Buxton-based community arts group, Funny Wonders, has announced that the fun-filled, family-friendly flowerpot trail will return in 2023 thanks to continued support from Derbyshire County Council and High Peak Borough Council Councillors.

To celebrate the return to Buxton this year of the entire International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, the trail theme is ‘Gilbert & Sullivan operas’, so get thinking pirates, fairies and modern major generals!

The trail simply aims to bring a smile and, as ever, all in Buxton and surrounding villages are welcome and encouraged to get involved – households, businesses, schools and community groups – to make a flowerpot creation for the trail. They can be displayed in gardens, on gateposts, door steps or in windows, anywhere so long as they are visible from the pavement / public walkways.

For those not familiar with G&S operas, Funny Wonders has put together an overview of their main characters and selected props to help you come up with some ideas. You can download a copy from their website www.funnywonders.org.uk or pick up a copy at one of their making workshops or pick-up-pots stalls.

The trail will run during July and August alongside all four of the town’s summer festivals and will once again be part of the Buxton Festival Fringe.

An exciting addition this year, the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival will be including a ‘Best Flowerpot Creation’ category in their annual awards ceremony on Friday 11 August and will be encouraging all their performing companies to make a flowerpot creation to reflect their productions. Furthermore, those who choose to make a G&S-themed creation for the trail, will be entered into the competition as well! Details of the judging and prizes will be announced in due course.

“The return of the full G&S festival is a really big thing for Buxton and we wanted to celebrate it. We’re really pleased the festival is supporting the trail too with their competition.” says Funny Wonders’ Artistic Director, Ali Quas-Cohen. “We can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with. If you’re getting involved for the first time, we ask that you don’t buy new pots – it’s all about finding creative uses for old resources. We’ll be running workshops where you can pick-up some old pots for free, including at the Buxton Spring Fair on 1^st May, Buxton Markets on 13^th May, The Green Man Gallery on 27^th May and the Rotary Summer Fair in the Pavilion Gardens on 3^rd June.”

The deadline to register a location for the trail is Sunday 25^th June so there’s plenty of time to plan your creation.

If you have any questions or would like to help promote the trail, email hello@funnywonders.org.uk.