Experience community
Fun community-based activities for everyone to enjoy!
Are you ready to try something new? Then jump right in and take part in our exciting line up of community experiences, a first for 2024!
Locations:
Community Tent and surrounding area
All around the Festival Site
Curated by Liis, Seeta and Dani.
All afternoon
The Book Love Carnival
Book Love Tent and Workshop Space, 12pm to close
Arts, Crafts and Storytelling with South London’s multicultural bookshop and travelling book Carnival. This is BookLove is an award winning collective of Educators, Artists, Musicians, Creatives, Aunties, Uncles, Parents and Grandparents working together to make multicultural matter. “In schools, libraries, galleries, on screens and even on our high streets - the stark lack of culturally inclusive representation, is sadly too obvious. We at 'Book Love' have made it our mission to change this AND to change the narrative. The Travelling Multicultural Book Carnival is spreading the 'Book Love' as far and wide as we can!”
Book Love Carnival
Join the Bug Hunt
Wilidlife Garden Installation, by the playground, 12pm to close
Join the Bug Hunt as you find hidden bugs and match them to the plants or places they call home. Winners get to make a free Seed Bomb with seed mixes specially selected for Blythe Hill Fields.
Our new Wildlife Garden will be buzzing with life, a haven for birds, butterflies and all kinds of bugs. It’s going to be a gorgeous new space where you can sit and relax, or entertain the kids, chat with friends and watch the world go by, while you connect with nature or try your hand at eco-friendly gardening.
Learn more about this exciting new project or find out how you can get involved with our friendly Friends of Blythe Hill Fields Biodiversity Group.
Tiny Forest Discovery with Earthwatch
At the Tiny Forest, 12pm to close, hands on session 1pm
Blythe Hill Fields Tiny Forest was planted on 18th April 2024, in partnership with the LBL and with the support of Stillness Infant school, and Dalmain and Rathfern Primary schools. Over 30 local residents joined the planting, alongside a team from CBBC's Blue Peter which will be featuring the planting in a forthcoming programme.
Come and be part of our citizen science project as the Tiny Forest grows!
Festival Procession with the Worm
Across the Festival Site
Join our procession as we take our giant festival worm puppet around the Blythe Hill Fields Festival, visiting the Tiny Forest and Wildlife Garden Tent on the way!
Blythe Hill Festival Community Quilt
Community Tent, hands on session 1pm to 4pm
With local artist Abigail Hunt and quilter Jessica Ormerod, a guided free workshop where you can add your stamp to the community. After the success of 2022’s Community Festival Bunting we’re inviting festival goers to quilt a hexagon patchwork piece, these will be taken away and sewn up as part of a community based installation. Open to all ages and all levels of experience!
12 noon - 2pm
Yoga with Louise
Community Tent Lawn, Sessions at 12.05 and 12.30
“The focus of my yoga teaching is to bring a sense of wellbeing, peacefulness and ease to participants through joyful and accessible physical practice and breath work. I teach from the heart, guided by my body’s inner wisdom. My sessions are invitations to find space within the body, working with kindness to access the yoga that is right for you.”
Creative Writing in the Community
Community Tent, 12.30pm
Invent your own superhero and write a short story about them!
Guided workshop with local creative writing tutor, and head of Creative Writing in Community CIC, Becca Leathlean. Becca has lived in Lewisham for over 40 years. She teaches Creative Writing at Sutton Adult Education College and also runs short courses at Forest Hill Library.
Open to all, Under-10s should be accompanied by an adult.
Quaggy Morris
In Front of the Main Stage, 12.25pm
Catford’s own Quaggy Morris: “Named after the local Quaggy River, our costume ties us to the contemporary folklore of the Lewisham Natureman - our very own Banksy. Their White Stag murals can be found all over the Borough in the most unexpected places. Several along the banks of our Quaggy river popping up since the early 2010s.”
Lewisham based Quaggy Morris perform Cotswold Morris. Think high octane stick and hanky dancing! Watch the Morris and then come and try it yourself at their 3pm workshop!
Quaggy Morris
Feel Good with Jaydee Fitness
Community Tent Lawn, 1.30pm
Exercise your Mind, Body and Soul and get the Feel Good at Jaydee’s session. Empower yourself to feel good inside and out! “We are a Mind, body & soul Dance Fitness organisation, we use dance fitness to empower body confidence & wellness. We specialise in working with people who may lack confidence around fitness and wellness and support them on their journey to start exercising the Mind, Body & Soul.”
Festival in the Bin! with Lucky Maclean
Across the Festival Site, 12.30pm and 3pm
The ground-breaking, street-sweeping comedy bin man is here with brand-new rubbish to make a show from. Lucky Maclean presents a humourous and thought-provoking outdoor show alive with variety, participation and unassuming wonderment. Don't throw away the chance to come and hear him talk rubbish!
Inspired to join Lucky and be one of our Festival’s binfluencers? Come to the Friends Tent to collect your gloves and a litter picker!
Theatre in the Bin
2pm - 4pm
Guided Butterfly Walk with Butterfly Conservation
Meet at the Wildlife Garden Tent, 1.55pm
Take a walk around our the Fields’ wildlife friendly planting areas with Steve Bolton from Butterfly Conservation. Learn about the habitat and butterflies of the Fields, and maybe spot a Red Admiral (pictured) Holly Blue or Meadow Brown!
Quaggy Morris Workshop
Workshop by the Crossroads, 3pm
Morris Dance Display & Have a go Workshop! Catford’s own Quaggy Morris perform Cotswold Morris. Come and try morris at their all ages workshop, sticks and hankies provided!
St George’s Players
Community Tent Lawn, Reading at 2pm
Celebrating their 90th Year, come and meet Catford and Forest Hill’s own St George’s players! “Whether you call it theatre, drama or amateur dramatics, it's what we do. Volunteer led, not-for-profit and all are welcome – no experience necessary!” After the worlwide premier of “Soap!”, the timeless story of daytime soap opera ‘Blythe Hills’, come and hear an exclusive read through of their 2024 production, Frankenstein.
St George’s Players
BSL Workshop with Remark!
Community Tent, 3.30pm
Remark! is an innovative and exciting Deaf-led organisation. We take pride in the fact that British Sign Language (BSL) is part of our everyday working culture and is ingrained into our working practice. Come and meet us at our stand on the Community Tent Lawn, and take part in our BSL Workshop at 3.30pm
Barre & Baby
Workshop by the Crossroads, 3.45pm
The perfect way for new parents and parents-to-be to dip a toe into the magical world of ballet. It’s packed with all the basic moves and sprinkled with the traditions, history and science behind this beautiful dance form. Bond with your little one through gentle movements and reclaim ownership of your body and identity as you navigate the joys and challenges of parenthood. It’s ideal for beginner dancers, and those who want to refresh their technique. And all this while dancing and moving alongside your baby!
You don’t need any previous dance experience or special equipment, and all bodies are welcome.
Community
Sustainable living
We all want to live sustainably, but it’s hard to know where to start. Come and chat to local experts.
SELCE
Power in our Hands
The RSPB
Dr Bike Repair Workshop
Climate Action Lewisham
Earthwatch
Butterfly Conservation
Parents for Future
XR Lewisham
Friends of Blythe Hill Biodiversity Group
Lewisham Recycling
Local volunteering
Did you know volunteering can improve your mental physical and social health? It’s one of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships. And because volunteers come from diverse backgrounds, it expands your social network and lets you meet amazing people from your local community.
Blythe Hill Fields Friends Tent
Lewisham Local
Lewisham Borough of Sanctuary
Lewisham Foodbank
Hobbies and groups
Make new friends and build relationships by enjoying shared activities and interests. Community groups bring people from diverse backgrounds together, helping to expand horizons and open up fascinating new experiences.
3rd Crofton Park Scouts
One Tree Hill Community Choir
MPS Police Cadets
KCH Pirates Youth Rugby
Lewisham Adult Education
Honor Oak WI
St George’s Players
Quaggy Morris
Earthwatch
RSPB
Young Lewisham Project
Dr Bike Workshop