Professor Andy Letcher of Exeter University discusses with Nina Lyon the cultural history of the magic mushroom. There is renewed interest in the potential of psychedelics to address a number of stubborn mental illnesses, as well as a burgeoning psychedelic underground, driven especially by people travelling to the Amazon to consume ayahuasca in healing ceremonies.
But what about our own psychoactive mushrooms, the Liberty Cap (Psilocybe semilanceata), and the Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria)? Are there traditions of local consumption and if so, how far back do they go? In this talk Andy will challenge many of the myths that have arisen around magic mushrooms, answering questions such as: were the builders of Stonehenge tripping and was Santa Claus originally a mushroom munching shaman?
Fungi have long been the forgotten kingdom of conservation. Too hidden, too strange, too easy to miss. They weren’t even identified as their own kingdom of life - neither plant nor animal - until 1969!
Cardiff University's Dr Sarah Christofides is on a mission to change how we think about fungi and their importance to the natural world. In this talk, discover the fungal species driving a major new conservation effort, learn why this matters and how you can get involved.
Somewhere in Kew Gardens sits a room holding 1.25 million dried fungi, roughly 60% of every fungal species known to science. It is the largest and most scientifically important collection of its kind in the world, and Lee Davies has spent his career running it.
From expeditions in Madagascar to teaching fieldwork techniques to visiting scientists, Lee has built a fascinating working life around fungi in all their weird and surprising diversity.
Join Fungi Town's Dave Prescott for a conversation with Lee about the specimens, the expeditions, and the fungi he's come to know best.
What would a poem look like if it grew instead of being written? Mycologist and poet Nathan Smith has spent years finding out, developing forms of poetry shaped by the way fungi actually grow, branching, spreading, and reproducing without a fixed centre.
In this workshop, held fittingly in Hay’s Poetry Bookshop, Nathan introduces fungally-informed poetic structures and practices, and guides you through writing your own. No previous knowledge of fungi or poetry required. Just curiosity, and a pen and paper.
Poetry Bookshop, The Pavement, Lion Street, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5BU
Saturday 3 October, 6-7pm
The Puff Ball is Fungi Town's big party on Saturday night at the Globe, featuring a set from local DJ and permaculture farmer Redwood - expect highly danceable underground electronic, breaks, afro house techno vibe….
There will be plenty of drinks including mushroom cocktails available and also a live action mushroom dance to Fungi Town's signature tune, brought to you by semi-professional line dancers Johnny 'Shapes' Furze and Dave 'Shapes' Prescott (disclaimer: Johnny and Dave are not semi-professional line dancers).
Feel free to dress in your most ridiculous mushroom-inspired clothes. Feel free, also, to bring puffballs, real or improvised.
The sessions cost £18 for the full day from 11-4pm and £12 for a morning or afternoon session only.
The morning session starts at 11am so please arrive at about 10.45am
The afternoon session starts at 1:45pm so please arrive at least 10 mins beforehand
Come along and try some board games out with Dylan.
There is a great selection of games - many of which you may not have seen before. Have a go and if you have fun there are even some to buy too.
Session runs from 11am to 2pm in our Clore Education Space.
Print Club costs £6 per session - Some materials will be provided and there will be access to the printing press supervised by seasoned members of Print Club.
This club will develop according to the needs and requirements of the members of the group - so why not come along and become a part of Print Club.
Aiden is now off on his travels so the group is self-led - if you have never done lino printing before you are still welcome to come along and joinin - just let one of the group know your level of knowledge and they will help you.
The sessions cost £18 for the full day from 11-4pm and £12 for a morning or afternoon session only.
The morning session starts at 11am so please arrive at about 10.45am
The afternoon session starts at 1:45pm so please arrive at least 10 mins beforehand
The Solstice Collective Wind Quintet with narrator Felix Ashley and puppeteers Jodie Yates and Eve Wilson will present Prokofiev's iconic and much-loved work for children 'Peter and the Wolf' in a performance enhanced by puppets specially commissioned for this event. In this musical tale, composed by Sergei Prokofiev in 1936, the narrator tells a folk story which the ensemble illustrates by using different instruments to play themes that represent each character in the story.
The Solstice Collective, graduates of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, are Maisy Shaw - flute, Anna Benton - oboe, Molly Bradley - clarinet, Gabriel Adshead - bassoon with Toby Johnson-Jones - French Horn.
Tickets: Children and under 25s - FREE / adults £15.
With more than 30 individual makers on show, join us at the Castle for an extravaganza of ideas for Christmas. Treat your friends, family, or yourself from a range of unique and inspiring crafts by local makers from ceramics, jewellery, glass, baskets, food gifts, clothing, photography, painting and much, much more.
Free entry all day.
Dylan Thomas and Richard Burton are icons of twentieth century Wales. They have produced stories about Christmases in Wales that rival Charles Dickens’ short stories about Christmas in nineteenth century England. In some ways Thomas and Burton can be accused of inventing Christmas in exactly the same way Dickens is responsible for creating the Christmas that we enjoy so wholeheartedly.
For all of that, however, Burton and Thomas were actors whose love of words shines through these two short but heart-warming stories.
Described by the South Wales Evening Post as ‘a joy’, this ‘Welsh Icons Xmas show’ performed by two actors has proved hugely popular - Join Lighthouse as they conjure up Christmas in the air....
The Writing Retreat For Authors-To-Be.
A castle retreat for new writers and book lovers in the famous book town of Hay-on-Wye. Meet authors and booksellers, write, browse the magical bookshops, and enjoy exclusive events.
Suitable for anyone who loves reading and has a writing project they’d like to explore.
You’ll meet expert guests for informal, cosy Q & As. There’ll be optional wellness activities to help you feel inspired and motivated. Team this with stunning countryside, a dreamy riverside location, vibrant local markets and delicious food, it’s the magical experience you’ll want to be part of.
Host: Helen Jane Campbell
Find out more: www.forcreativepeople.com
Price: £400 (excluding accommodation & travel)
Booking terms: £50 deposit, no refunds
Special offer: £375 for Write The Book members & early birds
Location: Hay-on-Wye
Date: Thurs 25 Feb 10.00 to Fri 26 Feb 17:00
Open 10am to 4pm,
seven days a week.
Hay Castle
Oxford Road
Hay-on-Wye
HR3 5DG
01497 820079
info@haycastletrust.org