Florals were an endless refrain over the weekend in West Sussex at The Floral Fringe Fair which flags itself up as a 'quirky, quality, friendly, foodie, arty, plantaholics, informative, wildlife event with a vintage twist!'. Set against the backdrop of the John Nash-designed Knepp Castle, home to the Burrell family, both days boasted fine weather, a grand setting, and good trading. Cafe Murano of Hurstpierpoint set up its outpost and sold a variety of collectables from chintz and statuary to a particularly alluring cherub(!); Louise Bunning's stall, Faded Charm, lived up beautifully to its name; whilst Arundel-based Linda Chivers was selling stand-out bras and bags from the 50's and 20's respectively, along with recycled and vintage textiles. Home to the Re-Wilding Project, Knepp also boasted a 'pop-up' tree house, built for the occasion by Inhabit Treehouses, in cedar and Douglas fir. Also the castle had its own flock of birds nearby, albeit of the sculptural variety. I wore my most quintessential English suit: a 50's silk Willow-patterned two-piece by Hardy Amies, bought for a song in Suffolk. It has previously had outings to weddings in the North of England and Goodwood and was much remarked upon...
I came away with a pair of pegs from WildWood, who specialise in charcoal and coppice products and sell everything from besom brooms to Sussex pimps and can turn their hands to hedgelaying and hurdles. I also bought some lovely plants and a charming book of poetry: Bridge Bluster, self-published at Burblebooks by Robert Edwards, who rhymes Putney with chutney. My favourite? Albert Bridge. All in all, a fabulous floral affair!
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