If you weren’t one of the lucky ones at last week’s madcap Cake, Craft & Camping weekend, you missed out on a real treat!
Members from 17 WIs and 4 Federations met at Nine Ashes Scout Campsite near Bodmin on Friday afternoon. After setting up and decorating their tents, they relaxed in the sun with cocktails and Pimm’s. The WI knows how to do camping.
Some of the tents were adorned with a seaside theme, some with Cornish flags and one with daisy-bedecked bras! Harrowbarrow & Metherell WI’s tent boasted some fabulous bottom bunting!
The weekend included activities such as archery; knitting; scone-making; zipwiring; pedal carts; making paper flower crowns; making souvenir Cake, Craft & Camping stencilled bags; bushcraft; and much more. There was also an opportunity to have a tour of beautiful Pencarrow House, a lovely walk from the campsite. One of the highlights was the Silly Olympics which had members in fits of laughter! The wonderful staff at Nine Ashes even put on some extra abseiling and quad biking activities for some of our more keen campers!
On Friday night, the Cornwall Bat Trust took the group for an after-dark walk in the woods. They were fortunate to spot pipistrelle and soprano pipistrelle bats!
The entertainment on Saturday night included ‘The WI’s Got Talent’. The prize went to members from Puriton & District WI in Somerset, who put on a hilarious skit. But others were also entertaining with songs, saucy limericks and one member who recited the alphabet backwards!
All the food was included in the weekend and Phil, our jolly caterer, didn’t disappoint. The meals were plentiful and delicious! There was an option of a cooked breakfast every morning, a lovely array of sandwiches for lunches and wonderful meals in the evening. Phil was happy for members to pop into his kitchen anytime during the weekend and make themselves a cup of tea or coffe, which was always available.
Most of our members brought their own tents, but several were in bunks and loved it! Members from Mevagissey WI hired a gorgeous teepee style tent from Nine Ashes – it was put up and taken down for them! All they had to do was turn up with sleeping bags and air mattresses. What could be easier?!
Everyone on the weekend had such a fabulous time that they’ve requested we do it all over again next year. Watch this space!
Click here to see more photos of our Cake, Craft & Camping weekend.