Places features

Throwing open your spare bedroom for use by the judges of a bell-ringing contest is not something most people would do but it's par for the course in Throwleigh.

The tiny village - which nestles on the northern fringe of Dartmoor - has big ideas and is staging its first ever festival in April 2009 and the bell ringing competition is just one of many events taking place during the two-day event.

The upper bedroom of one of the village's residents apparently offers the optimum location for the judges to hear the bells so that is where they will be seated for the duration of the contest as 10 teams battle it out for the title.

The festival will run over two days

"That's what it's like in Throwleigh," laughs Caya Mills - one of those organising the inaugural event.

"There is a great sense of community here and you simply couldn't organise something like this without it."

The idea of a festival was born last autumn when the festival's main organiser Dawn Hatton, Caya and a few other residents were discussing the many and varied talents of local people and the idea of showcasing them was hatched.

The resulting project is an example of the community spirit which thrives in the village - which has fewer than 300 residents - and it is being staged with the help of funding from the National Lottery through Awards for All as well as the Dartmoor National Park Authority Education Department.

"There really will be something for everyone.

"We have musicians, alternative therapists and artists all taking part - all these new connections are being made and it's a really positive thing for the village.

Many artists will be showing at the festival

"We're all finding out about the talents that everyone has - I'm going to be showing a mosaic myself," says Caya - who has lived in the village for five years.

As well as a performance by the Batignano Trio there will be a farm display, an open garden, two art and craft exhibitions, poetry readings, a renaissance music concert and a children's music workshop and concert.

So can we expect the Throwleigh event to become a staple of the annual festival calendar?

"It's an awful lot of work and you have to expect so much of everyone involved - we'll have to see how this one goes," says Caya.

And would she encourage other villages to follow Throwleigh's lead?

"Absolutely. If we can do it - any village can."

Throwleigh Festival
Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 April 2009.