Ivan Kupala 2025

For local Ukrainians it is a chance to be together as a community away from home and to have the chance to talk, play and be distracted from the news and events elsewhere, if only for a few hours.

It was a chance to share food from the UK, Syria and Ukraine and to toast marshmallows around the fire.

It was a chance to enjoy something new; the skills of the circus, the magic of amazing bubbles and for the old to be young at heart again. Thank you to Hayley of Circahoops who created such a fun atmosphere. See her again at Semley Music Festival

It was a chance to make and wear wreaths of flowers, to continue the traditions of home with children and share them with the people of Shaftesbury.

Thank you to the organisers, Anna, Olha and Victoriia and everyone who came and made it a splendid event. Thank you to Sara who let us use the valley where the little stream, the Sturkel, begins with water springing magically from the ground.
Our thanks also to Sprout and Flower of Mere, Pamplemousse of Shaftesbury and Waitrose of Gillingham whose generous donations of flowers made the tradition of creating floral headdresses possible.

Thank you Waitrose

Our thanks go to Jamie Randall of Randall Photography who took these wonderful photographs.