Always on
This project successfully funded on 9th April 2024, you can still support them with a donation.
This project successfully funded on 9th April 2024, you can still support them with a donation.
Your donations go towards rebuilding boards, sourcing flowers and materials, replaci...
Aim: Welldressing relies solely on the generous donation of time for our volunteer welldressers and funds from fans and visitors to our festival.
Youlgrave’s annual Welldressing festival will be held from Saturday 21st June 2025, when there will be a procession and service of blessing at 2.30pm. There will be the traditional five main Welldressing boards (believed to be the largest set anywhere) complemented again by children’s mini-Welldressings displayed on the steps of the fountain in the centre of the village and a school welldressing. Each well is free to produce a design taken from any areas of inspiration; the main themes this year are Balance, Self-reflection, Greatness, Light and being Thankful.
In late 2023, inspired by the village’s unique water supply, Youlgrave Welldressers were invited to prepare a Winter Welldressing for the “Ways of Water” exhibition at Sheffield Museums. After having been seen at the Millenium Galleries by over 40,000 visitors and then being briefly on view at All Saints Church, Youlgrave, it is now on permanent display in a vertical orientation at Bakewell Museum, showcasing welldressing technique and skills in a more permanent way.
Welldressing in Youlgrave relies solely on an army of volunteers from the village and afar, and upon the generous donations of visitors during the week. Over the last two years, some of the ageing boards have required significant renovation much of which has been undertaken with the generous support of the workshops of DSF at Friden. This has helped preserved Welldressing fund for donations local causes and locally supported charities.
“We are very happy to have been able donate £2000 to local causes this year - £1000 to Pommie Pilgrimage (supporting a campaign to instal toilets and a kitchen facility in All Saints Church) and £1000 to Youlgrave Youth and Community Hall”, said Ian Knight, secretary of the Youlgrave Welldressing Association. “It takes a huge amount of effort and finance to keep public buildings suitable and accessible for their users and visitors, these donations will help support the local groups who rely on these facilities.”
All visitors are welcome. Parking is available for cars and coaches at both ends of the village. The road will be closed between 2pm and 4.15pm on Saturday 21st June for the procession and blessing of the wells.