Figgys and Chat – Skylark at Prettyfields Vineyard – Sunday 29th September 2024

Words and Pictures by Chapter Coordinator Adam Woods

Vineyards have grown in number in the UK in the last few years, with the warmer temperatures making for better conditions, especially in the South.

Whenever we plan any event we often have a few places we are thinking about as the location and will reach out and get a sense of how good a venue might be to visit and how keen the venue themselves might be.

This year’s Essex event had been brewing for some time. We had a very keen craft centre involved and were originally ready to announce this event at the start of August, but the venue ran into an issue. When it became clear they wouldn’t resolve it in time we turned to one of our alternatives and only took the event live a few weeks ago, making the turnout really fantastic!

Skylark is a lovely cafe and shop with a sustainable ethos, right next to Prettyfields Vineyard in Essex, founded in 2022.

We were able to arrange exclusive Figgy parking with the Vineyard as the backdrop and in the end had 12 Figs join us for a relaxing afternoon of chit-chat and catching up.

It’s always a pleasure to meet Figgy Folk we have met before, alongside new friends and new owners – of particular note mother and daughter Sue and Victoria who first saw a Fig at CarFest this year and must surely hold the record between first seeing one and buying one just weeks later!!

The weather held and while it was a little nippy, the setting was great, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves among the vines.

We hope you enjoy the images and video we put together of the day!

Watch the Video from the day