It’s nearly time for Port Eliot Festival 2014!

The Port Eliot Festival, held in the grounds of the home of the Earl of St Germans, in Cornwall, was on hiatus last year, but returns with a bang this Thursday – Sunday. It’s quite lovely – only 5000 or so people, with flower shows, spelling bees (2012′s was hosted by Dominic West – I wrote about it here), music, literary talks, a wardrobe department and so, so much more. (There are still a few tickets left here.)

I particularly like that the tents are a five minute walk from the action. No Glastonbury-style two mile hikes here.

My favourite part of last year was William Sieghart’s Poetry Prescription clinic. He prescribed me two poems that changed how I viewed myself. Here’s Rach having her poetry consultation.

Heavenly Piers Atkinson in action in the flower crown department

Bumble and bumble made everyone’s hair look amazing, and this year their roving stylists will create hairstyles on the go mornings and early evenings, offering up-dos, ponytails, fishtail plaits, top knots or whatever takes the festival-goers fancy, and I’m looking forward to seeing wonderful Stephen Jones team up with Bumble and bumble’s Bea Watson to show how to design the perfect hairstyle to make the most of a hat.

How can you not love a festival that has deliveries like THIS?

or had a man with a green tricycle playing tunes?

Tree of randomness

and, of course, St Austell beer.

I’m also looking forward to the Fortnum’s Fountain in Port Eliot’s beautiful Orangery: a Cornish outpost of their London Restaurant.

We spent quite a lot of time in the beautiful Anthropologie tent (my images here), including a glorious morning spent learning to marble silk scarves with designer Charlotte Taylor.

This year Anthropologie are returning for the second time, and hosting artist workshops, including an animal mask-making workshop with Parisian artist Florence Balducci, a jewellery master-class with Catherine Zoraida, ceramics with Anna Colette Hunt, a workshop with textile artist Mister Finch, as well as opportunities to hear author Willow Crossley share ideas from her book Inspire: The Art of Living with Nature.