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Welcome
Welcome to our website. It contains no viruses or trojan horses but it's absolutely riddled with worms !
As well as informing you about this year's event, we plan to build up an archive of the history of Wormcharming in Blackawton. If you have photos, videos, stories or details of past winning teams please contact the Web (not Worm) Master to add them to the site.
Programme of events now available
The programme of events taking place throughout the day of the Wormcharming Festival - starting with the gathering of the masses at Normandy Cross from 11am - has now been published. Check out the detail on on our "Programme of events" page.
Also on our "Programme of events" page, you will find the programme for the live music at the George Inn. This year's music event features the very final performance of Blind Lemon Moose - the first band ever to play at Wormcharming back in the 1980's - who have reformed especially for this final gig.
Exhibition features Blackawton wormcharming
The International Festival of Wormcharming is featured in a recently opened exhibition at the Centre for Contemporary Arts and the Natural World in Haldon Forest Park near Exeter. The exhibition, entititled "Games People Play" features Wormcharming in a section on unusual local games - past and present. The exhibition runs from 6th April until 30th September and admission is free. More details are available on their website. Looks like a lot of fun.
6th May is Wormcharming day
If you failed to spot it in the header at the top of the page, the Blackawton International Festival of Wormcharming takes place on 6th May this year. In recent years, the date has always been fixed as the first Sunday in May but, apparently, this has not always been the case. I am indebted to Adrian Kyte for providing the following newspaper clipping relating to the 2nd International competition in 1985. It would seem to have taken place on 31st March..jpg)
Sport sporting fancy dress on 6th May !
The theme for The 31st Blackawton International Festival of Wormcharming is"Olympix" - the reason is fairly obvious. So sporting fancy dress of a sporting theme is the order of the day this year. As ever, there will be prizes for the best themed outfits - and it's free to enter.
Merchandise
This year we have an exciting new range of "worm" mechandise.
For many months, Richard P has been collecting unwanted pewter tankards and melting them down to reuse the pewter to cast a fine set of worms in the form of badges and key rings. In keeping with our "Olympix" theme he's named this year's worm "Hercules" - after the Greek demigod. Others on the Wormcharming team think it truly reflects the "herculean" task which Richard has undertaken to produce these wondrous items.
Stemming from the infamous Monday night quizzes at the George Inn, Steve Gale has lovingly produced a unique quiz book - only on sale at Wormcharming.
See the full range on our "Merchandise" page and remember - all proceeds from the sale of our merchandise go to our nominated charities so please be generous in your purchases.
Medals and crowns of honour
This year's winners will receive awards befitting the "Olympix". In addition to the merchandise mentioned above, Richard P has been busy producing not only handsome pewter medals for the winners but also pewter laurel crowns.
Dog show
For the first time, this year's Wormcharming Festival will also include a dog show. It will be open to all dogs to enter as many classes as they choose. All classes will have a £1.00 entry fee and there will be small dog-friendly prizes for first, second and third placed dogs. Any profits will be donated to local charities. For further information see our "Programme of events" page or talk to Carey in the village shop.
Missing shield and trophy
Not this shield - but the one lovingly carved by Graeme Lewis as its replacement when space ran out for inscribing the winners names. Last seen in the George some time ago. If anyone knows the whereabouts of said piece of timber could they please inform the Worm Master.
The organisers are also appealing for the return of the Travel Counsellors Cup - which was donated by a local travel consultant for presentation to the winners of the under 11's competition. Apparently, presented to the winners some years ago, it has not been seen since.
Past winners
All the details of past winners recorded on the shield pictured above is now available on our "Past Winners" page.
It's all about fund-raising
Whilst we enjoy all that is the Blackawton International Festival of Wormcharming, let's not forget that one of the prinmary goals of the event is to raise as much money for the Devon Air Ambulance and other local causes as possible. One of the ways in which money is raised is through the auction which takes place in the George on the evening of Wormcharming. One of the most treasured auction lots this year will undoubtedly be this boxed set of "bronze", "silver" and "gold" worm badges hand-cast by Richard P.
Tallest sunflower competition
As has become usual at Wormcharming, Adrian Kyte (pictured) will be giving away sunflower seeds for the Tallest Sunflower competition and inviting donations for local charities. Competition results for the past three years are:
2009 Adult: Mike Patterson 2.59 m Child No entries
2010 Adult: Mike & Rosie North 3.32 m Child: Seb & Rowan 2.67 m
2011 Adult: Mrs Wood 3.80 m Child: Georgia 2.39 m
Photos of the winning entries will shortly be viewable on our Gallery page.
Think you can do better this year ?
National worm shortage ?
The following item appeared in our news last year. So what did happen happen in 2011 ? Our roving reporter, Bert Quigley, is currently researching the matter add will be reporting back on his finding shortly. So for all that's happening in the Wormcharming world stay tuned to www.wormcharming .co.uk.
We're only too aware that the economy shows little sign of recovery. Is the same true for the country's dwindling worm population ? It may not have been well publicised, but it is true that 2010 was a poor year for worms. At the World Wormcharming Championship in Willaston in Cheshire the contest was won with a paltry 43 worms. In the previous year, the winner set a new world record with a staggering 567 worms.
Even worse, in August 2010, at the Woodhall Wormcharming Festival in Lincolnshire, not a single worm was charmed out of the ground by any of the competitors !
Here in Blackawton we can only hope that the worm god of fertility has looked kindly on upon our South Devon village in the past year. We will find out on May day.
