Peterborough’s first Festival of Poetry & Literature
8th – 15th September 2012
featuring Sir Andrew Motion Wendy Cope Roger McGough John Hegley Clive James and much, much more
Welcome to A warm welcome to
Festival of Poetry & Literature
Festival of Poetry & Literature
, the first Poetry and Literature
Festival for Peterborough brought to you by the John Clare Trust. There is something for everyone to experience from small salon events to well-known headline acts.
We have walks, talks and
workshops, inspired by poetry and literature. Each performer will choose their favourite John Clare poem which they will perform and these lovely poems will be collected into an anthology celebrating this first
Festival of Poetry & Literature
festival, which will be available to purchase
Photograph: Antonio Olmos
from the John Clare Cottage in Helpston. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Ormiston Bushfield Academy, Vivacity, Peterborough City Council, Metal, Eastern Angles and The Langdyke Trust and we are thrilled to have received help with producing this festival from the Foundation for Sports and Arts. Enjoy this year’s festival and do let us know what you think via twitter or facebook. The John Clare Trust would like to thank everyone from participants and performers to volunteers and everyone who has contributed to this year’s
Festival of Poetry & Literature
. But most of all we .
would like to thank you all for supporting this exciting festival and coming to Festival of Poetry & Literature
Andrew Motion
For full details on all the events and to book tickets online please contact: The Key Theatre box office Tel 01733 207239 or visit their website www.vivacity-peterborough.com You can also find festival information at www.clarecottage.org
Special ticket offer Buy 3 tickets and get one free! (buy 3 tickets for 3 different events and get the additional fourth cheapest ticket free) one offer per person.
Index
10
salon events Festival of Poetry & Literature
2
welcome
3-7
performance details
11 The John Clare Cottage and John Clare Trust
workshop details
12-15 Future events and festival guide
Festival of Poetry & Literature
8-9 Festival of Poetry & Literature
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Saturday 8th September Roger McGough AS FAR AS I KNOW A new book of poems by Roger McGough is always an event and As Far As I Know is truly a cause for celebration. Hilarious and surreal, he is a poet of many voices. Menace and melancholy there may be, but with plenty of McGough’s characteristic wit and wordplay too. A dirty syringe or a deadly scorpion A molotov cocktail or an overdose Not a loaded gun or a parking fine You have a book in your hand Take comfort from this Newly elected President of the Poetry Society, Roger McGough has been honoured with a CBE for services to literature and the Freedom of the City of Liverpool for good behaviour. Lily The Pink, the Aintree Iron, Scaffold, GRIMMS, The Mersey Sound with Adrian Henri & Brian Patten and presenter of the long-running Poetry Please. The beat goes on. Saturday 8th September, 7.30pm Tickets £15/Concessions £12.50/under 16s £10 The Key Theatre, Peterborough, PE1 1EF For adults & 14+. Followed by booksigning
Sunday 9th September Wendy Cope ‘AFTERNOON TEA’ WITH WENDY COPE Relax in the peaceful gardens of John Clare Cottage where Wendy Cope will charm and amuse her audience with her hilariously dissatisfied and ironic poems. Her poetry, taken from collections Two Cures for Love and Family Values, is at times sharp and punchy while at others, soft and contemplative. Enjoy an old fashioned afternoon tea in the middle of the performance, a good cuppa, cucumber sandwiches and delicious, home-made cake. Sunday 9th September, 4.00pm Tickets £12.50/Concessions. £10 including high tea Clare Cottage Gardens, 12 Woodgate, Helpston, Peterborough, PE6 7ED
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Verbal Remedies with Keely Mills ‘Verbal Remedies’ is the poetry phoenix to arise from a previous poetry night called ‘Speakeasy’, which was the brain child of both Mark Grist and Keely Mills. Now this new Festival. poetry animal will co-present an evening of spoken word with the Poets and performers from across the UK will be gathering to share their love of all things lyrical – all set to a backdrop of a Blok Collective art jam. Expect to have your eyes and ears filled with wonder. Festival of Poetry & Literature
Sunday 9th September, 8.00pm Admission Free, bar available (charges will apply) Beckett’s Chapel, Peterborough Cathedral, PE1 1XS
Monday 10th September Sir Andrew Motion Silver - Return To Treasure Island Sir Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate 1999-2009, introduces his eagerly awaited sequel to Treasure Island - Silver - featuring a cast of noble seamen, murderous pirates and tales of love, valour and terrible cruelty. ‘Treasure Island is a book I have loved since childhood: it is a cornerstone of my reading, and of my imagination. Excitement, mystery, intrigue, suspense, pathos and human sympathy: Stevenson combines all of these. I have tried to do the same – in a story which honours his original genius, but at the same time sails its own course.’ Andrew Motion Monday 10th September, 7.00pm Tickets £12.50/Concessions £10 (includes glass of wine) John Clare Theatre, Central Library, Broadway, Peterborough, PE1 1RX
Tuesday 11th September Helen Mort Division Street Helen Mort was born in Sheffield. She has published two pamphlets with talllighthouse press, ‘The Shape of Every Box’ and ‘A Pint for the Ghost’ (a Poetry Book Society Choice). Her collection ‘Division Street’ is forthcoming from Chatto & Windus. A former winner of the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award, Helen received an Eric Gregory Award from The Society of Authors in 2007. From 2010 - 2011, she was the youngest ever Poet in Residence at The Wordsworth Trust, Grasmere. Tuesday 11th September, 7.30pm Tickets £8/Concessions £6 Clare Theatre, Central Library, Broadway, Peterborough, PE1 1RX
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Dead Poets We present the poetry and lyrics of Mark Grist and MC Mixy, Peterborough based writers and performers known together as ‘Dead Poets’. Since forming in 2008, Mark and Mixy have been challenging the preconceptions of poetry and hiphop across the country. As ’Dead Poets’ they have performed in venues ranging from nightclubs to formal dinners. They appeared on BBC Radio 6 with Steve Merchant and have recently been on tour with their show ‘Phrased and Confused’. Tuesday 11th September, 9.00pm Tickets £8/Concessions £5 Chauffeur’s Cottage, St Peter’s Road, Peterborough, PE1 1YX
Wednesday 12th September Eastern Angles present…… The Long Life and Great Good Fortune of John Clare Eastern Angles present a fascinating new play throwing light on the life of John Clare. Written by Tony Ramsay, this is the story of a cantankerous old man dogged by his own delusions. Troubled by a persistent belief that he is Helpston’s ‘peasant poet’ it’s the job of Amita, a young psychiatrist, to help him re-establish his own identity. “I’d like you to explain something to me. If you died in 1864, how is it that you’re here now, talking to me?” “That’s easy. I died before…but I’m alive now”. The Long Life & Great Good Fortune of John Clare is directed by Ivan Cutting, Eastern Angles’ founder and Artistic Director.
Wednesday 12th September, 7.30pm Tickets £7/Concessions £5 John Clare Cottage Courtyard, 12 Woodgate, Helpston, Peterborough, PE6 7ED Please note this show is also being performed on the 13th and 15th September in alternative venues.
Thursday 13th September John Hegley The Adventures of Monsieur Robinet Enjoy a fantastic evening of poetry and comedy with John Hegley. The Adventures of Monsieur Robinet tells tales of a Frenchman with some unusual (but clean) habits and of his dog, Chirac. There is some love interest which appears rather one-sided and the extraordinary tapping of a television set, all of which make this a highly entertaining experience.
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John Hegley has been performing poetry and music since 1970 when he started busking in Hull. Since then, he’s produced numerous books and performs all over the UK. He’s a true master at bringing poetry to life. Thursday 13th September, 7.30pm Tickets £8, Children £5 The Key Theatre Studio, Peterborough, PE1 1EF
Attila The Stockbroker Folk punk musician, Attila, describes himself as a ‘sharp tongued, high energy social surrealist poet and songwriter’. He’s the founder and leader of his ‘baroque and roll’ band, Barnstormer, but his main focus remains his solo work and live shows which he takes far and wide. In fact, he’s just finished a punk gig in Albania. Thursday 13th September, 9.00pm (doors open 8.00pm) Tickets £5/Concessions £4 (also available on the door) The Brewery Tap, Peterborough, PE1 2AA
Eastern Angles present…… The Long Life and Great Good Fortune of John Clare Eastern Angles present a fascinating new play throwing light on the life of John Clare. Written by Tony Ramsay, this is the story of a cantankerous old man dogged by his own delusions. Troubled by a persistent belief that he is Helpston’s ‘peasant poet’ it’s the job of Amita, a young psychiatrist, to help him re-establish his own identity. “I’d like you to explain something to me. If you died in 1864, how is it that you’re here now, talking to me?” “That’s easy. I died before…but I’m alive now”. The Long Life & Great Good Fortune of John Clare is directed by Ivan Cutting, Eastern Angles’ founder and Artistic Director.
Thursday 13th September, 7.30pm Tickets £7/Concessions £5 2.30pm • John Clare Cottage Courtyard, 12 Woodgate, Helpston, Peterborough, PE6 7ED 7.30pm • St John the Baptist Church, City Square, Peterborough, PE1 1XB Please note this show is also being performed on the 12th and 15th September in alternative venues.
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Friday 14th September An Evening of poetry and literature with Clive James Clive James is the author of more than thirty books, he has published collections of literary and television criticism, essays, travel writing, verse, and novels. As a television performer he has appeared regularly for both the BBC and ITV, most notably as writer and presenter of the Postcard series of travel documentaries. Clive was awarded a CBE in 2012. His latest collection of poetry Nefertiti in the Flak Tower, is out now. Friday 14th September, 7.30pm Tickets £10/Concessions £8 The Theatre, Ormiston Bushfield Academy, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough, PE2 5RQ
The Rural Muse…. a walk through Clare’s Countryside Led by countryside expert Richard Astell of the Langdyke Trust, you will be guided through the beautiful countryside that inspired John Clare to write many of his poems. Saturday 15th September, 10.30am - 12.30pm Tickets £3 Starts and ends at The John Clare Cottage, 12 Woodgate, Helpston, Peterborough, PE6 7ED
Saturday 15th September Eastern Angles present…… The Long Life and Great Good Fortune of John Clare Eastern Angles present a fascinating new play throwing light on the life of John Clare. Written by Tony Ramsay, this is the story of a cantankerous old man dogged by his own delusions. Troubled by a persistent belief that he is Helpston’s ‘peasant poet’ it’s the job of Amita, a young psychiatrist, to help him re-establish his own identity. “I’d like you to explain something to me. If you died in 1864, how is it that you’re here now, talking to me?” “That’s easy. I died before…but I’m alive now”. The Long Life & Great Good Fortune of John Clare is directed by Ivan Cutting, Eastern Angles’ founder and Artistic Director.
Saturday 15th September, 2.30pm Tickets £7/Concessions £5 John Clare Cottage Courtyard, 12 Woodgate, Helpston, Peterborough, PE6 7ED Please note this show is also being performed on the 12th and 15th September in alternative venues.
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The Peterborough Poet Laureate Competition Final This is the final stage of this competition, held annually since 1998, to find a local poet to hold the honorary title of Peterborough Poet Laureate. Throughout the year the Poet Laureate will work with The John Clare Trust and Vivacity Culture and Leisure Trust (inc the library service) and the community, to identify opportunities to make creative writing and particularly poetry part of the life of the city, chronicling special events and celebrating the City of Peterborough. Hosted by Keely Mills and Toby Woods this will be an evening of pure enjoyment. Saturday 15th September, 7.30pm Key Theatre Studio, Peterborough, PE1 1EF Tickets are free for this event, however you must obtain a ticket from the box office to gain free entry on the evening.
Workshops Poems From Anywhere Sunday 9th September • 1.30 - 3.00pm Rennie Parker will get you started with poetry and creative writing as you find poems in everyday material, and work with poetic imagery. Suitable for adult beginners you will develop an original poem using one image per line, and move on to compile a surreal poem with the aid of newspaper items. Max 20 persons £10 per person inclusive of materials The John Clare Cottage, 12 Woodgate, Helpston, Peterborough, PE6 7ED
Helen Mort Tuesday 11th September • 2.00 - 3.30pm Strange Reflections “It was the mirror took his breath away...” – Paul Muldoon This workshop will look at poetry as a mirror: how poems reflect the world we live in, but not necessarily in the ways we might expect. We’ll look at poems by Don MacKay, Charles Simic and other contemporary writers which act like funhouse mirrors, changing the way we see things. Then there will be a writing exercise and a chance to write your own poems that reflect or distort the objects that inspired them. There’ll be opportunities to read your new work out and group feedback at the end. Max 20 persons £10 per person inclusive of materials JP Hartley Room, Central Library, Broadway, Peterborough, PE1 1RX
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Dead Poets Workshop Wednesday 12th September • 1.30 - 3.00pm If you think a poetry workshop is boring, join Mark Grist and Mixy as they guide you through the creative process …….. it’s poetry Jim but not as we know it! Combining poetry and hip hop, this is a workshop with a difference. You can also bring examples of your work and writing for feedback. Max 20 persons £10.00 per person inclusive of materials JP Hartley Room, Central Library, Broadway, Peterborough, PE1 1RX
John Hegley Thursday 13th September • 2.00 - 3.30pm Join John Hegley, surreal poet and performer, to master the art of speed scribbling, dancing and singing in this writing workshop…..it is serious …honest!!! Max 20 persons £15 per person inclusive of materials JP Hartley Room, Central Library, Broadway, Peterborough, PE1 1RX
Keely Mills Friday 14th September • 1.30 - 3.00pm Poetry for Performance Keely Mills will help you to take centre stage and to grab an audience’s attention, giving your poetry the full devotion it needs. She will help you to do this by taking you through a set of simple exercises that will help you with confidence, communication and avoiding the heckler skills! She will also help participants to decide what they think may be a ‘page’ poem or a ‘performance’ poem and how to use both in performance. Be prepared to be a star for an afternoon. Max 20 persons £10 per person inclusive of materials JP Hartley Room, Central Library, Broadway, Peterborough, PE1 1RX
Rodney Lines… Saturday 15th September • 1.30pm onwards Join Rodney Lines at Clare’s birthplace and home for an informative hour long talk as he introduces you to the life and works of renowned Romantic poet John Clare. £4 per person The John Clare Cottage, 12 Woodgate, Helpston, Peterborough, PE6 7ED
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Salon events
Small but perfectly formed readings and stories in unusual spaces
‘Living and Growing Older in Peterborough (sometimes disgracefully!)’….. Stories with Toby Woods Saturday 8th September • 10.00 - 11.00pm Having been born in Peterborough and lived in the city all his life, Toby Wood could be described as stuck. But then again ….Toby will explore living in Peterborough from the 1950s to the present day, from country dancing to dad dancing, from Dogsthorpe to Tesco’s, from Newark Hill to the lowest fen, not forgetting finding love in John Lewis’s. Toby’s poetry is straightforward and accessible and is designed to evoke memories whilst inducing a chuckle or two. Toby writes and performs poems for both adults and children and was Peterborough’s inaugural Poet Laureate in 1998. He describes both poems and photographs as ‘being like cheese and onion crisps – quite pleasant for the moment but unlikely to be a satisfying, sustainable diet’. Join him for the first in these quirky salon events. Tickets £5 Chauffeurs Cottage, St Peter’s Road, Peterborough, PE1 1YX
Great Peterborough Stories with Stuart Orme Tuesday 11th September • 10.00 - 11.00pm Peterborough has a rich heritage dating back some 3,500 years. Discover some of our best historical stories from Boudicca to Hereward, Old Scarlett to Clark Gable and find out about some of the characters who have been involved in Peterborough with Stuart Orme from Peterborough Museum in a powerful mix of storytelling and history. Tickets £5 The Choir, Peterborough Cathedral, PE1 1XS
Peterborough Treasures with Keely Mills Friday 14th September • 10.00 - 11.00pm Keely Mills was the Poet Laureate of Peterborough for 2009, meaning she has studied an apprenticeship in how to advocate and support the cracking poetry scene both locally and nationally. She has performed at many different events from the Houses of Parliament to her favourite gigs which are WI luncheons. Keely’s poetry style has been described as ‘Dawn French on acid’ and ‘the pick and mix at Woolworths’ with a style more Richard Pryor than Pam Ayres. Join her for treasured stories and poetry that will surprise and amuse. Tickets £5 The Treasury, Peterborough Cathedral, PE1 1XS
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Tucked away between Stamford and Peterborough lies the village of Helpston and the birthplace and home of the renowned poet, John Clare. Enjoy Clare’s poetry as you spend time in our beautiful grounds, redesigned with assistance from Cambridge Botanic Gardens, which contain varieties of plants which would have been seen in Clare’s time. Our gardens will feature the 2012 RHS Chelsea Gold medal winning garden, inspired by the walks and work of John Clare and designed by Adam Frost; installation will be completed by the end of 2012. Visit our shop which stocks locally made arts, crafts and artisan foods or try our relaxed cafe which specialises in homemade fayre, with ingredients for our delicious soups, cakes, and speciality cream teas, being sourced as locally as possible and seasonally from our delightful gardens. With a diverse range of exciting events and our quality educational projects there is something for everyone at The John Clare Cottage. Open every day 10.30am - 4.00pm (last entry to the cottage at 3.00pm) Please note that from October - March we will be closed on Thursdays We are closed from Sunday December 23rd 2012 - Wednesday 2nd January 2013 10.30am - 4.00pm (last entry to cottage at 3.00pm)
Contact Details Clare Cottage, Woodgate, Helpston, Peterborough, PE6 7ED 01733 253330 • www.clarecottage.org
The John Clare Trust came together in 2005 with the goal of purchasing Clare Cottage and transforming it into a site of historical, cultural and educational importance, open to the public. With the collaboration of Paul Chirico and Barry Sheerman MP and a selection of Trustees with years of experience in Education, Environmental issues, charitable endeavours and of course a love of Clare’s work, the Cottage was secured and a first stage application was made to the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop the site into a Cultural, Educational and Environmental hub for every age group. The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded the John Clare Trust funding of £1.27m in May 2007. Following the major restoration project, the cottage in which Clare was born and lived for many years, is now open to the public. The heart of the Cottage has been restored and transformed to its original 18th century state and is used as a celebration of Clare’s work and life. With magnificent surrounding countryside, glorious gardens and a fascinating house to explore, there’s something for everyone at Clare Cottage.
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Forthcoming events at Clare Cottage If you have enjoyed this year’s then you maybe interested in seeing Festival of Poetry & Literature what else we have to offer.
Grimm Fairytales Theatre in the garden with The Pantaloons 24th July This is an outside performance suitable for the whole family , please bring a picnic and garden furniture to make yourselves comfortable. 7.00pm doors open at 6.00pm
John Clare Festival 13th - 15th July The John Clare festival featuring the Clare Cottage Garden Open Day on the 14th July. All the usual attractions and fun for all the family.
The 80 mile walk 6th - 8th September Walk in the footsteps of John Clare and take in the inspiring countryside on this 3 day fundraising walk.
National Heritage Open Days 8th & 9th September Talks and free entrance to Clare Cottage as part of this national scheme.
Literary Dinner 12th October • 7.00pm Featuring guest speaker Simon Hoggart.
Christmas at John Clare Cottage December 1st • 4.00 - 6.00pm A Clare Christmas….something for the whole family in this Christmas extravaganza featuring stalls, music and activities.
John Clare Quiz December 7th • 7.00pm The legendary Clare Cottage quiz…book early this event will sell out!!
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Festival of Poetry & Literature
date
at a glance
what’s on where time price
Saturday 8th Roger McGough The Key Theatre, 7.30pm September Peterborough
£15 Concessions £12.50 under 16s £10
Saturday 8th September
The Chauffeurs Chauffeur’s Cottage, 10.00 - £5 Stories with Peterborough 11.00pm Toby Woods
Sunday 9th September
Poems From Anywhere with Rennie Parker
The John Clare Cottage, 1.30 - 12 Woodgate, Helpston 3.00pm Peterborough PE6 7ED
£10
Sunday 9th September
Afternoon Tea with Wendy Cope
The John Clare Cottage, 4.00pm 12 Woodgate, Helpston 3.00pm Peterborough PE6 7ED
£12.50 Concessions £10
Monday 10th Silver with Clare Theatre, 7.00pm September Sir Andrew Central Library, Motion Broadway, Peterborough PE1 1RX
£12.50 Concessions £10
Tuesday 11th Creative Writing JP Hartley Room, September with Central Library, Helen Mort Broadway, Peterborough PE1 1RX
£10
2.00 - 3.30pm
Tuesday 11th Helen Mort: September Division Street
Clare Theatre, 7.30pm Central Library, Broadway, Peterborough PE1 1RX
£8 Concessions £6
Tuesday 11th Dead Poets September
Chauffeur’s Cottage, 9.00pm Peterborough
£8 Concessions £5
Tuesday 11th Great Peterborough The Choir, September Stories with Peterborough Stuart Orme
10.00 - 11.00pm
£5
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Wednesday 12th Creative Writing September with Mark Grist
JP Hartley Room, Central Library, Peterborough
1.30 - 3.00pm
£10
Wednesday 12th Eastern Angles Peterborough Cathedral, 7.30pm September present.......
£7 Concessions £5
Thursday 13th September
John Hegley JP Hartley Room, Surreal writing for Central Library, adults who are Peterborough kids
£15
Thursday 13th September
John Hegley The Key Theatre Studio 7.30pm presents ‘The Adventures of Monsieur de Robinet‘
2.00 - 3.30pm
£8 Concessions £5
Thursday 13th Eastern Angles September present……
Clare Cottage Courtyard, 2.30pm 12 Woodgate, Helpston, Peterborough PE6 7ED
£7 Concessions £5
St John the Baptist 7.30pm Church, Main Doorway, City Square, Peterborough
£7 Concessions £5
Thursday 13th Attila the The Brewery Tap, September Stockbroker Peterborough
9.00pm £6 (doors open Concessions £4 8.00pm)
Friday 14th September
Poetry Performance JP Hartley Room, workshop with Central Library, Keely Mills Peterborough
1.30 - 3.00pm
Friday 14th September
An Evening of poetry and literature with Clive James
The Theatre, 7.30pm Ormiston Bushfield Academy, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough PE2 5RQ
Friday 14th September
Treasures with Keely Mills
The Treasury, Peterborough Cathedral
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£10
£10 Concessions £8
10.00 - £5 11.00pm
Saturday 15th The Rural Muse... Starts and ends at September a curated walk Clare Cottage through Clare‘s 12 Woodgate, Helpston Countryside Peterborough, PE6 7ED
10.00am - £3 12.30pm
Saturday 15th Rodney Lines September
The John Clare Cottage 1.30pm £4 12 Woodgate, Helpston (onwards) Peterborough, PE6 7ED
Saturday 15th Eastern Angles September present….
Clare Cottage Courtyard 2.30pm 12 Woodgate, Helpston Peterborough, PE6 7ED
£7 Concessions £5
Saturday 15th The Peterborough Key Theatre Studio 7.30pm September Poet Laureate Peterborough Competition Final Tickets are free for this event, however you must obtain a free ticket from the box office to gain entry on the evening.
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Contact details The John Clare Trust/John Clare Cottage 12 Woodgate, Helpston, Peterborough, PE6 7ED 01733 253330 www.clarecottage.org Key Theatre box office, Peterborough, PE1 1EF Tel 01733 207239 On-line booking www.vivacity-peterborough.com
Langdyke Trust
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Helpston Garden Centre
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