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Willow blog

Record breaking Folk by the Oak Festival

July 23, 2014

The sun was shining on the Willow team and festival-goers at this year’s Folk by the Oak at Hatfield House on Sunday 19th July 2014.  Willow has been Folk by the Oak’s chosen charity since the festival began in 2008, receiving 50p from every ticket sold. This year the festival has raised more than £7,000 for Willow.

This was the seventh time the festival of folk’s finest acts had taken place in the grounds of the Hertfordshire stately home, and it was seven times lucky for Willow raising a record-breaking £4,500 on the day and receiving more than £3,000 from ticket sale donations and concert profits.

Willow beneficiary Luke James, who renewed his wedding vows for his Special Day wowed the crowd with his emotional story about how Willow has helped him and his family.  He said of his Special Day, “Planning the day gave us something to think about and look forward to, it gave us a new focus. Now we were talking about what we would do ‘when’ I beat this not ‘if’ I beat this.”

Emma Dexter, marketing manager for Folk by the Oak, said: “We are delighted to be working with Willow again.  We feel it is important for events such as Folk by the Oak to give something back to the community, and our ongoing relationship with Willow allows us to do this in a very special and positive way. We would like to offer our sincere thanks to the kind people who joined us at Hatfield House this year and gave so generously to Willow.”

Thanks go to the amazing Willow volunteers who worked tirelessly to make it such a successful event.

Folk by the Oak will return to Hatfield House next summer on Sunday, July 19, 2015.