LITTLE BIRD MADE’S SPRING ARTISAN MARKET SUCCESS AT HAREWOOD HOUSE AND WINTER RETURN CONFIRMED

The grounds of the iconic Harewood House were transformed into a vibrant hub of creativity last weekend as the Spring Artisan Market, curated by Little Bird Made, brought together the region’s finest makers, bakers and creators.

While the event showcased exceptional Yorkshire talent on Friday, 27th and Saturday 28th March, organisers Little Bird Made and Harewood House made the difficult but necessary decision to cancel the final day of the artisan market on Sunday, 29th March, due to forecasted high winds. The first two days of the market saw visitors enjoying the spring air to explore a diverse array of stalls. From handcrafted jewellery, homeware and original art, skincare and crafts, as well as artisanal cheeses and handcrafted pickles and chutneys, the curated selection reflected Little Bird Made’s commitment to high quality independent artisans.

“The atmosphere on Friday and Saturday was truly special,” said Jackie Crozier, Managing Director of Little Bird Made. “Seeing the community come out and support small independent businesses against the stunning backdrop of Harewood House is always a highlight on our artisan market calendar. While we were disappointed that the weather cut our weekend short,the safety of our traders and visitors is always our absolute priority.’’

Natalie Holmes, Head of Commercial and Visitor Experience, said, “It was fantastic to relaunch Harewood’s Spring Market last weekend. Welcoming artists, crafters and makers is a big part of who we are, and it reflects Harewood’s long history of working with contemporary creatives.We were also really pleased to bring the market onto the route down to our Courtyard Café. The response from both visitors and traders was incredibly positive, and it was great to see the space enjoyed in a new way.”

She continues, “We were very disappointed to have to close the market on Sunday due to high winds. As a heritage site surrounded by centuries old trees, weather conditions, especially wind gusts, are something we monitor very closely. Throughout the weekend we kept a careful eye on conditions and made the difficult decision on Sunday to close the market, along with many other areas of our site to ensure the safety of our visitors, traders and team. Whilst we cannot control the weather, we know this will have been disappointing for everyone involved,including traders, visitors, and the team who worked hard to bring the market together. We are really looking forward to our Christmas markets taking place from Friday 6 November to Sunday 8 November and Friday 27 November to Sunday 29 November.”

Andrew Hope, owner of the Village Cakery, said, "We had a spectacular time with Little Bird Made at the wonderful Harewood House. The weather couldn't seem to make its mind up, but as always the event was so well organised by the team at Little Bird. We couldn't be more

grateful to be part of such a wonderful community, and the Spring Artisan Market was utterly fabulous."

Sharon Golightly, owner of small business Cotton Cabin, said, “The Spring Artisan Fair organised by Little Bird Markets held in the beautiful grounds of Harewood House was a great place to visit with an excellent selection of local artisans to peruse, live music and great food to share. What a great weekend.”

Despite the Sunday cancellation, the event reinforced the strong partnership between Harewood House and Little Bird Made. Visitors who attended on Friday and Saturday not only enjoyed the spring artisan market but also the gardens, grounds and lakeside walks as well as the estate's renowned hospitality.

For those who were unable to visit the spring artisan market,Little Bird Made will be returning to Harewood House this November with their artisans across two weekends for the Winter Artisan Market. Further details will be announced later in the year for entry tickets for the Winter Artisan Markets on Friday 6th to Sunday 8th November and Friday 27th to Sunday 29th November.