This new initiative invites community members of all ages to engage with the full journey of a traditional Biddy’s hat. 

This project will document and support the development of small patches of land; school gardens, public green spaces, or domestic plots, where traditional straw can be grown specifically for Biddy’s Day. Participants will be involved in every step of the process; planting the seed, tending the crops, watching them grow, harvesting the straw, drying and preparing it, and finally, shaping it into the iconic Biddy’s hat.

Importantly, this is not a process that ends when the hat is made. Just as the seed was planted with intention, so too is the final product stored with reverence. Through photography, interviews and written reflections, the project will create a living archive, capturing each stage of the straw’s journey and the stories of the people involved.

This project will serve as a resource for future generations, educators, researchers and artists who wish to understand or replicate the process. It will also help reframe Biddy’s Day not simply as a folkloric event, but as a cycle of growth, gathering, making and renewal.

For further details on how to get involved, email biddysday@gmail.com 

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.