Nature et Progres Aude superb Fete de l’Arbre 2020 has had to be totally re organised this year.
UPDATE 29th November. The Fete de l ‘Arbre has now been replaced with a Marche de l’Arbre, 6th December in the parking of the Hotel Departmental, Carcassonne. For list of producers and trees and plants available see Marche de l’Arbre
Last year Nature et Progres moved the Fete from Lagrasse to the Lycee Agriole Charlemagne in Carcassonne. This was a great move, free parking, in Lagrasse the Mayor refused to lift the parking fees for the Fete, a large open park that allowed all the tree and plant sellers to be together, as well as a huge hall for the stands of transformers on plants, wine makers and artists, as well as in door class rooms for conferences, a cafeteria and food hall. .
Fete de l’Arbre
The new venue is much more central to the Aude, easily accessible for the high Aude valley, the Corbieres and the Minervois, with visitors from Toulouse, Montpellier, and Perpignan as well as from Catalonia. The fete was packed, and we were very happy to meet old friends and new clients.
This year, based on the success of last year, Nature et Progres planned not just a one day event but a two day extravagance for the Fete de l’Arbre 2020 with the Saturday dedicated to conferences and a large Sunday market.
The second wave of COVID 19 and the new confinement have put pay to these ideas. The weekend has had to be cancelled, but not completely. The Fete de l’Arbre 2020 will take a different formate in the form of an open air market and pick up point for pre ordered trees and plants
Just like they did with the Couiza organic festival Nature et Progres have worked hard to find an alternative way of organising an event that ensures a continuation that protects both plant sellers and clients. In the Summer they moved cancelled the two day festival in Couiza but organised a one day market on the rather wonderful Domaine du Gres Vaillant an organic horse propelled vineyard near to St Polycarpe. It was a great day, smaller than the Couiza festival to be sure but well attended and a breath of fresh air during the first confinement.
This year’s Fete de l’Arbre 2020 will be a one day event, in the form of an open air market with tree sellers and plant growers like ourselves delivering orders and selling directly. Food and the bar may not be there, it is a bit unsure at the moment. Equally the venue is awaiting the Department’s approval. I will let you know when I know.
In the meantime please see our list of plants if there is anything you wish to reserve in advance please drop us a line by clicking on our Contact form. Not all the plants listed are available in December but we will do our best to get them to you.
Just a quick word to thank Nature et Progres for continuing to come up with creative solutions in these difficult times.
Also if you do plant to come and see us in Carcassonne on the 6th December please remember to wear a mask; and practice social distancing when at the Fete. It is irrelevant whether you think they are effective or not, the police and Department have allowed this fete during the confinement on the condition that the rules are followed, if they think stand holders or clients are not obeying the rules then future festivals and open air events like markers may be banned.
