A HOEDOWN will bring a farm to life next month with a fundraiser to celebrate another amazing year of communities growing stronger together.

Wellies-On is inviting guests to Party on the Farm at Butterfly Lodge in Abberton in true country style with bucking bronco and welly wanging competitions and a sizzling hog roast, or tasty vegan options.

Vocalist Cat Winter, better known as her alter ego Lady Gogo, will sing her way through country and western classics from icons Dolly Parton and Patsy Cline to the more modern sounds of Dixie Chicks and Mumford and Sons.

Guests will also be treated to a performance by Holly Millgate, a music specialist whose biggest inspiration is the legendary Karen Carpenter.

Ellie Goff, founder and managing director of Wellies-On, said “We’ve had a really amazing year, especially being featured in a parliamentary review and securing a large grant from the National Lottery’s People’s Projects scheme.

“This party is to celebrate our successes as well as part of our continuing need to raise funds.

“We’ve got some amazing people helping us to get this event off the ground including Community Music, which is doing all the technical stuff with the sound equipment and BT Cullum and Sons from Tiptree who are supplying the lorry, which will be the stage, for our musical acts. I still haven’t decided whether to dress in typical hoedown gear, or glam it up with glitter and sparkles - I’m just really looking forward to welcoming people to our farm and keeping my fingers crossed for clear skies.

“Our party is pretty much in the peak of the Perseid meteor shower and we have fairly dark skies on the farm, so that’s an added attraction.”

From their base in Mersea Road, the community interest company works with people of all ages to build resilience and reduce social isolation.

Join Ellie and friends at the Gatehouse Events bar on August 10, from 5pm to 11pm.

Tickets cost £25 for adults and £12 for children. Under 5s are free.

Concession prices are available for Essex University students and staff in honour of a ten-year partnership between the two organisations.

Go to wellieson.com/event/party-on-the-farm to buy your tickets.