We will have story tellers and arts and crafts in the Faerie Caves. Aspen coke ovens are one of only three sites in UK still remaining and are acknowledged as the best example of its type. They were originally built to support the local coal mining industry but have been dormant for many decades. With support from SuperSlowWay a story telling event was held in the caves in 2022. It attracted large numbers of people who walked along the canal bank to the event. We had story tellers dressed as Faeries to tell the stories. Please note we are using the old spelling of Faeries to distinguish the event from anything remotely Disney or Tinkerbellish - we are sticking to traditional tales and last year specifically included Ukrainian stories in one of the caves.

What we'll deliver:

• Pay for Story tellers in the caves.
• Pay for artists to work in the caves.
• Pay for posters and promotional materials.

Why it's a great idea:

Young people will enjoy an afternoon listening to stories told by professional story tellers. People will enjoy a walk along the canal bank to reach the caves. It will ensure that the caves are used and the heritage of the coal mining industry is brought to the fore again. We need to keep using the caves so that they don't become abandoned. It will remind the council that they are an interesting heritage resource for the community. People will get exercise and fresh air whilst discovering the caves.

Steps to get it done:

• A cultural event for Hyndburn.

Last year the event was run on a relatively tight budget with support from SuperSlowWay. We want to build on the event and ensure that it is an annual thing.