PEOPLE

MY WILL PUDGE The farmer and owner of Greenstage Gallery sits down with Living to share what he loves the most about Herefordshire

ill Pudge lives in Bishops Frome with his wife Sophie and their border collie. After studying W archaeology at Bradford University he returned home to work in the family business, the farm side of which he manages. He opened the Greenstage Gallery at the Hop Pocket (another part of the family business) to show work that reflects his love of large, colourful contemporary paintings.

Have you always lived in Herefordshire? If so, what do you remember about growing up here Yes, born here and have lived in the county all my life with brief stays away for school and university. Growing up on our family farm the memories I savour the most are from harvest time, especially hop picking. It was just so exciting – all the pickers arriving, the noise of the machinery, the scent of the hops.

How would you describe Herefordshire to people who don’t know it? I always think it’s what JRR Tolkien based the “Shire” on in his books – beautiful rolling hills with fertile red soils, producing some of the What makes Herefordshire people And where will you be going to meet best food and drink in the world. special? friends for a drink and a catch-up? I think people in Herefordshire are not afraid I’m very much looking forward to having And if a stranger only had time to visit to be individuals or speak their mind. So a pint of Taylors in the Green Dragon one place, where would you suggest? many of the people I meet have their own in Bishops Frome or HPA in The Barrels The obvious answer to that would be the businesses and/or are creative and I am in . Greenstage Gallery at the Hop Pocket. constantly surprised by what people tell I would also advise anyone to look at the me they are or have been doing... there is Do you have a favourite walk – or local listings for one of the many cultural something in the soil here that encourages view? events that go on in the county... from the people to be brave and try new things! One of the greatest things about living Borderlines Film Festival and great comedy here is that you’re never much more than a and music at The Courtyard to the amazing What would be your favourite thing to stone’s throw from a beautiful vista. Hay Festival and the Folk Festival... do in the county on a day off? I would say that the view from the beer for me there is always something to enjoy. Most of the year it would involve hiring a garden across the Frome Valley at the Also, there is no better place to spend a canoe and travelling down the , Major’s Arms at Halmond’s Frome on a Saturday afternoon than at Edgar Street stopping for a picnic or pub lunch on the summer’s evening is pretty special. watching the football. way. In September, it would involve touring around all the fantastic artists’ studios during What’s the very best thing about the Herefordshire Art Week. county? ‘One of the greatest The best think about the county is its Where are you looking forward to going produce, all the wonderful food and drink things about living here for your first meal out? that results from it and the amazing art is that you’re never Oh I’ve been dreaming of so many meals; created by talented local people that I am I’m looking forward to visiting Cotto in lucky enough to show at the Greenstage. much more than a Hereford, The Olive Tree and Sitara in stone’s throw from a as well as The Three Horseshoes in What would make Herefordshire an Little Cowarne, but will probably make the even better place to live? beautiful vista’ first one extra special and visit Pensons in Hereford FC winning the Trophy final at Tenbury Wells. Wembley this May!

98 | Living | May 2021