Out & About Local Products Directory the Wild Side Silbury Hill

UP!_new cover_01:up2008 11/2/08 15:12 Page 1

WILTSHIRE OXFORDSHIRE HAMPSHIRE WEST BERKSHIRE UP!

Out & About The Wild Side Enjoy a riverside ramble or Get close to and conserve brisk hike over the Downs our beautiful wildlife Local Products Silbury Hill Directory Secrets of the ancient Where to find the best mound revealed local produce

A GUIDE TO THE HISTORY, WAYS OF LIFE, ATTRACTIONS AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES OF THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS – AN AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY 2008 Welcome elcome to the 2008 edition of Up! on the North Wessex Downs . The North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) was designated by government as a protected landscape in 1972 to conserve and enhance its Wnatural beauty. The North Wessex Downs AONB is the largest in southern England, and stretches from Devizes to Reading, and from Swindon to Basingstoke. It includes the Berkshire, Lambourn, Marlborough, North Hampshire and Oxfordshire Downs, and such wonderful sites as Avebury, the Ridgeway National Trail, the Uffington White Horse and Watership Down. A map on the back cover of this magazine shows its full extent. The natural beauty of the North Wessex Downs AONB is conserved and enhanced by a wide range of individuals and organisations that come together as a Council of Partners. Members of the Council of Partners include farmers, local communities, nature conservation, archaeology and recreation interests, local authorities and Natural England and the Forestry Commission. I am privileged to lead the North Wessex Downs AONB team that advises and implements the decisions, policies and activities of the Council of Partners that ensure this wonderful landscape is protected for the future. This magazine contains a mine of information about the history, and current and future management of the North Wessex Downs, ideas for day-trips and walks, and where to buy food and other products grown and produced here. Please visit our website at www.northwessexdowns.org.uk for the latest news and events.

Fiona Newcombe Director

Contact us North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Call: 01488 685440 Email: [email protected] www.northwessexdowns.org.uk

Front cover image: Information in here once decided…

Produced for the North Wessex Downs Every effort has been made to ensure AONB Office by Fellows Media Ltd the accuracy of the contents and the The Gallery, Manor Farm, Southam, publisher cannot accept liability for Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 3PB. any error or omissions. Reproduction Tel: 01242 259241 of any part of this publication without Email: [email protected] permission is forbidden.

UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS 3 Out & about Whether it’s antique shopping in Hungerford, exploring the rare wildlife in Savernake Forest, or hiking up the hill where St George reputedly killed the dragon… a visit to the North Wessex Downs certainly won’t disappoint

ANGLING of volunteers. It now provides the perfect means of The River Kennet and River Lambourn are two of the enjoying the countryside and attractive market towns, country’s best chalk streams, and their clear waters like Hungerford with its array of antique shops and and high alkaline content offer rich pickings for anglers. Pewsey with its quaint timbered cottages, from the The Environment Agency is incubating salmon eggs on comfort of your own home-from-home. the banks of these rivers as part of the Thames Salmon Project, to find out if sustainable breeding is a GLIDING possibility. If successful, this will be yet another visitor You can never really appreciate the beauty of a place draw. The River Pang, also within the AONB, is a chalk until you’ve seen it from the air, which is probably stream winding its way through peaceful countryside. why gliding is becoming so popular in this area. The It supports native populations of brown trout and Vale of White Horse Gliding Centre in Shrivenham, grayling. If you would prefer to cast your line from the Oxfordshire, and Shalbourne Soaring Society near towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal, you can do so Hungerford both welcome novices and experienced throughout the year but you will need to contact the glider pilots. holders of the appropriate lease at the local angling association or fishing club. CYCLING If you prefer to explore the area’s unspoilt villages and spectacular rolling downlands on two “clear waters and wheels rather than two legs, there are plenty of Walking clearly signposted and well-maintained routes at From a secluded woodland stroll or refreshing high alkaline content your disposal. riverside ramble, to a brisk hike to the top of The National Cycle Network offers 173 miles of the downs where the outstanding views will offer rich pickings routes within North Wessex Downs, including 65 far outweigh the effort it takes to get there, blissful traffic-free miles. The water-loving cyclist the countryside of this area is so rich in for anglers” could do well to try out the newly improved history that you can’t fail to come across sections of the Kennet and Avon Canal towpath, fascinating points of interest while out RIDING Route 4 of the Network. After an invigorating ride walking. There are the grey wethers, or Lambourn Valley, or the Valley of the Racehorse as along the cool paths of Savernake Forest, why not sarsen stones, which are large, ancient it’s sometimes known, is rife with equine activity. enjoy a barbecue in the Forestry Commission’s rocks dotted about in fields as if a giant has After Newmarket, Lambourn is the most important campsite before falling asleep in the shade of its been playing marbles; Walbury hill fort centre for horse racing in Britain, with more than ancient trees. The only privately owned forest in standing 974 feet (297 metres) above sea 2,000 horses being trained here. The springy turf of Britain, owned by 31 generations of the same family, level at Combe Gibbett; or even the village the chalk downs, and wide open spaces of the area Savernake is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest, of Little Wittenham which has the proud make it perfect for breeding and training, and boasting deer, birds of prey and rare lichen and fungi. honour of playing host each year to the perfect too for visitors to head out for a gallop. The only problem with planning a day’s cycling in World Pooh-sticks Championships. You can choose from several long-distance North Wessex Downs is deciding which route to take It would be a shame to come to this Area riding routes across the NorthWessex Downs and which of the pretty, unspoilt villages to have a of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and AONB to explore the wonderful countryside and pint and a pit stop in. The three-hour Myths and not walk along the oldest route in England. marvel at the far-reaching views. Less experienced Magic Ride takes in sights such as Uffington Castle The Ridgeway National Trail is 5,000 years riders can enjoy a peaceful trek from one of the and its famous white horse chalk carving, before old and around 85 miles long. Parts of it are many riding stables in the area using the extensive climbing Dragon Hill on which St George is said to used to train racehorses so watch your back! network of bridleways. have slain the beast – no grass grows at the top of Two of Hampshire’s fine long-distance the mound, as it is believed that is where the blood walks begin high on the chalk downs at was shed. Inkpen Beacon in the North Wessex Downs: The Test Way (44 miles long) which CANAL BOATING meanders along the course of the River Test Drifting along the Kennet and Avon Canal in a to Eling; and The Wayfarer’s Walk, extending brightly painted narrow boat, watching the thatched 70 miles to the coast near Portsmouth. The cottages and rolling fields pass by, you’ll wonder latter links up with six circular walks of why you ever used any other form of transport. varying distances, traverses Watership Down, Built more than 200 years ago to connect the West made famous by Richard Adams’ best-selling Country to the Thames and London, the canal has book, and takes in dramatic coastline, recently been lovingly restored thanks to the woodland, rolling hills and lush, green valleys. Heritage Lottery Fund and the efforts of thousands WebsitesExplore to help at plan home… your visit • www.visitkanda.com information for walkers, cyclists and canal boat users • www.katrust.org/information.htm details of angling on the Kennet and Avon Canal • www.shalbournegliding.co.uk • www.swindongliding.co.uk • www.nationaltrust.org.uk • www.english-heritage.org.uk information on Avebury • www.wberksramblers.org.uk • www.ramblers-wilts.org.uk • www.pooh-sticks.com • www.savernakeestate.co.uk • www.sustrans.org.uk details of cycle routes • www.lambourn.info information on horse racing and Lambourn Open Day

A national treasure Here’s a quick rundown of the stunning National Trust properties located within and close to the North Wessex Downs AONB

BASILDON PARK, READING Benefiting from a second rise to fame in 2005 when it was featured in the film adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, this grand 18th-century house stands in ALTON PRIORS – WOODBOROUGH – extensive parkland overlooking the River Thames. HONEYSTREET – STANTON ST BERNARD Distance: 8.5km ASHDOWN HOUSE, LAMBOURN Time: At least 3 hours The spectacular rooftop views from this 17th-century mansion are not to be This circular walk along quiet paths and tracks is packed missed, nor is the Iron Age hill fort where King Alfred is said to have battled with fascinating points of interest. Immerse yourself in the Danes.The regal charm of Ashdown House could be attributed to its history at Alton Priors Church with its buried sarsen connection with the sister of King Charles I, Elizabeth of Bohemia, known as stones and 1700-year-old yew tree; and feed your The Winter Queen. curiosity with the legendary Hanging Stones found en route. A rare Roman bronze pin (or brooch) was found SANDHAM MEMORIAL CHAPEL, BURGHCLERE in the garden of a house in Honeystreet, the site of an The world-renowned Stanley Spencer paintings, inspired by World War I, unexcavated Roman settlement.The brooch, now have recently been cleaned and sit ever proudly in their home within this residing in Wiltshire Heritage Museum, is decorated 1920s chapel. with two birds and engraved with the owner’s name, ‘Lucianus’. AVEBURY, NEAR MARLBOROUGH For more information on this For those spiritually inclined among us, a trip to the world-famous stone walk and three others in the area, circle will be a revelation. Now a World Heritage Site, it also offers an purchase Walking the North interactive Barn Gallery which uncovers the secrets to the stones’ story. Wessex Downs for £1 from many The nearby 16th-century Avebury Manor with its tranquil garden is also local outlets. well worth a visit.

UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS 5 CSLOISELR TOBBEUINGRSOLYVED

Silbury Hill, close to Avebury in Wiltshire, has long been a powerful but mute challenge to archaeologists. Recent conservation work on the prehistoric site, has now drawn to a close, giving archaeologists a great deal to think about.

eople of the Late Neolithic period must have had a very good reason Hill as we see it today. Core samples from earlier bores into the body of the for building successive mounds of chalk to a height of some 40m and mound have provided archaeologists with the means of checking whether creating what we now call Silbury Hill. Unfortunately they left no clues the Professor was right. Pthat would help today’s archaeologists discover what that reason was. Archaeologists now have a pretty good idea what sort of landscape However, late last year English Heritage archaeologists investigating the originally surrounded the mound. Evidence gleaned from pollen and seed Silbury Hill site made a discovery that might at least shed light on how samples, insect remains and animal bone extracted from the soils underlying subsequent generations used the place. The iconic shape that we recognise the mound show that chalk grassland was already established in the vicinity of today, they say, may not have been how the hill looked when it was first built. Silbury before the mound was created. They believe the summit may have changed from a domed shape when it was constructed 4,400 years ago into the current ‘flat top’ hundreds of years later, FEW TREES in Saxon or Norman times. Chalk grassland rich in herbs indicates managed grazing and the lack of insect A series of medieval postholes have been discovered (one of which was very remains of a sort that were dependent on woodland encourages the thought large), on top of the hill, possibly indicating that a huge military building had that there were relatively few trees about. The presence of dung beetle been there during the Saxon or Norman periods. They have also discovered remains is strong evidence of fairly heavy stocking rates of livestock. Thus a two iron arrowheads which suggest the building had a military/defensive picture emerges – a landscape not vastly different from today’s; function, such as a defended lookout post or signal station. They now also predominantly grass for grazing animals and cultivated crops. Trees were being believe that the summit of Silbury Hill was also significantly modified and cleared and although there were no fields as such, the landscape was being flattened during this period. changed to one that met the needs of a sedentary agricultural community. By the time this article is being read the archaeologists will be back in their ATTEMPTS TO FIND OUT WHY offices poring over the new findings that their high-tech equipment has made Weighing in at a calculated half a million tons, Silbury Hill is the largest pre - possible. Radiocarbon dating shows that building Silbury Hill began some time historic artificial mound in Europe; it was built around 2,300BC and appears to between 2445 and 2190BC. Given luck, the investigators will have found new be closely associated with nearby long barrow tombs and the stone circle at organic material that will provide a more precise date. Perhaps they will have Avebury, but what was its exact function? Attempts to find out have been a stab at telling us how many people were involved. made by at least three men. The first was the Duke of Northumberland. He marched to the top of the hill in 1776 and dug a vertical shaft by which he explored the centre of the hill “Weighing in at a calculated half before marching down again. A horizontal tunnel was dug in 1849 by the Rev Dean John Merewether and another was dug by Prof Richard Atkinson, in a million tons, Silbury Hill is the 1968-69. None of the three extracted anything of great significance and none of them did a very good job in refilling the holes they had made – which largest prehistoric artificial mound brings us to a burst of activity in 2007. Eight years ago a hole about 14m deep fell in at the mound’s summit. in Europe” Remotely operated cameras revealed that the Duke of Northumberland’s Currently it is thought (carbon dating again) that Silbury Hill took either attempts at restoration had proved inadequate and that the two tunnels were less than 115 years to complete, or between140 and 435 years. The finding of also collapsing. At that time English Heritage engaged Skanska Civil new organic material might enable the archaeologists to establish this Engineering to carrying out a temporary filling of polystyrene blocks beneath a chronology more accurately. protective capping of chalk. During the summer of 2007 Skanska engineers Silbury Hill is as secretive now as it was when the Duke of Northumberland not only removed the temporary filling from the cap and replaced it with first clapped eyes on it. The notion that it might be a burial mound has largely compacted chalk, they also re-entered the Hill via the tunnel dug by Professor been discounted. It could have been constructed for purposes of worship or Atkinson in 1968, and removed the old packing used by the Professor and his for ceremonial occasions. The fact that it is part of the Avebury World Heritage team when they left the Hill. This enabled English Heritage archaeologists to Site which includes Windmill Hill and Avebury Henge, the West Kennet Long examine deep inside the Hill and take samples from the different stages of Barrow and the West Kennet Stone Avenue is surely significant. building for analysis. The engineers then repacked the Atkinson Tunnel with As the English Heritage website puts it: “The people who built the late compacted chalk to stabilise the Hill for the long term. Silbury Hill is now as Neolithic Silbury and Avebury were more distant in time from the original close to being as good as new – or old – as possible. builders of the early Neolithic Windmill Hill and the West Kennet Long Barrow While the engineers were doing their bit, the investigative archaeologists than we are from the Normans and their castles.” That raises an interesting tried to add to their existing knowledge of the mound by further archaeological thought. Did the need to feed a vast labour force over a period spanning many recording. For instance, Prof Richard Atkinson’s dig suggested that the Neolithic generations oblige the prehistoric organisers to develop their agricultural builders first created a circular mound of turf and river gravel. expertise to a level unique at that time?

They then enlarged it with alternating layers of chalk and soil. Finally Right: Silbury Hill – built around 2,300 BC with great insight into problems of soil they topped everything off with a massive third layer of chalk which was engineering. The sides are thought to be carefully stepped and the interior contains gradually covered by wind-borne soils and grass seeds to produce the Silbury radial chalk walls for added stability. The hill was built to last, and it has.

6 UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS Evidence gleaned from pollen and seed samples, insect remains and animal bone extracted from the soils underlying the mound show that chalk grassland was already established in the vicinity of Silbury before the mound was created... Year of Food and Farming All across the North Wessex Downs, children can be found up to their elbows in flour making bread, picking juicy apples in shady orchards and watching in awe as they see farm animals for the very first time. These activities are part of the nationwide initiative, the Year of Food and Farming, aimed at boosting children’s enthusiasm and appreciation of where their food comes from.

heYear of Food and Farming was launched have on children: “Many of the in September 2007, running to July 2008, schools that visit us come from urban to promote healthy living amongst children. environments and it is not unusual to The campaign aims to provide children with hands- meet children that have never seen a on experience of farming, growing and cooking food. sheep or cow. I’ve lost count of the Memorable firsthand learning experiences are on number of children who think all cows the menu in farms throughout the North Wessex are black and white and are astonished Downs. Rushall Organic Farm in Bradfield has been to find out ours aren’t.” hosting school visits since 1983 through the John As well as arranging visits to the farm, Simonds Trust, an educational charity that John Bishop, the farm manager, is a welcomes around 8,000 children a year to the farm SEEDA farm champion for education and and other sites in the Pang valley. The aims and has arranged visits to schools to deliver food and and they love it! Hands-on experience is always activities of theYear of Food and Farming initiative farming workshops. going to ignite children’s interest.” fitted well with what they were doing already. To find farms and estates where children can go A vineyard may not seem an appropriate place Cliff Marriott, Education Officer for the John for educational visits near your school, have a look for children to spend time, but Paul Langham from Simonds Trust, explains the effect these visits can on the North Wessex Downs Countryside A’Beckett’s Vineyard near Devizes pointed out: “We Education Network website (details below). have Wiltshire’s last commercial orchard and many It is not just farms that are opening their doors; children have never picked an apple before; a sad Memorable firsthand local food producers are also offering similar indictment on life today.” classes and workshops. The family-run Old A’Beckett’s Vineyard runs school visits for local learning experiences Farmhouse Bakery in Steventon is working with primary schools and is open to schools organising local schools to teach children the art of bread research projects and nature trails. The vineyard is making. Kate Bitmead, who runs the bakery with are on the menu in Above: Primary school children taking part in Fit2cook her husband and daughter, said: “The most food and farming workshops farms throughout the important element is that the children don’t just Below: A’Beckett’s Vineyard which runs school visits for North Wessex Downs watch us make bread – they make it themselves – local primary schools The campaign aims to provide children with hands-on experience of farming, growing and cooking food

NCortoh WnesstexaDcowt ns Countryside Education Network www.northwessexdowns.org.uk/education For more information on the Year of Food and Farming, contact 02476 853086 or log onto www.yearoffoodandfarming.org.uk

currently in talks with Wiltshire County Council Food and Farming. Local children, small-scale about setting up an outdoor classroom. farmers and family-run businesses are working side Fit2cook Food Education, with support from by side with national organisations like DEFRA and Hampshire Country Learning, is running food and the Countryside Foundation for Education (CFE). farming workshops for primary schools in West As one of the campaign’s partners, CFE puts Berkshire as part of the campaign. The Local Food schools in touch with local farms and organises For All programme, to be run during the Easter educational visits. Gary Richardson, Chief 2008 term, will give children the chance to learn Executive, highlighted the enormity of the issue about, touch, smell, cook with and finally taste being tackled by this initiative, one that goes local food, such as unusual root vegetables or further than encouraging children to eat healthier: crème fraiche from dairy cows grazed on the lush “There aren’t many sectors which actively go out lowland pastures. Local food producers and and explain what they do – farmers do. More and farmers will talk to them about how these more food is coming from abroad and although products are grown or produced and the children food prices are going up, little of those increases will then make a simple dish out of the items. are felt by the farmers.” Fit2cook’s Min Raisman explained that the The support offered through the Year of Food learning doesn’t end with the children: “We will be and Farming campaign goes beyond farm visits running a Practical Food Skills Course for teachers, and continues once the students are back in the showing them simple ways of cooking with local classroom. For instance, Garden Organic, another food in the classroom. We hope teachers will then campaign partner, works with schools to develop be able to continue this learning experience well organic growing areas with a view to using the beyond the Year of Food and Farming.” produce in the school kitchen or cookery lessons. One organisation with the aim of educating young people about food and farming in a A HEALTHY FUTURE sustainable countryside is Farming and Countryside Melanie Leech, Director General of the Food and Education (FACE). Meg Hart from FACE has worked Drink Federation (FDF), sums up the scale of the with and supported farmers from the North project’s hoped-for achievements: “TheYear aims to Wessex Downs who are taking part in the improve understanding of the food chain and the initiative, helping to create links with schools and role played by farming; increase links between farms and providing information and sources to schools, farmers and food producers; develop Top: A mixed vegetable display courtesy of Garden Organic teachers and pupils for educational projects. healthier lifestyles and good nutrition; increase Middle: Kate Bitmead from the Old Farmhouse Bakery It is perhaps the dual-pronged approach of local in Steventon interest in careers in the related industries; and initiatives with national support, which is Above: Prince Charles is a great supporter of the year of promote a greater appreciation of the importance of responsible for the expected success of the Year of Food and Farming. the countryside and environmental issues.”

UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS 13 Other outlets: Website sales; pubs BREAD, CAKES crusty oval tops, cottage loaves, CROSS LANES FRUIT FARM and clubs in 35 mile radius of & FLOUR spelt, stoneground organic Contact: Gillian Franklin, brewery; local shops (bottled beers); wholemeal; speciality breads – Mapledurham, nr Reading RG4 7UW local food festivals at Marlborough, DOVES FARM FOODS cheese and onion plaits, leven, black T: 0118 972 3167 Ramsbury and Aldbourne. Contact: Clare Marriage, olive and pecan; and, if you’ve a E: [email protected] Salisbury Rd, Hungerford RG17 0RF sweet tooth, try our lardy cakes or www.crosslanesfruitfarm.co.uk WADWORTH & CO. BREWERS T: 01488 684880 chelsea buns! Products: Family-run fruit farm Contact: Jonathan Pollock, E: [email protected] Opening times: Wed,Thur, Fri 9am- growing 60 varieties of traditional Wadworth & Co Ltd, Northgate www.dovesfarm.co.uk 5pm; Sat 8.30am-1pm. English apples, plums and pears. Brewery, Devizes SN10 1JW Env-links: WFCP, Bio, Org, FAS, CSA. Freshly-pressed apple juice and honey. T: 01380 723361 Products: Farmer, specialist flour Opening times: End Aug to mid-Jan E: [email protected] miller and baker est. 1978. Range of Wed-Sat 10am-6pm. www.wadworth.co.uk 20 different flours including organic FRUIT Other outlets: Various Farmers’ Producers Directory Products: Brewer, wholesaler and and wheat/gluten free. Bakery Markets including Reading, Abingdon, pub retailer. Family-business founded produces Fairtrade, organic and BOURNE VALLEY PICK- Newbury, Wallingford; mail order; ive mostly putrid fountains laughed partly mat.The tickets towed umpteen orifices, although in 1875. Owns nearly 260 pubs. wheat/gluten free cookies, cakes and YOUR-OWN internet. cleverly. Kermit kisses two wart hogs, two aardvarks auctioned off very silly orifices. Best-known for Wadworth 6X cask cereal bars. EFSIS certified,Vegetarian Contact: Daniel Culley, Lone Barn although the extremely angst-ridden Five fountains untangles Santa Claus, but two ale which is distributed nationally. Soc., Fairtrade Foundation,Vegan Soc., Farm, St Mary Bourne, HILDRED’S televisionF perused obese cats, and Mark marries progressive orifices easily tickled Darin. One Weekday deliveries daily of our Ceoliac Soc., Slow Food member. nr Andover SP11 6AJ Contact: George Hildred, two silly wart hogs, then the bourgeois pawnbroker gossips, yet umpteen putrid sheep products by Shire Horses in Devizes. Other outlets: Independents, natural T: 01264 738888 Spring Leys, Wallingford Road, pawnbrokers perused putrid sheep.The silly dwarf extremely annoyingly untangles Jupiter, thenWart Stables open to the public 1.30pm- food and multiple retailers. Env-links: FAS Goring-on-Thames RG8 0HP comfortably auctioned off umpteen obese hogs drunkenly bought umpteen cats. Minnesota 3.30pm Monday-Thursday. A master Products: Grows and sells soft fruit, T: 01491 874471 botulisms. Five dogs almost cleverly abused two ran away easily, then Jupiter laughed, even though cooper making and repairing wooden LACOCK BAKERY strawberries, raspberries and E: [email protected] bureaux, but the aardvarks slightly lamely one ticket noisily kisses almost putrid Macintoshes. casks.Visitor Centre – discover the Contact: Jean Sheard, 8 Church St, vegetables, such as asparagus, Products: PYO asparagus, auctioned off one orifice, although five lampstands Umpteen partly progressive chrysanthemums history and heritage of Wadworth Lacock, Chippenham SN15 2LB potatoes, beans and carrots. strawberries, raspberries, comfortably marries the pawnbrokers.Two dwarves cleverly auctioned off two poisons. Quark brewing, and understand what makes T: 01249 730457 Opening times: May-Sept: Mon-Fri gooseberries, currants, tayberries, telephoned one irascible Jabberwocky, and telephoned orifices. Umpteen very obese fountains this local, family-owned brewery so E: [email protected] 8.30am-7pm, weekends 9am-5pm. loganberries, flowers, when in season. umpteen quite bourgeois elephants untangles one auctioned off five Macintoshes. unique in an ever-changing industry. Products: In National Trust village. Bread, cakes, baked on premises, WEST BERKS BREWERY bread made without improvers or Contact: Mrs Helen Maggs, preservatives, low in salt. Speciality BEER ,WINE, CIDER winning ale range, with New World E: [email protected] T: 01225 704734/708842 The Old Bakery,Yattendon, breads, bread pudding, carrot cake wine as speciality. Oldest Swindon [email protected] E: [email protected] nr Thatcham RG18 0UE and Lacock Lardies. Also Marshfield A’BECKETT’S VINEYARD business (164 years), one of only 29 www.buttsbrewery.com www.molesbrewery.com T: 01635 202968 ice cream, Cottage Delight preserves, Contact: Paul or Lynn Langham, family breweries in UK.Victorian Env-links: Org Products: Est. 1982. Brews E: [email protected] old-fashioned sweets. a’Beckett’s Farmhouse, High St, steam brewery using original methods. Products: Brewing real ales since traditional ales using locally-malted www.wbbrew.co.uk Opening times: Open all week, Littleton Pannell, Devizes SN10 4EN Opening times: 9am-5pm, Mon-Fri. 1994, fully-organic brewer. Operates Maris Otter malt, and ciders from Products: Micro-brewery established 10am-5pm.Winter opening for T: 01380 816669 Deliveries throughout area. from converted Dutch Barn. locally-grown apples. Sells through 1995 celebrating 13 years brewing Mondays only: from start of Nov until E: [email protected] Other outlets: Locally,Arkell’s owns Cask beers: Jester,Traditional, Barbus pubs, clubs, restaurants and events. award-winning real ales, notably 28 Feb 10am-4pm. Baking: Mon, www.abecketts.co.uk 105 pubs, three clubs, one off-licence. Barbus. Products include Molecatcher,Tap Good Old Boy, Maggs’ Magnificent Wed, Fri, and three Sats a month. Products: Award-winning Vegan Bottled conditioned: Blackguard, Bitter, Landlord’s Choice, Molennium, Mild. Bottled beers available. Brewery friendly English wine including: Dry BRIGHTWELL VINEYARD Barbus Barbus, Golden Brown, Coper, Rucking Mole, Best Bitter and Black tours by arrangement. MAPLEDURHAM WATERMILL and Off Dry White, Rosé, Red and Contact: Mrs Carol Nielsen, Le Butts (lager). Rat cider. Shop: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 10am- Contact: Lola Andrews,The Estate Sparkling wines. Brightwell Vineyard, Rush Court, Other outlets: Supplies approx. 60 Opening times: Brewery open 9am- 1pm, or by appointment. Office, Mapledurham, nr Reading Opening times: Thurs, Fri and Wallingford OX10 8LJ freehouse pubs, local supermarkets, 5pm weekdays, 9am-noon Saturday. Other outlets: Owns The Rising Sun, RG4 7TR Sat,10.30am-4.30pm all year and T: 01491 836586 specialist off-licences. Other outlets: Nationally through Stockcross, nr Newbury, supplies pubs T: 0118 972 3350 Bank Holidays.Vineyard and Orchard E: [email protected] other brewers, wholesalers. in Berks, Hants, Oxon,Wilts, Gloucs. E: [email protected] Tours are available to organised www.brightwines.co.uk LAMBOURN VALLEY www.mapledurham.co.uk groups and also for schools for more Products: Red and white English wines, CIDER COMPANY RAMSBURY BREWERY Env-links: WFCP,WMP, FAS, LEAF details please contact us. six grape varieties on 14-acre vineyard. Contact: Roy Bailey,The Malt House, Contact: Darren Golding or Andy Products: Wholemeal flour from last Other outlets: Edwin Giddings, Wine sales, tours, tastings, nature and Great Shefford, Hungerford RG17 7ED Mellor, Priory Farm, Axford, DAIRY working watermill on Thames, Devizes;Thomsons of Pewsey; vineyard walks Fri-Sun 12-6pm or by T: 01488 648441 Marlborough SN8 2HA available for visitors or by order from Whitehall Garden Centre, Lacock; prior arrangement.Wine sales also by E: [email protected] T: 01672 541407/07843 289527 PROSPEROUS HOME FARM Estate Office. Open Easter to end Healthy Life Bistro, Devizes; appointment or mail order. www.lambournvalleycider.co.uk E: [email protected] Contact: Derek Moody, Salisbury Sept: Sat, Sun & Bank Hols 2-5pm. Highclose Farm Shop, Hungerford; Other outlets: Added Ingredients, Products: Cider-maker producing www.ramsburybrewery.com Road, Hungerford RG17 0RD Upavon Corner Shop; Red or White, Abingdon;The Granary Deli, natural Berkshire cider and perry from Env-links: WFCP,WMP, FAS, CSA, FSC T: 01488 684557/07774485338 THE OLD FARMHOUSE Trowbridge; Wadworth Pubs across Watlington;The Oxford Wine local apples and pears growing within Products: Founded 2004, based in Env-links: FAS BAKERY Wiltshire and Berkshire. Company, Standlake; Millets Farm 15 miles of Newbury. No visits. former farm building at Stock Close Products: Double Guernsey Cream, Contact: Rodney, Kate or Beccie Shop, Frilford Heath; Q Gardens, Outlets: Cider and perry normally sold Farm, near Axford. Own brewing whipped cream, milk; full fat, low fat Bitmead, By The Meadow Farm, ARKELL’S BREWERY Steventon; Wellington Farm Shop, only at outside events such as farmers’ recipes use Ramsbury-grown optic and flavoured yoghurts, crème Steventon OX13 6RP Contact: James Arkell, Stratfield Saye. markets, shows etc. Increasing barley and water from estate. freche, cheese, seasonal honey, T: 01235 831230 Arkell’s Brewery Ltd, Kingsdown, emphasis on bottled products. Cask beers: Ramsbury Bitter, Gold, butter. Shop open seven days a week. E: oldfarmhousebakery@ Swindon SN2 7RU BUTTS BREWERY Flintknapper, Kennet Valley, Other outlets: Local Farmers’ bythemeadowfarm.co.uk T: 01793 823026 Contact: Chris Butt, Butts Brewery, MOLES BREWERY Deerhunter, 506. Markets, PYO strawberry fields, local www.theoldfarmhousebakery.co.uk E: [email protected] Northfield Farm, Great Shefford, Contact: Roger Catte, Bottled: Gold, Flintknapper, 506. shops, supermarkets, hotels, Products: A Rick Stein Food Hero www.arkells.com near Hungerford RG17 7BY 5 Merlin Way, Bowerhill, Melksham, On site sales Monday-Friday, 9am- restaurants and Armadillo Café, and artisan bakery producing the Products: Bees Organic Ale – award- T: 01488 648133 Wiltshire SN12 6TJ 4.30pm. Phone for appointment first. Notting Hill. most wonderful traditional breads –

14 UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS FOR FULL PRODUCT DETAILS VISIT WWW.NORTHWESSEXDOWNS.ORG.UK FOR FULL PRODUCT DETAILS VISIT WWW.NORTHWESSEXDOWNS.ORG.UK Q GARDENS FARM SHOP www.vicarsgame.co.uk Marlborough; local caterers; retailers. E: martinanddawn@ Contact: Katie Napper, Milton Hill, Products: Farm shop and butchery greenfield-pork.co.uk Org: Organic Schemes: CSA: Countryside FSC: Forestry Steventon, Abingdon OX13 6AB selling high quality local meat at CHRISTMAS FARM Products: Free range pork, Wiltshire Mainly address Stewardship Agree - Stewardship Council: T: 01235 820988 wholesale prices. Beef, pork, lamb, Contact: Phil Scrivener, Church Lane, dry-cured bacon and gammons. Prize Setting high Key chemical inputs; ment: Through CSA International, non- Products: Fully stocked farm shop, wild boar, venison, poultry, game and Enborne RG20 0HB winning sausages in Great Hampshire WFCP: Whole Farm fertiliser, pesticide use schemes the govern - governmental butchery and PYO seasonal fruit exotics (kudu, bison, ostrich, T: 01635 569747 Sausage & Pie Competition 2005, standards Conservation Plan: in crops and veterinary ment makes payment organisation promoting and veg, including asparagus, crocodile). Homemade sausages, www.christmasfarm.org.uk 2006 and 2007. Hampshire Life Best any producers working Dedicated, tailor-made medicines in livestock to farmers and land responsible cherries, strawberries, raspberries, burgers and bacon. Own-brand Products: Traditionally reared free- Butcher/Meat Producer 2005. within the North Wessex management plan for production. managers to enhance management of the blackberries, currants, gooseberries, smoked meats. Free-range eggs. range beef, pork, lamb, duck, goose, Refrigerated delivery service. Hog MDowns AONB pride themselves on all aspects of a farm, and conserve world’s forests. Uses plums, greengages, damsons, apples, Fresh vegetables and salad. Bread. chicken, turkey and eggs. Also roast hire. the quality of their produce and dependant on its farm FAS: Farm Assurance landscapes, wildlife, certification and and pears. Q’s own beef and lamb, Opening times: Mon-Sat 8am-5pm. specialist home-cured meats. Other outlets: Hampshire Farmers’ their concern for the environment type, location and Scheme: Voluntary history and help people product labelling with locally produced pork, poultry and Other outlets: Wholesale through Markets; local shops. in which they operate. habitat, wildlife value. schemes establishing enjoy them. its tree-tick logo. game. Plant nursery, bedding and Vicars Game to local and London DEWS MEADOW FARM SHOP They realise that their type of production standards perennial plants, hanging baskets, restaurants; Fortnum & Mason; other Contact: Jane and Andrew Bowler, HAMPSHIRE GAME work, the way they operate and Bio: Biodiversity Action covering food safety, LEAF: Linking shrubs and fruit trees. Tea room and food distributors. Oxford Rd, East Hanney OX12 0HP Contact: Janet Lane, Pollards Farm, the careful management of their Plan: individually tai - environmental protec - Environment And Criteria for directory children’s play area. T: 01235 868634 Clanville, Andover SP11 9JE local environment are crucially lored management plan tion, animal welfare, Farming: Promotes inclusion: Production CHALLOW HILL MEATS E: [email protected] T: 01264 730294/07719 613906 linked with the ongoing wellbeing for selected habitats and other important efficiency transparency site must be located, or Contact: Lucy Blackwell, www.dewsmeadowfarm.co.uk E: [email protected] of the AONB and the future and species. consumer issues. Eg. and standards product must be grown, Challow Hill Farm, East Challow, Products: Traditional home- www.hampshiregame.co.uk success of their businesses. British Farm standard throughout the food reared or harvested MEAT & FISH Wantage OX12 9PD produced pork, bacon, sausages, Products: Oven-ready game. Trading Many of them have WMP: Woodland with red tractor logo. and farming industry. within the AONB or T: 01235 765792 burgers, pork-pies, pasties and since mid-1970s. demonstrated this by joining Management Plan: LEAF marque farmers within five miles of the BROOKLEAS FISH FARM E: [email protected] sausage rolls. Also bread, fruit and Other Outlets: Farmers’ Markets. assurance schemes. These are Provides tailored Demeter: Certified follow integrated farm AONB border. Product Contact: Tim Lobb, Brookleas, East www.challowhillmeats.co.uk veg. Award-winning dry-cured bacon highlighted in our list as management advice food comes with management must be available locally. Hendred, nr Wantage OX12 8LN Env-links: FAS and gluten-free products. KILN MEADOWS FARM “Env-Links”. for a particular biodynamic farming principles. All information has been T: 01235 820500 Products: Dexter beef, seasonal lamb Opening times: Mon-Sat 8.30am- Contact: Gordon Hedges, Cox’s Lane, woodland or complex which is ecological and provided by the E: [email protected] and rare breed pork. 5pm. Late night Friday 6pm. Midgham, Reading RG7 5UR of woodlands. holistic. It takes producers and neither www.brookleas.com Other outlets: Farmers’ Markets at Other outlets: Farmers’ Markets; T: 0118 971 2138 account of the soil, the publishers nor North Products: Trout farm fed by Ginge Abingdon, Faringdon, Wantage, local shops. Products: Prime quality beef from plants and animals, and Wessex Downs AONB Brook from local Downs. Small Didcot, Henley, Newbury and pedigree Highland cattle. All beef the influence of the accept any responsibility farmshop and smokery. Children’s Hungerford. DOWN BARN FARM hung on bone for three weeks to moon and stars. for any errors or fishing pond. Fly-fishing and live Contact: Mrs Penny Reid, maximise flavour and tenderness. ommissions. trout restocking available on request. CHERRY ORCHARD MEATS Down Barn Farm, Sparsholt Down, Visit by appointment. Member of British Trout Assoc. Contact: Nick Venters, Cherry Wantage OX12 9XD Other outlets: Farmers’ Market Opening times: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm. Orchard Cottage, East Sands, T: 01367 820272 at Newbury. by appointment. the farm. meat organic (hung and butchered T: 0118 930 4898 Other outlets: Attends 13 local Burbage SN8 3AN E: [email protected] Other outlets : Farmers’ Markets. Opening times: Onsite shop on on premises). Pub meals all week. A Products: Charity-run garden centre Farmers’ Markets during year. T: 01672 810257/07866 452611 Env-links: Org, WMP. ROYAL BERKSHIRE PORK Farm Open Days only. Visits by la carte restaurant Wed-Sat, Sunday providing training for people with E: [email protected] Products: Organic Shorthorn beef Contact: Russell Kilvington, Tamarisk, SANDRIDGE FARMHOUSE appointment. lunch. Shop Wed-Fri 11am-2.30pm, disablilities. Produces high quality CASEY FIELDS FARM SHOP Products: Pork sausages, bacon, and Tamworth pork on 100-acre Pudding Ln, Brightwalton RG20 7BY BACON LTD Other outlets: Website; telesales; weekend 11am-3pm. Won the bedding and herbaceous plants. (VICARS GAME) gammon, pork or beef freezer packs. (42ha) farm. Horse livery and T: 01488 638155 Contact: Mrs R. Keen, Sandridge wholesale; Sheepdrove Organic Farm RSPCA Good Business Award 2007. Opening times: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Contact: Alan or Owen Hayward, Pig feed contains no GM ingredients escorted rides on Downs. Providing E: [email protected] Farm, Bromham, nr Chippenham Family Butchers at Bristol and Maida Sun May-June 12-4pm. Casey Fields Farm, off Dog Lane, or antibiotics (growth promoters). agro-tourism via bed and www.royalberkshirepork.co.uk SN15 2JL Vale, London. W CUMBER & SON Ashampstead RG8 8SJ Refrigerated home delivery service breakfast/dinner for Ridgeway Env-links: FAS T: 01380 850304 (THEALE)/RUSHALL FARM FLOWER FARMS T: 01635 579662 within 14-mile radius. National Trail visitors. Products: Accredited RSPCA Freedom E: [email protected] STARK HOUSE FARM Contact: John Bishop, Rushall Farm, Contact: Bob Anderson, E: [email protected] Outlets: Farmers’ Markets at Pewsey, Other outlets: Supermarkets; Food pig breeder retailing own-brand www.sandridgebacon.co.uk Contact: Mrs Frances Paget, Scratchface Lane, Bradfield RG7 6DL Carvers Hill Farm, Shalbourne, specialist rare breed butchers. pork products – sausages, bacon, Products: Speciality hams; Wiltshire Stark House Farm, Goose Hill, T: 0118 974 4547 Marlborough SN8 3PS gammons. Russell farms 40 acres of naturally-smoked and dry-cured Headley, Thatcham RG19 8AR www.rushallfarm.org.uk T: 01672 870782 EASTBROOK FARMS free-range pigs and is a former bacon; sausages. Home-reared T: 01635 268205 Env-links: WFCP, Bio, WMP, Org, CSA, E: [email protected] ORGANIC MEAT Meridian TVYoung Entrepreneur of Aberdeen Angus and Hereford beef. E: [email protected] FAS www.wildflowerfarms.com Contact: Carolyn Curtis, Eastbrook theYear in South-East. Opening times: Farm Shop open Env-links: CSA Products: 350-hectare farm, Env-links: FAS, CSA Farm, Cues Lane, Bishopstone, Other outlets: Local shops; Tue-Sat 10am-5pm. Products: Rare-breed Saddleback producing organic lamb, beef. Products: Wildflower seed and Swindon SN6 8PL supermarkets; caterers; also Waitrose Other outlets: Farmers’ Markets at pork, bacon and sausages. Farm sales Provides educational environmental native plants. Open daily, May-Aug. T: 01793 790460 and Sainsbury’s. Devizes and Wanborough; available, telephone first. visits through the John Simonds Trust View wildflower seed crops, restored E: [email protected] independent butchers; delicatessens; Other outlets: Farmers’ Markets at and Open Days, including lambing, meadows/other habitat, with nature www.helenbrowningorganics.co.u NORTHMOOR TRUST caterers; farm shops. Newbury and Winchester. bluebell walks and family events. trails. Free admission and car parking. Env-links: Org FOR COUNTRYSIDE Other outlets: Farm sales; Wickcroft Consultancy service available. Products: Award-winning organic CONSERVATION SHEEPDROVE SWAN INN (ORGANIC Farm Shop; Cumbers Farm Shop, Other outlets: Mail order, meat. Prepared by skilled butchers. Contact: Rachael Lee, Hill Farm, ORGANIC FARM SHOP & RESTAURANT) Marcham. brochure available. National home delivery service. Little Wittenham OX14 4QZ Contact: Sales Team, Warren Farm, Contact: Mrs Mary Harris, The Swan Other outlets: Sainsbury’s and Tesco T: 01865 408196 Lambourn RG17 7UU Inn Lower Green, Inkpen RG17 9DX MEADOWMAKER under Helen Browning brand. E: [email protected] T: 01488 674747 T: 01488 668326 Contact: Sue Everett, 122 Derwent www.northmoortrust.co.uk E: [email protected] E: enquiries@ PLANTS & SEEDS Road, Thatcham RG19 3UP GREENFIELD PORK Env-links: WFCP, WMP, CSA, LEAF, Bio www.sheepdrove.com theswannin-organics.co.uk T: 01635 847164 PRODUCTS Products: Lamb and sheepskin rugs, Env-links: WFCP, Bio, WMP, Org, CSA www.theswaninn-organics.co.uk ENGLEFIELD E: [email protected] Contact: Martin and Dawn born and reared on Trust’s farm Products: Award-winning traditional Env-links: Org, CSA, FAS GARDEN CENTRE www.meadowmaker.co.uk Martindale, Sunnycliff, Highbury where animal welfare, wildlife mixed farm producing organic beef, Products: Village shop, pub and Contact: Miss Janet Smith, Products: Wild-harvested seed, by Road, Anna Valley, Andover SP11 7LU conservation and environmental best lamb, mutton, pork and free-range hotel which serves meals cooked The Street, Englefield, nr Theale, contract only, for re-creating native T: 01264 359422 practice are given high-priority. Visit chicken. Home delivery direct from using mainly organic ingredients. All Reading RG7 5ES grassland (lowland meadow/

16 UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS FOR FULL PRODUCT DETAILS VISIT WWW.NORTHWESSEXDOWNS.ORG.UK FOR FULL PRODUCT DETAILS VISIT WWW.NORTHWESSEXDOWNS.ORG.UK UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS 17 Other outlets: Local shops; shows; sandwiches. Picnickers welcome. Office, Yattendon RG18 OUY HANNEY COMMUNITY honey, wildflower seeds/plants, Products: English asparagus. markets; monthly volunteer lunches. Shop sells unique silk gifts, T: 01635 203905 SHOP & POST OFFICE mature trees, hay/straw, sticks for Outlets: Local stores. accessories. Temporary exhibitions www.yattendon.co.uk Contact: Mrs A.P. Vickars, Brookside, peas/beans. Riding school, hedge- ROSEMARY’S PRESERVES & throughout the year and children’s Env-links: WFCP, Bio, WMP, FAS, CSA, East Hanney, Wantage OX12 0HU laying, conservation and schools’ MAPLELEAF WATERCRESS HIGHGATE JUICES activities during school hols. LEAF, FSC T: 01235 867408 education services. Open seven days Contact: Alison Brown, ‘Parrotts’, Contact: Rosemary and John Tuck, Opening times: Tues-Sun 10.30am- Products: Christmas trees, seasonal Products: Wide range of local meat, a week, visits by appointment. Greywell Road, Mapledurwell, Highgate Farm, Wootton Bassett 5pm (except Christmas). Last decorations, associated fare. free-range eggs, honey, fruit and Basingstoke RG25 2LS SN4 8DT admission 4.15pm. Foresters’ yard. vegetables. Also groceries, household OLD FARM SHOP T: 01256 464221/400368 T: 01793 850999 Opening times: Dec 9am-6pm, goods, stationery, greetings cards and Contact: Mrs Caroline Tyler, Milton E: [email protected] E: [email protected] otherwise by appointment. small toys. Village store established Hill, Rowstock OX14 4DP Products: Suppliers of traditional Products: Wide range of home-made for more than 20 years. T: 01235 831247 bunched watercress available from jams, chutneys, marmalades and WOOD & TREES E: [email protected] the site daily to trade outlets and jellies, also apple juice and HAMSTEAD GROWERS LTD Products: Spray and chemical-free the public. elderflower cordial. As much local GEORGE MEDLIN VARIOUS Contact: Keith Webb, produce. Own fruit, vegetables, meat, Other outlets: Local Farmers’ AONB fruit and ingredients used as WOODWORKS Red Hill, Hamstead Marshall, cakes, bread, pies, jams. Free-range Markets. possible. Contract service to press, Contact: George Medlin, The Medlin BROMHAM GROWERS Newbury RG20 0JL eggs. Local cheese, honey. Veggie box pasteurise and bottle juices from Workshop, Little Hidden Farm, Contact: Ross Paget, Bromham T: 01635 254091 delivery service. PYO site. Animals to OGG VALLEY ORGANICS surplus fruit. Visit by appointment. Wantage Rd, Hungerford RG17 0PN Growers Ltd, Barley Close Farm, E: [email protected] feed, visits on farm (9am-6pm). Contact: Tracy Gough, 1 Westfield Other outlets: Farmers’ Markets in T: 07881 570301/01672 811886 Bromham, Chippenham SN15 2JA Products: Plants, equestrian supplies, Other outlets: Farmers’ Markets at Farm, Ogbourne-St-George, Wootton Bassett, Marlborough (also E: [email protected] T: 01380 859891 feeds, bedding, arena for hire, leather Wantage and Wallingford. Marlborough SN8 1SX Marlborough Arts and Crafts, St www.georgemedlin.co.uk www.bromhamgrowers.co.uk repairs. T: 05601 159971 Peter’s Church), Wanborough, Calne, Products: Bespoke furniture Products: Wholesale operation Opening times: May-Oct Mon-Sat WICKCROFT FARM SHOP E: [email protected] Devizes and Swindon. using local AONB, British and producing freshly prepared and 8am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-4pm; Nov- Contact: Mandy Strang, Pangbourne www.oggvalleyorganics.co.uk European woods. whole vegetables and fruit grown Apr 8am-5pm, Sun 10am-1pm. Road, Theale RG7 5EA Env-links: WFCP, Bio, Org calcareous grassland); consultancy ATKINS & POTTS SUSIE’S PRESERVES LTD Commissioned work: Specialises in mainly on farms in Bromham. T: 0118 930 5159 Products: Family-run business est. for Farm Environment Plans and Contact: Nicola Young, Unit 3, Contact: Susie Kensett, Unit A, Cold individually designed furniture Operates six days a week at Barley HARROWAY ORGANIC www.wickcroftfarmshop.co.uk in 1999 as organic, chemical-free Environmental Stewardship. Inst. of Studland Est., Gore, End Rd, Ball Hill, Ash Farm, Long Lane, Hermitage, crafted to suit all homes, styles and Close Farm. Produce sold all over UK. GARDENS Products: Wide range of local 210-acre vegetable farm. Seasonal Ecology and Env. Management; Flora Newbury RG20 0PW Newbury, Berkshire RG18 9LT client requirements. Medlin-designed All farms under Assured Produce Contact: Mandy Wright and produce including home-produced root, brassica and salad vegetables. Locale’s Code of Practice for T: 01635 254249 T: 07909 995353 traditional specimen pieces available. Scheme. Steve Forster, Kingsclere Road, free-range chicken, local beef, organic Farm sales: 9am-5pm. Local boxed Supplying Native Flora. E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Visit by appointment only. Whitchurch RG28 7QB lamb and mutton, free-range and order deliveries. www.atkinsandpotts.co.uk www.susiespreserves.co.uk EVERLEIGH FARM SHOP T/F: 01256 895346 rare breed pork, delicatessen, award- Other Outlets: Farmers’ Market WANBOROUGH HERB Products: Savoury jams, relishes, Products: Hand-cooked chutneys, MARNIE MOYLE & GREEN Contact: David Hammerson, E: [email protected] winning local cheeses, cakes, bread, at Newbury. NURSERY classic condiments. Hand-made to jams, jellies, marmalades using OAK FURNITURE Old Rectory Farm, Everleigh, Env-links: Org wines, beers etc. Contact: Bob and Peter Biggs, recipes devised by local Berkshire original recipes created by Susie Contact: Marnie Moyle, 1 Catmore Marlborough SN8 3EY Products: Market garden producing Opening times: Wed-Sat 9am-5pm. TOLHURST ORGANIC Wanborough Herb Nursery, families. Also wide range of kitchen Kensett and, where possible, using Road, West Ilsley RG20 7AT T: 01264 850344 wide range of organically-grown fruit PRODUCE Callas Hill, Upper Wanborough, essentials. Online and site sales. local AONB ingredients. T: 01635 281786 E: [email protected] and vegetables. Local vegetable box WOODBOROUGH Contact: Iain Tolhurst, West Lodge, Swindon SN4 0AE Delivery to the door. Other outlets: Village and farm E: [email protected] www.everleighfarmshop.co.uk deliveries (Andover, Newbury areas). GARDEN CENTRE Hardwick, Whitchurch-on-Thames, T: 01793 790327 Other outlets: Wickcroft, Highclose, shops; butchers; delicatessens; www.marniemoyle.co.uk Products: Farm shop and Farm shop. Contact: Alison Parker, Pangbourne RG8 7RA E: [email protected] and Wellington Farm Shops; La Petite healthfood shops; selected craft Products: Marnie’s simple, sturdy delicatessen. Sells local beef, pork, Opening times: Thurs-Sat 9am-6pm. Nursery Farm, Woodborough, T: 0118 984 3428 Products: Retail nursery with display Fromagerie, Marlborough; The and country shows; order on-line outdoor designs use locally lamb, poultry, and oven-ready game Other outlets: Winchester Farmers’ nr Pewsey SN9 5PF E: [email protected] gardens promoting interest in herbs Healthy Life, Devizes. via website. harvested unseasoned green oak, in season. Also fresh fruit, vegetables, Market (July-Nov). T: 01672 851249 Env-links: WFCP, Bio, Org, CSA and their uses. Also unusual or which is expected to shrink or distort dairy produce, fresh bread and wines. www.woodboroughgarden Products: Established in 1976, forgotten plants. Site chemically free CHURCH LANE FOOD to add uniqueness and character. Opening times: Mon-Sat 8am-4pm; HIGHCLOSE FARM SHOP centre.co.uk growers and distributors of organic since 1983. Garden design service. COMPANY Each piece is additionally carved with late opening Thurs and Fri until 5pm. Contact: Jayne Thorp, Bath Road, Products: PYO fruit, vegetables and vegetables. Operate a three-size Other 0utlets: Farmers’ Markets; Contact: Jean Semlyen, 15 Church SILK & HONEY words or designs, and the site-origin Other outlets: Smithfield Market Hungerford RG17 0SP daffodils at nursery April-Oct. Garden veggie-box delivery scheme in shows; garden club talks. Lane, Wallingford OX10 0DX of the wood used is carved on the and major poulterers in London; T: 01488 686770 centre with coffee shop. Plants, Reading and Oxford areas. Won ‘Local T: 01491 833320 NEWBURY AND underside of the bespoke work. All Selfridges; top restaurants and hotels www.thefarmshop.co.uk shrubs etc. Box Scheme of the Year 2000’ award Products: Environmentally-aware DISTRICT BEEKEEPERS furniture is made to commission. throughout country; website sales. Products: Wide range of soft fruit Opening times: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm; from Soil Assoc. Finalists in the BBC producer of home-made traditional Contact: Mike Oliver and vegetables in season. Sun 11am-5pm. radio 4 Food and Farming, Farmer PRESERVES fruit and vegetable preserves, jams, T: 01635 201470 STICKS & STONES GARLANDS ORGANIC Opening times: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Other outlets: Fruit sold at Pewsey of the year 2007. jellies, marmalades, chutneys. Most www.newburyandwantage Contact: Garp or Liis Flack, Contact: Innes and Hannah Sun 10am-4pm (NB seasonal Farmers’ Market. ARCHERS COUNTRY ingredients grown locally, without beekeepers.btinternet.co.uk North Lodge, Shaw Farm, Lockeridge, Ballantyne, 6 Reading Road, changes). YATESBURY ORGANIC FARM CHUTNEYS chemicals. Visit by appointment. Products: Local honey and hive nr Marlborough SN8 4LU Pangbourne RG8 7LY Contact: Richard Gantlett, Contact: Jane Archer, Outlet: Wallingford local products in Newbury and Wantage T: 01672 861336 T: 0118 984 4770 LITTLE HIDDEN FARM GR Gantlett & Son, Yatesbury House Tanglewood, 3 Ermin Close, Baydon, producers’ market. areas. Produce sold through local E: [email protected] www.garlandsorganic.co.uk Contact: Bill and Sue Acworth, Little Farm, nr Calne SN11 8YF Marlborough SN8 2JQ shops, shows and fetes. www.uksticksandstones.com Env-links: Org Hidden Farm, Hungerford RG17 0PN VEGETABLES T: 01672 539039 T: 01672 540534 LIZZIE’S LARDER Products: Bespoke handmade Products: Over 1,500 organic and T: 01488 683253 www.yatesbury.net Products: Gold Award-winning Contact: Liz Barnett, 10 Inkpen Rd, WHITCHURCH SILK MILL kitchenware such as individually- natural products including local www.littlehiddenfarm.co.uk BILLINGTON FARMS Env-links: WFCP, Bio, Org, FAS, CSA sauces and chutneys (Guild of Fine Kintbury RG17 9TU Contact: Stephen Bryer, 28 designed chopping blocks and bread, honey, meat, cheese. Also Env-links: WFCP, WMP, Org, FAS, CSA Contact: Tim Billington, Pangfield Products: Home-grown mixed Food Retailers ‘Great Taste’ Awards), T: 01488 658450 Winchester St, Whitchurch RG28 7AL cheeseboards made from blocks of organic fruit and vegetable retailer. Products: Mixed organic farm Farm, Stanford Dingley RG7 6DY seasonal vegetables and pedigree all using Jane’s personally-developed E: [email protected] T: 01256 892065 locally sourced timber and rock. Opening times: Tues-Fri 9am- integrating products and services T: 0118 971 2584 Aberdeen Angus beef produced in natural recipes. Locally-grown Products: Hand-made jams, E: [email protected] Other outlets: Marlborough High 5.30pm; Mon and Sat 9am-5pm. with rural environment. Beef, lamb, Env-links: CSA rotation with cereals. produce used where possible. No marmalades, chutneys and quiches www.whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk Street market (Weds and Sat); artificial additives, colourings or made in small batches, where Products: 200-year-old water mill website. preserves used. possible from home-grown or local on River Test weaving silk on historic Other outlets: Farm shops; butchers; produce. Home-made healthy dog machinery. Self service tearoom YATTENDON ESTATE LTD If you would like a FREE listing in our next Product Directory call 01488 685440 or email [email protected] independent local retailers. biscuits also available. offering range of cakes and Contact: Alastair Jeffrey, The Estate

18 UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS FOR FULL PRODUCT DETAILS VISIT WWW.NORTHWESSEXDOWNS.ORG.UK FOR FULL PRODUCT DETAILS VISIT WWW.NORTHWESSEXDOWNS.ORG.UK UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS 19 The North Wessex Downs owes much of its character to farming – over the years it has enhanced and protected the area’s landscape. The unassuming exterior of a farm near Hungerford, Berkshire, gives nothing away of its celebrated past, and the events which changed British agricultural processes forever, thanks largely to a man named Jethro Tull.

n the A338 about three miles out of Hungerford on the way to Salisbury Tulling you’ll see, on the left-hand side of the Oroad, a neat farm sign saying ‘Prosperous Home Farm’. That’s all it is – a farm sign. There’s nothing about it that signifies the vital part Prosperous the land Home Farm has played in the history of farming. It was the test bed where one Jethro Tull fingers poke through the soil. Before Jethro Tull, crops workers into the cream, yoghurt, and crème fraiche developed the very first horse-drawn seed drill were broadcast by hand from shallow baskets. Some on which Prosperous Home Farm has built its and the horse hoe. His name is linked with ‘Turnip’ seeds or grains remained on the surface, others were enviable reputation. Townshend, more formally known as 2nd Viscount too close together to allow the efficient eradication It is obvious that Mr Kent, the owner, regards Charles Townshend of Raynham, Norfolk; ‘Turnip’ of weeds. His unique invention, however, buried himself as custodian of his patch of countryside. The because he popularised the use of root crops every seed in its proper space and allowed the farmstead is as neat as a new pin and the road that in crop rotations. He, Jethro Tull and a handful passing of a horse hoe between the rows. threads through the farm is better surfaced and of other pioneers at that time in the 18th century, Both the farm and the herd of Guernseys are maintained than any country lane. Hedges, fences revolutionised British agriculture. managed by Mr Derek Moody for the farm owners, and buildings are ‘all up together’ and Mount Today’s Prosperous Home Farm is a delightful Mr and Mrs Rod Kent. Acting as herdsman to 130- Prosperous, the big house, looks over a manicured spot, 300 acres of rolling Berkshire countryside, the 140 cattle (around 85 in-milk cows, the rest lawn that only narrowly misses being a small field. home to a herd of pedigree Guernsey cows, the followers) is usually regarded as a full-time job, but It would be nice to be able to report that Jethro milk from which is sold off the farm either as milk, unpasteurised blue cheese, yoghurt, crème fraiche or cream. The farm has a stall at several farmers’ In the spring, the legacy of this agricultural markets and anyone can call in at the farmyard to make a purchase. If there is no-one about to take writer, farmer and barrister is plain to see as your money, an honesty box provides a mute but persuasive reminder. rows of green fingers poke through the soil Prosperous Home Farm is bisected by several Derek Moody runs the farm too – with the help of Tull lived in that big house or that he spent his footpaths. In the autumn walkers have a good an assistant-cum-tractor driver – and has done so entire life at Prosperous Home Farm. In fact he was chance of seeing a modern seed drill – a direct for the past 26 years. He grows 20 acres of forage born in Upper Basildon, Berkshire in 1674. In 1699 descendant of Jethro Tull’s invention – forging maize, 20 acres of malting barley – the spent he was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn but never across chocolate-brown fields behind a tractor the grains return to the farm for cattle feed –, 45 acres practiced. Instead he married and began farming power of which would have been unimaginable in of wheat and 215 acres of grass of which 60 acres on his father’s land at Howbery, Crowmarsh Gifford Jethro Tull’s day. is down to three-year leys. near Wallingford. It was there, in about 1701, that In the spring, the legacy of this agricultural writer, The cows return a very respectable average of he invented and perfected his seed drill and began farmer and barrister is plain to see as rows of green 1,000gal on a diet comprising a mix of grass and experimenting with his new system of sowing in maize silage plus caustic-treated home-grown drills or rows. wheat that is fed just once a day. In 1709 he and his family moved to Prosperous Derek Moody’s day starts at 5am. Milking the Home Farm. From 1711 to 1714 he travelled in cows through a 5/10 herringbone parlour (5/10 France and Italy studying how continental farmers means five milking machines serving 10 stalls) used farmyard manure and how they tilled their takes two-and-a-half hours. By midday all of that various soils. He returned to Prosperous Home morning’s milk has been turned by three dairy Farm to continue his experiments. He died in 1741. It is thought by some historians that his house Above: Derek Moody, manager of Prosperous Home Farm, was located at the far end of the lawn. There’s near Hungerford, Berkshire with some of the farm’s herd nothing there now, but the spot would make an of pedigree Guernseys. They yield an average of about ideal setting for a statue of the great man. He’d 4,500 litres of milk that is sold directly off the farm as look very impressive from the windows of Mount cream, yoghurt, cheese, crème fraiche and full-cream milk. Left: This is replica of Jethro Tull’s original drill made by Prosperous and he’d be able to gaze out over the Reading University the BBC television programme ‘What North Wessex Downs countryside that owes him the Stuarts did for us’, fronted by Adam Hart-Davies. so much.

20 UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS Arable ARABLE farming is an important feature of the North Wessex Downs. We are working with groups of farmers to look after our rare arable flowers, such as shepherd’s needle, and wildlife such as harvest mice. Managing hotspots of importance for rare arable wildlife, archaeology, water protection and rights of way will lead to additional benefits for farmers through improved soil management.

Nanyeorganisawtions and ins dividuals are involved in managing the landscape of the North Wessex LEADER funding bid Downs AONB so that it retains its natural beauty. Many more are involved in researching and helping others to LEADER is a European funding programme which could deliver a range of new learn about and enjoy this special landscape. activities in the North Wessex Downs. Land managers, communities, The Council of Partners is the formal ‘Board’ for overseeing conservation groups and businesses could benefit from funding for projects the management of this area. It brings together all the interests such as community–based renewable energy schemes, farm diversification, in the North Wessex Downs. It consists of government and landscape and wildlife management projects. agencies, local authorities, land managers, local communities, Our bid for funding was shaped by the views of a wide range and conservation, recreation and heritage interests. of people gathered at open meetings, and we submitted it in The North Wessex Downs AONB team advises the Council January 2008. If successful, we will be launching the scheme of Partners, and implements its decisions and policies. It during the summer of 2008. Please visit the LEADER pages on our undertakes activity on behalf of the Council of Partners to website www.northwessexdowns.org.uk for more information. protect and enhance the natural beauty of this landscape. Much of the work of the team is in collaboration with a wide range of individuals and organisations. Articles in this magazine highlight several of these projects, and the items below give a small flavour of our work. For more information, please see www.northwessexdowns.org.uk.

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UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS 21 » CONTINUED FROM P.21 Management Plan Review Historic THE North Wessex Downs Management The Council of Partners is now looking Landscape Plan is nearly five years old, and we have to the future. We are building on the firm been reviewing its implementation. The foundation provided by the current Characterisation Management Plan is not just for the North Management Plan, and planning for A GREATER understanding of the reasons behind Wessex Downs AONB team; it guides the challenges such as climate change and historic land use decisions can contribute activity of all who live and work in the helping develop a healthier society. towards better planning decisions today. protected landscape, to help conserve and The North Wessex Downs AONB team Looking at the historic elements of our modern enhance its natural beauty. is leading the development of the next landscape the Historic Landscape Characterisation Our review shows that a third of the five-year Management Plan which will data aims to improve our understanding of where actions have been completed, with work well be published in early 2009. If you wish traditional land use, settlement patterns and historic underway on implementing over two-thirds to be involved, please see the Management landscape features survive. This will help planning of the remaining actions. This is a remarkable Plan pages on the North Wessex Downs officers, local historians, educators and parish achievement by many organisations and AONB website: councils understand the special characteristics of our individuals in a very short time. www.northwessexdowns.org.uk. varied and distinct landscapes.

Grants open new vistas for everyone HUNDREDS of people and a whole host of • Dozens of new nature detectives have people in local conservation planning wildlife are enjoying the North Wessex discovered bats, beetles, birds and much when they are developing Parish Plans. Downs AONB thanks to Sustainable more with the Richmond Fellowship • Thanks to the efforts of the geology group Development Fund grants. Wiltshire Outreach group on Mud Lane for Berkshire, there is now a Hampshire During the 2007-2008 scheme, a total of and in Marlborough. RIGS group committed to finding and £63,000 was awarded in grants to 18 projects, • Children in two Wiltshire primary schools mapping Regionally Important Geological all of them helping to deliver the North raised hundreds of brown trout from eggs, and Geomorphological Sites within that Wessex Downs AONB Management Plan. watched them grow and then released part of the North Wessex Downs AONB. Several projects are helping people to get them into the River Kennet. • Children in West Berkshire have learnt how out into the landscape and find out more • Barn Owl conservation projects in the Pang, to cook with local produce and find out about it. These include: Kennet and Lambourn Valleys celebrated where their food comes from in a Local • Walking the North Wessex Downs, a book their success with a series of workshops to Food for All project run by Hampshire of four circular walks linked to displays in demonstrate how the projects work, and Country Learning and Fit2Cook (see article the Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes encourage more of these graceful birds to on page 12). (see article on page 5). local fields and farm buildings in Wiltshire, • Vale of Pewsey Landscape and Geology Oxfordshire and Hampshire. The Sustainable Development Fund has Trail shows how the underlying geology • Hedges in West Berkshire are shaping up distributed a total of £223,000 in grants affects the natural landscape and way in nicely to be new homes for birds and other since its inception in 2005. To find out which people use it. Wiltshire Geology wildlife thanks to the hedgelaying and about grants this year, go to Group provides a detailed interpretation coppicing work carried out by Pang, Ken - www.northwessexdowns.org.uk and click to guide visitors. net and Lambourn Valleys Farming and on Funding and Grants. • Improved access for all in Lambourn, a Wildlife Advisory Group. project run by West Berkshire Council, installed special gates to enable people Projects run by parish and community with wheelchairs and pushchairs to enjoy groups received grants. a footpath on the Downs at Lambourn. • Goring and Streatley Sustainability Group received funding from the North Wessex Our native wildlife are benefiting too. Downs and Chilterns AONBs to support See articles on page 8 for more information the feasibility study into a Hydro-power about some of these projects: scheme on the River Thames, which is the • Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is busy restoring boundary between the two AONBs. habitats for water voles on the Kennet • Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust & Avon Canal and in the River Kennet. carried out a project to engage more

22 UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS