Island Life Magazine Ltd December/January 2018 | Page 83

Country life East Wight Farming Memories “By the time I’d swept the stable out it was nammit time!” So recalls retired local farmer Andrew Groves about his early days as a young lad helping out his Great Uncle, Gilbert Richards, with his milk round at Popes Farm, Newchurch. This very small snippet is part of 30 hours of memories and reminiscences we have gathered from more than 20 retired East Wight farmers over the past year which, are helping us understand how farming on the Island has changed over the past 70 years and the impact of these changes on the agricultural landscape and the people it supports. This initiative forms part of our Farmed Landscape project and is being led by Carisbrooke Castle Museum staff and volunteers who are conducting and recording the interviews with participants. We have embarked on this work as we believe oral testimonies are a vital way of understanding personal life histories and memories of events associated with the East Wight which, offer insights not available in written records. See more at www.downtothecoast.co.uk. Honorary Master Ray Harrington-Vail has again been rewarded for the work he puts into making the Island a better place through the Footprint Trust. His work in the field of nature conservation along with his long career in the voluntary sector, especially working for environmental causes, is recognised as having a profound influence in his local community. A University has made Ray an Honorary Master in recognition of his work in the field of education, helping those who are excluded from learning due to their economic or social circumstances. He was recently presented with this honour at the Open University’s Degree Ceremony in Poole. Visit www. footprint-trust.co.uk Guided Winter Walks Squirrel spotting at Borthwood Copse, Sandown. 22nd December, 10.30am at the Parish Council car park, Newchurch, PO36 0LD. Grid ref SZ 566 843. Led by The National Trust, tel: 741020 Birdwatching walk at Newtown. 6th January, 10am at Newtown Visitor Point, PO30 4PA. Grid ref SZ 423 906. The National Trust, tel: 741020 Brading Marshes, their history and myth. 13th Jan. 10.45 at Brading Roman Villa. Grid ref SZ 600 862. Brading Roman Villa, tel: 406223 – education@ bradingromanvilla.org.uk. Hedges laid at Farringford The gardening team at Farringford have been busy, carrying out some traditional hedgerow management. Hedge-laying has been practiced for hundreds of years and is a great way to replace an old overgrown hedge without removing it and replanting. The line of trees along the border of Farringford farm and the public footpath are predominantly native elm. The estate was covered in elm until Dutch Elm disease was introduced in the late 1960s, at which time many of them were killed. The elm bark beetle spreads this fungal disease from tree to tree. The beetles carrying the disease normally attack mature trees, so elms can be around 20 years old before they become infected. The elms at Farringford have been laid before the disease infects them and spreads to others within the area. The elms are less susceptible to the disease when laid into a hedge. The hedge-laying is part of a whole programme of restoration on the estate, which will include planting of disease-resistant elms and native hedgerow. Our aim is to restore and conserve habitats on the estate. We are working on a long- term plan to ensure that trees of note are maintained correctly to ensure their survival. Email: [email protected] www.visitilife.com 83