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
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