Tag Archives: Whitchurch

Today’s Treasures – Babbinswood Organic Farm

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Babbinswood Organic Farm

Babbinswood Farm is a small mixed organic farm near Oswestry.  In 1990 Barbara and Richard purchased the freehold and in 2000 the farm was converted to organic.  Sadly Richard moved to Uganda in 2010 and, despite all the efforts of the family since, the farm now has a loan of £1.5 million to pay off.  Daughter, Casha, and her husband Adam moved back to the farm and, with the help of her sister and lots of volunteers, the farm has thrived along with its cows, sheep and pigs, producing organic meat, organic raw milk and yogurt and selling organic fruit and vegetables in the farm shop.

Barbara is a qualified vet and has an holistic veterinary practice at the farm and other businesses have found a home there including Blossom and Bee Kitchen’s wonderful cakes.

Charlotte Hollins is helping Babbinswood Farm – in 2006 she and her brother faced a similar situation saving their father’s organic farm.  Fordhall Farm is now a Community Land Initiative with 8000 landlords – all of whom bought shares in the farm – and saved it from becoming a housing estate.  Like Fordhall Farm, Babbinswood practises regenerative agriculture cultivating healthy soil, producing healthy animals and vegetables, feeding healthy people – and supporting a healthy planet.

Since Charlotte’s father, Arthur, started organic farming in the 1950’s, food production has changed along with buying habits.  People no longer buy vegetables unpackaged from local shops and farms – farms have become isolated and many young people buying food in supermarkets have no idea where their food comes from or how it is produced.

In an effort to reconnect people to the landscape and to farming, Babbinswood Farm offers group visits with tours of the farm; they host courses in holistic management, and permaculture, and their volunteers all learn how to grow food organically.

All the cattle and sheep are pasture fed and calves are left with their mothers so cows are only milked once a day.  Part of the land is woodland and wetland which could become a nature reserve and there are already walking paths across the farm.

The farm was valued last year at £2.6 million.  The outstanding debt is currently £1.42 million, the bank agreed a 3 month bridging loan to give the family time to find ways to pay off the loan – but this ends on 18th January, 2024 so the family called a meeting on 3rd December to ask for help.  A JustGiving page has raised nearly £30,000, the meeting attracted over 30 people – one of whom donated one of the bridging loan interest payments – and a steering group is being organised.

If you have any ideas, would like to help, or buy a share in the farm, you can find out more at www.babbinswoodfarm.co.uk

Pubished in the January edition of the Whitchurch Gossip.

@BabbinswoodFarm @FordhallFarm #Oswestry

Today’s Treasures – Barmouth

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Today’s Treasures – Barmouth

Barmouth

In summer, Barmouth is alive with holiday-makers – families heading for the beach, buckets and spades in tow, making sandcastles, paddling in the waves and enjoying the sunshine.  Children queue up for donkey rides, the cafes are full of families enjoying pasties and ice creams and seagulls hop along the pavements hopefully.

There are boat trips across the Mawddach estuary where you can enjoy a train ride along the coast to Fairbourne, passing stunning views of the Barmouth viaduct, a Grade II listed building, which is currently being restored – Network rail are replacing the timber elements that have decayed and the coroded metal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Fairbourne, you can visit the café and enjoy an excellent cup of tea with bara brith (Welsh fruit cake) and visit the miniature railway, then hop back on the train for a ride back to Barmouth via the ferry boat.

In autumn, the crowds have disappeared, the children are back at school and the funfair is silent – Barmouth is once again serenaded only by seagulls and the waves cascading onto the sand – or sometimes, on windy high tide days, crashing against the sea wall with impressive displays of spray.

Barmouth witnesses some amazing sunsets, the sunlight reflected on the water and glistening on the waves – as the sun slowly sinks below the horizon and the reds and golds darken and disappear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Published in the December edition of the Whitchurch Gossip.

#Barmouth

singer

Today’s Treasures – Blackberry Fair

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Today’s Treasures – Blackberry Fair

morris dancers
This year, thanks to the danger of crumbling concrete, Blackberry Fair was built around the Civic Centre instead of radiating from it.  And, despite Shropshire Council confiscating the beautiful hand-painted signs advertising the fair, the streets seemed busier and merrier than ever. (It’s a pity that Shropshire Council didn’t better use their time cutting back overgrown hedges so we can see the proper road signs, instead of taking down signs that would only be up for a week and entailed many hours of volunteers’ time painting images to encourage people to visit Whitchurch and bring in much needed revenue – helping the Shropshire economy.)

Rant over!

dragon

The sun shone and the streets were once again filled with music, singing and dancing.  Elephants and dragons patrolled the roads; pianos and cellos took to the streets (however the musicians manage to play music and pedal along is totally beyond me!).

Morris dancers jingled their way along Green End and poets wrote rhymes on a sofa in the middle of the High Street.

 

In St. Alkmund’s Church, Steve Chapman enthralled the children (and mums and dads) with an enchanting story about ‘The Garden at the End of the World’ and Edward German would have loved the cello music

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For 15 years, Blackberry Fair has entertained young and old alike, celebrated art in all its forms, music, singing, dancing, storytelling, poetry, painting, street theatre and sculpture.  Whitchurch has been filled with music and laughter once again – thanks to the many volunteers, who spend weeks organising things, work late into Friday night and get up at silly o’clock on Saturday morning so we can all have fun.

A massive thank you to everyone who helped this year – and of course – to all the sponsors.

Published in the November edition of the Whitchurch Gossip

@Blackberry_Fair

@BlackberryFair

train

Today’s Treasures – Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway

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Today’s Treasures – Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway

train

The Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway is one of the ‘Great Little Trains of Wales’ operating on a gauge of 2’6”.  It opened in 1903 and carried goods, livestock and passengers until it closed in 1956.  A preservation society was formed and, by 1981, the line was restored to its present 8 mile length, running from Llanfair Caereinion Station, alongside the river Banwy and over the Golfa Hill to Welshpool’s Raven Square Station.  There once was a link across the town to the standard gauge railway at Welshpool Station.

The little steam train arrives to collect its passengers waiting patiently in vintage carriages with open windows letting in a gentle breeze.  The train travels through wonderful Welsh countryside, a buzzard soars overhead, squawking crossly at the train for scaring its prey away; pheasants scatter across the fields, the engine toots and the sheep scarper, lambs’ tails bobbing.

A flash of blue as a kingfisher perches above the River Berwyn, bubbling across pebbles, dashing over rocks, swirling in deep eddies, caressing the reeds and grasses along the river banks bordered with Himalayan Balsam, pink blossoms, blowing in the breeze.

Click, clack, clickety clunk, the train puffs up the hill, slowing down for farm tracks and road crossings, abandoned stations and disused sidings, forging through farmland, past fields and hedges, streams and ditches, sheep and cows lazily grazing, or sleeping in the shade of ancient oaks.  Past isolated farms and barns, tractors busy haymaking in the sunshine.

Tea and cakes at Llanfair Caereinion Station then all aboard for the return trip to Welshpool.  Volunteers on vintage trains, shovelling coal, building up steam, whistle blowing, the carriages creak and groan as the train rattles along the tracks, across embankments decorated with pink spikes of fireweed and creamy clusters of meadowsweet, through a ravine, beside the river, over the bridge, along ancient pathways forged many generations ago when the railway seemed so much faster than the horse and cart.  Until we arrive back in Welshpool and civilisation in the 21st century.

The original beautiful mainline Welshpool Station is now a most interesting shop and café.  When the old Cambrian main line to Whitchurch via Oswestry closed to passengers in 1965, closely followed by most local stations towards Aberystwyth, two of the four platforms became unused.  The plans for the A483 Welshpool bypass necessitated the relocation of the railway line so the station was closed and a replacement station platform located a little further south.

Published in the October edition of the Whitchurch Gossip

@LlanfairLine #Welshpool

Today’s Treasures – Bala Lake Railway

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The Bala Lake Railway

Established in 1972, The Bala Lake Railway is a narrow gauge track, 600 mm wide carrying vintage steam engines along Bala Lake to Llanuwchllyn four and a half miles away.  The original vision was to extend the railway into the town of Bala but funding ran out and everything was put on hold – until 2012 – when the plans were revisited and the ‘Red Dragon Project’ was launched.  The plans include a station, carriage sheds, and signal box but also necessitate a level crossing and widening of the bridge over the river Dee.  In the meantime, Natural Resources Wales are incorporating provision for the railway in their flood defence improvements for Bala Lake.

These little steam engines were originally built for the slate quarries at Penryhn and Dinorwic transporting slate to the docks for export across the world. By 1967 engine No. 780 – nicknamed ‘Alice’ – had been abandoned and, raided for spares, she was a derelict skeleton by the time volunteers purchased the remains in 1987 and set about restoration at Llanuwchllyn. The replica brass name plates – and several replacement parts – were made in the old Gilfach Ddu works at the National Slate Museum at Llanberis.

Now Alice transports tourists, holidaymakers and steam train enthusiasts along the shores of Llyn Tegid with stunning views of the mountains across the lake – Arenig Fawr, Aran Benllyn and Aran Fawddwy.

A heron flaps lazily across the lake, alighting on a convenient perch, surveying the shallows. Wild flowers, vetch and vetchling, purple and yellow, vie for attention along the tracks interspersed with toadflax and knapweed, harebells and buttercups – and butterflies dance along the railway line, as they did when the original standard gauge, tracks were laid over 150 years ago from Ruabon to Barmouth.

The section between Bala and Dolgellau was built by the Bala and Dolgelley Railway Company (using the English spelling Dolgelley) and opened in 1868.  This joined the Corwen and Bala Railway at Bala Junction and with the Cambrian Railways at Dolgellau.  Passenger services through Bala ceased in 1965 when the line from Llangollen to Barmouth was closed.  Goods traffic finally ceased in 1968 when the Pontcysyllte branch closed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Published in the September edition of the Whitchurch Gossip

Cae Glas Park, flowerbeds

Today’s Treasures – Cae Glas Park, Oswestry

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Today’s Treasures – Cae Glas Park, Oswestry

Cae Glas Park, flowerbeds

Cae Glas translates as green or blue field – Cae is the Welsh name for field.

In the 17th century, the site of the 7-acre park formed part of the estate of the Kynastons of Maesbury and in 1791 it became home to Cae Glas Mansion – a 3 storey house with pillared entrance, railings and 4 gates.  The park gates are now the town’s war memorial.

In 1908 it was sold to the town council, on condition that it was converted into a public park.  Mr. Charles Jones of Rossett also contributed £200 towards laying out the grounds.

The park has paths for wheelchairs and prams, sunny grassy spaces for sunbathing, and benches for resting and sipping a coffee in the shade.  The band stand hosts music at the many occasions when the people of Oswestry gather for public events – like the Queen’s Funeral – and celebrations like the new King’s coronation.

Cae Glas Park bandstand

Cae Glas is home to walkers and runners and cyclists, who have plenty of space to de-stress – the picnic tables offer lunchtime spaces to eat delicious food from the nearby delicatessen – maybe followed up with an exotically flavoured milkshake from the milk-bar just around the corner.

Babies in pushchairs enjoy the ride and toddlers have plenty of space to practice their tottering footsteps, closely followed by smiling grown-ups.

During lockdown our parks and green spaces became, literally, lifesaving havens of tranquillity, where we could enjoy the flowers, sit on the grass, watch the birds and just breathe the fresh air under the trees.

Cae Glas park

A New Scientist study found that the positive effects of nature help with psychological conditions including depression, anxiety and mood disorder; access to green spaces has also been found to improve sleep, reduce stress, increase happiness, reduce negative emotions, and promote positive social interactions – sit on a bench in Cae Glas Park in the sunshine and smile at the people who walk past – you will be amazed how many people smile back and say ‘hello’.

Cae Glas Park Cae Glas Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

Published in the August edition of the Whitchurch Gossip

 

Today’s Treasures – Bluebells

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Today’s Treasures – Bluebells

bluebellsHyacinthoides non-scripta – until recently, the Latin name for the bluebell was Endymion non-scriptus.  In Greek legend, Endymion was a beautiful young man who Selene, the moon goddess, fell in love with – the legend tells that she lulled him into an eternal sleep so her mortal lover would never grow old and die.  Non-scripta is Latin for ‘not written’ meaning without markings.

Bluebells are an indicator of ancient woodland – they grow where trees thrived as long ago as 1600 – The Woodland Trust suspects that bluebells grow on the remains of the original wildwood that covered Britain after the last Ice Age.  Folklore tells of fairies ringing the bluebells to summon fairy folk to a gathering and it is still considered unlucky to trample on bluebells because of angering the fairies sheltering in the flowers.  It is also said that a person wearing a wreath of bluebells will be compelled to tell the truth.

Scientists have now discovered that bluebells contain at least 15 biologically active compounds that repel insects and animals.  Bookbinders have long used bluebell derived adhesives for this reason – and in the Bronze age bluebell glue was used to attach feathers to arrows.

But the healing properties of bluebells lie in the heavenly scent that envelopes you and calms your senses as you walk through the enchanting bluebell dells.  This is the path along Old Oswestry Hill Fort, carpeted in bluebells; as you stroll along the path between the ancient ramparts and the breeze ruffles the bright blue petals, the fragrance envelops you, overpowering your senses, your imagination drifts along with the birdsong to long-ago times when ancient civilisations lived on the hilltop and battles were fought on the ramparts.  What stories these bluebells could tell of the wildwood and the wild men who lived here.

Published in the June edition of the Whitchurch Gossip

#bluebells

dandelion

Today’s Treasures – Dandelions

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Today’s Treasures – Dandelions

dandelion

The Latin name Taraxacum Officinale is derived from the Persian talkh chakok meaning ‘bitter herb’ and Officinale from the Latin officina meaning ‘workshop’ because the plant was used by old herbalists.  The common name ‘Dandelion’ comes from the French dent-de-lion (lion’s tooth) because of the shape of the leaves.

Dandelion is first mentioned by the Arabian physicians of the 10th century and in the 13th century it appears in the Welsh Herbal of the Physicians of Mydrai. But it wasn’t until the 20th century that it was discovered that the main reason the humble dandelion was so effective against ailments like scurvy was because of its high vitamin C content.  In fact, dandelions are more nutritious than many other vegetables – they have more vitamin A than spinach, more vitamin C than tomatoes, and also contain iron, calcium and potassium.

Dandelion tea has long been used to help the liver remove toxins from the bloodstream.  It’s a gentle diuretic providing nutrients that help the digestive system function at peak efficiency – and a cup of dandelion tea is the perfect natural hangover remedy!

The leaves can be added to salads or cooked like spinach and the roots can be dried and ground to make a caffeine-free coffee substitute.  The flowers make a delicate white wine.

Contrary to popular belief, dandelions are actually good for a lawn – their deep, wide-spreading roots loosen hard-packed soil, aerate the earth and help reduce erosion.  They fertilise the grass by absorbing nutrients from deep in the soil through a tap-root, making them available to other plants.

The seedheads – dandelion clocks – have provided children with many hours of fun blowing the seeds away to tell the time – and counting ‘he loves me, he loves me not’.


Cicely Mary Barker writes:
Here’s the Dandelion’s rhyme:
See my leaves with tooth-like edges;
Blow my clocks to tell the time;
See me flaunting by the hedges,
In the meadow, in the lane,
Gay and naughty in the garden;
Pull me up—I grow again,
Asking neither leave nor pardon.
Sillies, what are you about
With your spades and hoes of iron?
You can never drive me out—
Me, the dauntless Dandelion!

Published in the May edition of the Whitchurch Gossip

#dandelions

Powis Castle

Today’s Treasures – Powis Castle

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Today’s Treasures – Powis Castle

powis castlePowis Castle, near Welshpool, close to the Welsh border, the seat of the Earl of Powis, was built by the Welsh for Welsh princes – unlike Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech which were built by the English to suppress the Welsh.

The original castle was built in the 13th century by Welsh Prince Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn and transformed into a grand residence in the 1530’s by Edward Gray, Lord of Powis.  In 1578 it was leased to Sir Edward Herbert who bought the castle in 1587 and it remained in the Herbert family until 1952, when it was bequeathed to the National Trust, but the family retained the right to live in part of the castle.

The castle’s Clive Museum contains many precious Indian objects brought back from India by Henrietta Herbert who married Edward Clive in 1784.  Edward’s father was Robert Clive ‘Clive of India’ and Henrietta and Edward and their daughters lived with him in Madras whilst he was Governor there in 1798.

The northern gate (originally the main entrance) is flanked by two figures – two statues installed in niches between the columns – King Edgar the Peaceful – and King Offa of Mercia – who built Offa’s Dyke along the English/Welsh border ostensibly ‘to divide Wales from Offa’s kingdom of Mercia’.

King offa statue

Every castle has its ghosts and Powis is no exception.  In 1780 an elderly lady arrived looking for work spinning hemp and flax.  The earl was away in London, but the steward offered her employment – mischievously installing her in a room known to be haunted.  However, instead of being terrified, the old lady befriended the man in the gold-laced suit and he led her through the castle to find a hidden chest and key.  The old lady presented the treasure to the earl on his return and was rewarded with lodging for the rest of her years.  As well as the golden-clad man, you may encounter a woman in a mob-cap, a lady in black sitting by the fire in the Duke’s Room – where people have also experienced being touched by invisible hands – a child dressed in green in the Clive Museum – and sometimes the ballroom resounds with the eerie notes of ghostly piano music.

 

deer at Powis Castle

Published in the April edition of the Whitchurch Gossip

 

Today’s Treasures – Sunsets

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Today’s Treasures – Sunsets

Sunsets are always magical but sunsets on water take on a special brilliance as the rays of the setting sun dance upon the waves, and the golden globe disappears slowly into the sea beyond the horizon.

sunset

The sun’s mild and mellow light spreads sunbeams across the waves, sunlight lingering and deepening as twilight creeps in, softly lengthening shadows and bathing the land in darkness.

sunset on waves

The setting sun paints the clouds with glorious light, creating shades of scarlet, crimson and tangerine in patterns across the sky as the purple of dusk descends on the shimmering sand.

Sunsets have inspired many writers, poets and musicians, the coalescing colours and shapes, the ever-changing patterns in the sky are mesmerising, like a symphony getting louder and brighter, then fading away into darkness.

“There is nothing more musical than a sunset.”  Claude Debussy

sunset on field

“Don’t forget: Beautiful sunsets need cloudy skies…” Paulo Coelho

sunset on beach

Published in the March edition of the Whitchurch Gossip