UP! In the North Wessex Downs 2010 - North Wessex Downs Area ...

WILTSHIRE OXFORDSHIRE HAMPSHIRE WEST BERKSHIRE
UP!
ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS
Mike Robinson
The TV chef on life out of
the limelight in Frilsham
Ridgeway walks
and rural rambles
Step-by-step walks through
picture-postcard scenery
Local Products
Directory
Find your nearest bakery,
brewery or beehive
Kennet and
Avon Canal
Celebrating 200 years
A GUIDE TO THE ATTRACTIONS, LEISURE ACTIVITIES, WAYS OF LIFE AND HISTORY
2010
OF THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS – AN AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY

The Furze Bush
Ball Hill, Near Newbury
For Wining and Dining, indoors or
out The Furze Bush Inn provides
formal and informal dining come
rain or shine.
Welcome
DIDCOT RAILWAY CENTRE
Just 2 miles from Wayfarer’s Walk in the
village of Ball Hill, The Furze Bush Inn is one
of Newbury’s longest established ‘Food Pubs’
serving Traditional English Bar Meals and an
excellent ‘A La Carte’ menu every lunchtime
from Noon until 2.30pm, from 6pm until
9.30pm in the evening and all day at
weekends and bank holidays
Our Bars are Open All Day Every Day
We have 10 Ensuite Air Conditioned
Bedrooms and a small Conference Room,
all with Complimentary Wifi Access
The Furze Bush Inn, Ball Hill, Newbury. RG20 0NQ.
Tel 01635 253228
www.furzebushinn.co.uk
Front cover image:
White Horse, Cherhill.
Welcome to one of the most beautiful, amazing and varied parts of England. The North Wessex
Downs was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1972, which means
it deserves the same protection by law as National Parks like the Lake District. It’s the job of
my team and our partners to work with everyone we can to defend, protect and enrich its natural beauty.
Part of the attraction of this place is the sheer variety – chances are that even if you’re local there are
still discoveries to be made. Exhilarating chalk downs, rolling expanses of wheat and barley under huge
skies, sparkling chalk streams, quiet river valleys, heaths, commons, pretty villages and historic market
towns, ancient forest and more... everyone will have their favourite place.
As a newcomer, hardly a week passes but I discover another hidden gem. My favourite so far has
to be the southern reaches of the North Wessex Downs, with their secret valleys, quiet hamlets and
folding chalk hills crowned with magnificent woods.
Beautiful landscapes like these were made by people – at Avebury you can walk in a landscape visibly
inhabited by our ancestors for 5,000 years. Today it’s vital we find ways of reconciling modern prosperity
with conservation of what we’ve inherited. Particularly in economically tough times, there’s always
pressure to trade off what’s beautiful for short-term profit. To misquote Thomas Jefferson, the price
of beauty is eternal vigilance. Part of what AONBs are for is to show that beauty really can bring
prosperity, and tourism is a key part of that.
So ‘Welcome’, I hope you enjoy this fabulous place, and thank you for your part in protecting
it for the future.
Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 7NJ 01235 817200
info@didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk
www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk
Recreating the golden age of the
Great Western Railway with
wonderfully restored steam
locomotives.
Featuring the original 1932
built GWR four road shed, in full
working condition. With other
original GWR buildings and
structures, including the coaling
stage with 75,000 gallon water
tank atop. (both working) Also a
country station, signal box, and
transfer shed.
• 20 former GWR steam
locomotives, including a
working (on special occasions)
replica broad gauge (7 ft)
locomotive, dating from 1840.
• Learn about machines that changed the world, in the
interactive Science, Learning and Railways Exhibition
• Over 40 mostly GWR coaches. Over 50 mostly GWR wagons.
Four cranes. Carriage and wagon works.
• Working turntable, with demonstrations on steam days.
• Special events include Thomas, & GWR175 events during 2010.
Regular steam days during the year. Open every weekend, and daily
most school holidays. Telephone or refer to website for details.
• GWR small relics museum. Café. Shop. Picnic area.
RECREATING THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE
GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY
Registered Charity No 272616
Run, Walk and Cycle
through the heart of Wiltshire
...landscapes aplenty
Sunday 2nd May 2010
Register online at www.wiltshirewildlife.org
or call 01380 725670
26 miles, 15 miles, 11 miles or 7 mile routes
Produced for the
North Wessex Downs AONB
by Fellows Media Ltd
The Gallery, Manor Farm,
Southam, Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire GL52 3PB.
T: 01242 259241
E: jo@fellowsmedia.com
www.fellowsmedia.com
Every effort has been made to
ensure the accuracy of the
contents and the publisher
cannot accept liability for any
error or omissions.
Reproduction of any part of
this publication without
permission is forbidden.
Henry Oliver, Acting Director,
North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Contact us
North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
T: 01488 685440
E: info@northwessexdowns.org.uk
www.northwessexdowns.org.uk
Contents
3 Welcome and Contents
4 News
6 Ridgeway rambles
8 Walks in West Berks and
Hampshire
10 Horseriding on the Downs
11 Kennet and Avon Canal
12 Map your
North Wessex Downs visit
14 Landscaping the future
15 Supporting sustainability
16 LEADER for rural economy
17 Feast of Local Products
22 Wild food with Mike Robinson
2 UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS 3

2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity,
when many organisations including museums,
theatre companies, protected landscapes and wildlife
trusts are encouraging us to learn more about the
rich tapestry of life around us.
Here in the North Wessex Downs AONB you can
discover why biodiversity is important for a healthy
environment, and enjoy getting involved in hands-on
activities to monitor and conserve the local wildlife.
Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) is celebrating its 50th
News
Wildlife Trusts
Celebrate Biodiversity
Celebrate the rich diversity of life on Earth this year by
visiting nature reserves managed by local wildlife trusts.
anniversary in 2010. You can take part in events
at the Trust’s reserves including Hungerford Marsh,
Inkpen Common and other locations listed on
www.bbowt.org.uk or call the head office on
01865 775476.
Spring and summer are good times to visit
Hungerford Marsh nature reserve which is a refuge
for a rich array of wetland birds and wild flowers.
More than 120 species of birds have been recorded
at this riverside setting. Look out for heron, water
rail, kingfisher, little grebe, moorhen and mute swans.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust also host public events
throughout their areas. For information about events
in Hampshire visit www.hwt.org.uk or call 01489
774400. For events in Wiltshire visit
www.wiltshirewildlife.org or call 01380 725670.
For more information about the International
Year of Biodiversity visit www.biodiversityislife.net
Oxfordshire’s ancient hidden secrets revealed in Geotrail
The Oxfordshire Geotrail,
a new circular route starting
and finishing at Wittenham
Clumps and incorporating the
Thames Path, gives a unique
view of the complex diversity
of soil in this part of the
North Wessex Downs AONB.
T
he
Geotrail, created by Oxfordshire Geology
Trust as part of a national geotrail funded by
Natural England, was launched in February.
A map and details of the Geotrail are available to
download from www.northwessexdowns.org.uk
Be inspired by
beautiful art
T
his year Newbury Open Studios festival runs
from 1 to 30 May and includes many artists
living and working in the North Wessex Downs
landscapes of west Berkshire and north
Hampshire. The directory of Newbury Open
Studios will be available in libraries, tourist
information centres, shops and galleries from
the beginning of April, so you can plan your
artistic safari into the area during May.
To find studios open during Artweeks in
southern Oxfordshire from 15 to 23 May, follow
Starting from the Northmoor Trust at Little
Wittenham the trail begins on the chalk hills of
Wittenham Clumps, also known as the Sinodun Hills,
and descends to the Thames valley. After crossing the
river, the route goes towards Dorchester across finegrained
dark brown alluvial soil.
The nearby Dyke Hills are the ramparts for an Iron
Age settlement. In 1870 Augustus Pitt Rivers saved
these ramparts from total destruction. He was so
incensed by a local farmer’s desire to plough them
up that he started a national campaign to protect
ancient sites. This led to the first legislation to
protect archaeology and his appointment as the
first Inspector of Ancient Monuments.
The eastern end of the Dyke Hills reveals chalky
gravels derived from Jurassic limestones deposited
The outstanding natural beauty of the North Wessex Downs
inspires many artists who portray the open downland, wildlife,
rivers and villages through paintings, sculptures, jewellery, textiles,
ceramics and photography.
the colourful roadside signs which promote the
festival. Groups such as The Astons’ Artists exhibit
work inspired by the ancient landscapes around
the villages of Aston Tirrold and Aston Upthorpe.
Now in its 19th year, Artweeks is the largest
visual art festival in the county.
Hungerford and District Community Arts
Festival (HADCAF) from 2 to 25 July includes
gardening competitions, community singing,
riverside walks, concerts and open studios as well
as exhibitions.
during the later Ice Ages. Many houses in
Shillingford village are built of chalk clunch, a
building material that flakes and weathers. The
trail goes through Little Wittenham Wood where
ponds are fed by springs at the base of the Upper
Greensand, and climbs up Castle Hill where an
uprooted tree reveals high level river gravels
formed during one of the earlier Ice Ages.
The Oxfordshire Geotrail is just under six miles
long and uses public footpaths. The Northmoor Trust
serves refreshments in the Poem Tree café which is
close to Project Timescape, a fascinating exhibition
that explores the history of the local landscape and
how the landscape might respond to a changing
climate. Visit www.northmoortrust.co.uk for
directions to the Northmoor Trust’s car park.
Marlborough Open Studios, or MOS, runs every
weekend in July in conjunction with other cultural
events in the town, including the Jazz Festival on
17 and 18 July.
For more information visit these websites:
• Newbury Open Studios:
www.openstudios.org.uk
• Artweeks: www.artweeks.org/index.shtml
• HADCAF: www.hadcaf.co.uk
• Marlborough: www.marlboroughopen
studios.com
200 years old and
still moving along
2010 marks the 200th
anniversary of the Kennet &
Avon Canal’s opening, celebrated
with numerous public events.
Notable among them is the re-enactment
on 5 June of the opening of the canal from
Hungerford to Great Bedwyn. It marks the occasion
on 2 July 1799 when a 50-ton barge laden with
‘coals and deals’ arrived at Great Bedwyn Wharf.
According to a description of the day, ‘a large
number of the inhabitants of Hungerford’ were
on board and accompanied the barge. They were
received at Great Bedwyn ‘with great
demonstrations of joy’.
From 15 July to 30 September West Berkshire
Museum in Newbury is staging an exhibition about
the history of the canal, and the work of countless
volunteers and engineers to restore the near-derelict
waterway during the latter half of the 20th century.
Other events will take place in Devizes, at Caen
Hill where a flight of 16 locks lift the canal up a very
steep hill, and in Bristol, Bath, Reading and Thatcham.
The celebrations culminate on 28 December with
a grand party at Caen Hill, Devizes on the exact
anniversary of the day when the canal was opened.
For more information visit www.katrust.org and
look for K&A 200 Celebrations.
The Kennet & Avon Canal is a significant
waterway for wildlife, culture and heritage. There are
seven Scheduled Ancient Monuments and hundreds
of listed buildings on or alongside the canal,
including Crofton Pumping Station. Turn to page
11 to find out more about this important waterway.
Our Forum
This year’s North Wessex
Downs AONB Forum will
be held in October.
Each year the Forum encourages people
who are interested in the management
and development of the North Wessex
Downs AONB to discuss topical issues.
Henry Oliver, acting Director, explains:
“The Forum is an excellent opportunity for us
to explain and discuss what we are doing with
residents and representatives of a huge range
of different organisations and businesses within
the North Wessex Downs. We will highlight
what we and our partners have achieved in the
first year of the new Management Plan, and
preview plans for next year.”
Details of the Forum meeting will be
posted on the North Wessex Downs website
www.northwessexdowns.org.uk, or you can
email info@northwessexdowns.org.uk or call
01488 685440 to register your interest.
4 UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS
UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS 5

Days Out
JOS JOSLIN
Walkers in the North Wessex Downs want more
well-marked, circular routes, incorporating cosy
pubs, tempting teashops and interesting
attractions, according to research recently carried
out by VisitWiltshire. We think the following routes
on the next six pages should fit the bill perfectly…
Rambling
on the
Ridgeway
WHAT IS THE RIDGEWAY
Thought to be 5,000 years old and possibly Europe’s
oldest ‘road’, the Ridgeway is a route many people
believe stretches from the West Dorset coast to the
Wash. The section within the North Wessex Downs
AONB is part of the Ridgeway National Trail. Here the
Ridgeway is dotted with pre-historic sites, including
Avebury World Heritage Site at the western end of the
Trail and the Iron Age fort atop Ivinghoe Beacon 87
miles northeast in Buckinghamshire.
Left: Wild meadows in Ashdown Park.
Below: A tranquil, grassy track in Compton.
COMPTON WALK – THE LOWDOWN
Length: 5.75 miles; 3 hours.
Terrain: Mostly downland tracks with no stiles
or gates.
Difficulty: Moderately strenuous with no
steep sections.
Getting there:
By car – The walk starts in the centre of Compton.
By bus – Services 6 and 9 provide a regular service
from Newbury on Mondays to Saturdays (no Sunday
or bank holiday services). Tel: 01635 567500.
Facilities: The Compton Swan opens at 8am for
coffee, and also has lunch and dinner menus.
Accommodation is also available. Tel: 01635 579400
or visit www.comptonswan.co.uk. Compton village
shop is open Monday to Saturday, and Sundays until
10.30am. The only toilets on the walk are in The
Compton Swan.
Ordnance Survey Explorer Map: 174 Newbury and
Wantage (1:50,000); 170 Abingdon, Wantage and Vale
of White Horse (1:25,000)
Below: Ashdown House.
Invigorate yourself with two walks offering wonderful views across the open,
rolling downland, woodland and intimate fields and lanes that create the
enchanting and ever-changing backdrop to the Ridgeway.
ASHBURY
Explore the classic chalk countryside with this walk
just 10 miles west of Wantage, taking in the pretty
Oxfordshire village of Ashbury, some wonderfully
ancient sites and a chance to see a multitude of
wildlife including hares, deer, skylarks, meadow
pipits and corn buntings.
ASHBURY WALK – THE LOWDOWN
Length: 7.75 miles; 4 hours.
Terrain: Tracks, field paths and
minor village lanes and footpaths.
Difficulty: Fairly strenuous, including
one relatively steep hill.
Getting there:
By car – The walk starts in the car park on the Ridgeway a mile southeast
of Ashbury on the B4000.
By bus – Service 47 from Swindon and Lambourn runs Mondays to
Saturdays (01793 428428). Service X47 runs on Sundays between
Swindon and Wantage (01993 869100).
Facilities: The Rose and Crown Hotel in Ashbury is open all day from
11am. It serves lunches and evening meals Monday to Thursday, and
food all day Friday to Sunday. Accommodation also available. Tel: 01793
710222 or visit www.roseandcrownashbury.co.uk. The only toilets on
this walk are in the Rose and Crown.
Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps: 174 Newbury and Wantage (1:50,000);
170 Abingdon, Wantage and Vale of White Horse (1:25,000)
JOS JOSLIN
1. From the car park (see blue box left) walk northeastwards
along the Ridgeway. Go over the first crossing of tracks and pass
Wayland’s Smithy long barrow on your left. This megalithic tomb
is thought to have been constructed about 2800 BC.
2. Turn right at the next crossing of tracks. Follow the track
past woodland strips on the right and then on the left.
3. At the break in the woodland bear right across arable fields
heading to the left of the woods on the far horizon. Cross a
bridleway at an ageing signpost and after a second large field,
cross a track also with an ageing signpost. After another field
you come to a fence.
4. Go over the stile in the corner of the field and spot the
weathervane on your left. Bear left keeping the weathervane
to your left and the first coombe (dry valley) to your right.
To your right you will see the extraordinary Ashdown House
(a 17th century Dutch-style house dedicated to Elizabeth,
Queen of Bohemia). When you’re exactly between Ashdown
House and the weathervane, bear half right and follow
the ridge downhill to the stile by the road.
5. Cross the road and head down the minor road opposite
keeping Ashdown House to your right.
6. As the track turns left, carry straight on through the gateway
and then round to the right. Head up the field edge track and
cross two stiles keeping Alfred’s Castle (an Iron Age hill fort)
to your left.
7. Head up the middle of two fields crossing two more stiles,
and then along the fence line on your left. At the end cross
the stile and continue.
8. Cross the Ridgeway and head down to Ashbury where St
Mary’s Church has a memorial to the Rev Thomas Stock, who
created one of the first Sunday schools in England in 1777.
9. At the bottom of the hill turn left following the bank round.
Bear right onto the tarmac path leading past the church.
Cross the road (the Rose and Crown is only a short distance
to the right) and bear right keeping Manor Farm to your left.
10. Cross the road onto the tarmac bridleway. Turn right onto
the footpath just before the pond. Cross the road bearing
slightly right and take the footpath past allotments on the
left. Go over the stile, cross a field and over another stile.
11. Keeping the beech trees to your right, walk up through the
middle of the coombe ahead that gradually swings left.
At the top go left along the fence.
12. Turn right over the stile and at the Ridgeway turn right back
to the car park where you started the walk.
COMPTON
The rolling downland tracks on this Berkshire route can be
enjoyed by walkers, cyclists and horse riders alike. The walk starts
from the village of Compton, five miles west of Streatley, and
takes in the ancient Roden Downs and beautiful hedgerows
bustling with wildlife.
1. Start in the centre of Compton on the High Street and just
east of The Compton Swan turn north into Horn Street.
As the road bears left, turn right into Wallingford Road.
2. Pass under the bridge that carried the railway line which
ran between Newbury and Didcot, and turn right on to a
bridleway, to a junction of tracks called Crows Foot. Turn left
and after a short distance bear right. At the next junction take
the left track that makes the central ‘claw’ of the crow’s foot.
3. Continue up the track towards the Ridgeway which you cross.
Ahead and to the left rises Lowbury Hill. There are fine views
from here and the remains of a Roman temple on the summit
along with a previously unknown Roman military outpost.
At the next junction turn left and follow this track to join
the Ridgeway.
4. Continue west along the Ridgeway. Shortly after walking
across the bridge over the old railway line you turn left and
leave the Ridgeway.
5. Follow the bridleway down a track for 600m and then right
across a field. Rejoin the track, which then ends at a metalled
road on the outskirts of Compton.
6. Continue down the road bearing right, which will take you
back to the High Street.
JOS JOSLIN
FURTHER INFORMATION
For more information about these walks and others along the Ridgeway, visit
www.nationaltrail.co.uk
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UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS 7

Walks, wildlife and a
wealth of history
West Berkshire
ABOVE AND BELOW THE SULHAM GAP
– 6.5 MILES
(Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 159 Reading)
This pretty riverside walk starts at the attractive
village of Pangbourne before passing through
The Moors where you should look out for one
of the large and very obvious ditches, which were
probably created by Reading Abbey in the 12th
or 13th centuries.
The walk roughly follows the chalky River Pang
to Tidmarsh, where you’ll come across the strangelooking
octagonal toll house before finding the
perfect spot for a pit stop: The Greyhound pub –
also a Reading Abbey creation – where you can
treat yourself to an award-winning real ale. If you
can drag yourself away from the roaring log fires,
the route will take you within sight of Tidmarsh
Mill and the 12th century Tidmarsh Church with its
impressive Norman door, and into a meadow with
Above: Ramblers enjoying the lush, rolling downlands.
ancient oaks dating back 400 years, before you
cross ridged and ditched water meadows.
As you pass Hogmoor Bridge, watch out for
some flying furry friends because the bricked-up
bridge arches provide a cosy bed for bats.
From the southern edge of Sulham Wood, take a
break to enjoy the stunning valley views. After
crossing the Pangbourne Road and passing under
Brunel’s Great Western Railway line, you enter the
Thames flood plain with a wealth of wetland
species, before re-entering Pangbourne near
Whitchurch Bridge, one of only two privatelyowned
toll bridges across the River Thames.
Leave your car behind and take the train;
Pangbourne is a mainline station with frequent
services between Reading and Oxford. Pangbourne
village offers plenty of shops, restaurants and pubs
to provide a satisfying finish to the walk.
ALL IMAGES BY DICK GREENAWAY
CASTLE, MARSHES AND HEATH
– 4.75 MILES
(Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 158 Newbury
and Hungerford)
Walk south from the historic Donnington Castle,
which was the hub of the two vicious Battles of
Newbury during the Civil War, past Donnington
Grove, now a hotel on a golf course, to the River
Lambourn. As you cross and walk along the river,
look out for trout, herons, coots and ducks, yellow
flag iris, reed mace, willowherb and many other
wetland species.
Heading towards the riverside village of Bagnor,
home to the famous Watermill Theatre, you’ll cross
the picturesque Rack Marsh – a Berkshire,
Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust
(BBOWT) Reserve – where you’ll be spoilt for
choice for flowers from marsh marigold and
meadow sweet to red clover and ragged robin.
If you bring a magnifying glass you might just
spot the rare 2mm Desmoulin’s snail, one of the
nation’s most endangered species.
At the northernmost point of the walk lies
Snelsmore Common, a lowland heath and a Site
of Special Scientific Interest. The bogs and mires
here are caused by the presence of a layer of
impermeable London Clay. As well as purple bell
heather and moor grass, the gorse provides nest
sites for small birds. Roe deer, adders and newts
are fellow residents. The route winds it way back
towards the castle, past Castle Farm.
Well-deserved refreshment en route can be
found in the dog-friendly pub The Blackbird in
Bagnor, about half-way round the walk. It is
open noon-2.30pm and 6pm-11pm Monday to
Saturday, and noon-3pm Sundays. Call 01635
40638 or visit www.theblackbird.co.uk.
Bus services 6 and 9 provide a regular service
from Newbury on Mondays to Saturdays (no
Sunday or bank holiday services). Tel: 01635
567500. From the bus stop in Donnington, there
will be a 15-minute walk to the start of the
official route. For more information, refer to
Useful Contacts on the back page.
Below far left: The historic Donnington Castle.
Below left: Wood sorrel, just one example of the plethora
of flora and fauna to spot while rambling through the
North Wessex Downs.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Leaflets of these walks are available from
the Pang, Kennet and Lambourn Valley
Project at The Old Estate Office, Englefield
Road, Theale, RG7 5DE or by calling
01189 305336.
Above: Nuthanger – the chalk scarp of Watership Down as
seen from Beacon Hill.
Hampshire
ST MARY BOURNE LOLLIPOP WALK
– 2 MILES
(Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps 131 Romsey,
Andover and Test Valley and 144 Basingstoke)
This lollipop-shaped route starting at the village of
St Mary Bourne, close to Andover, was introduced
as part of the village’s Rural Access Project
associated with the North Wessex Downs AONB,
and is suitable for single-width buggies with one
steep hill climb. The walk follows the ‘Walk to
School Route’ and if you keep your eyes peeled,
you’ll spot local children’s poems on the
locally crafted green gates.
From the centre of the village, which
has a car park, a village shop, public
toilets and two good pubs – The
Coronation Arms (01264 738432)
and The George Inn (01264
738989) – the walk heads
up the valley sides.
The lanes and
tracks you’ll see
are actually
remnants of a late
Saxon or early medieval landscape, when
the land was farmed in ‘ladder’ field
systems – the ‘arms’ extending up the
valley sides and still visible as today’s
tracks, while the ‘rungs’ have since been
reordered. From the top of the hill, you can
gaze back down on the village with its
quintessentially English bowling green,
stone church and thatched roofs.
Above: St Mary Bourne – the picturesque view into
Hollington, highlighting the contrast of downland
with woodland.
THE NUTHANGER WALK – 2 MILES
(Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 144 Basingstoke)
This scenic route starts out in the car park of the
Royal Oak pub (01635 291337) in the pretty
village of Ecchinswell, near Newbury. It takes in
the beautiful landscape of Watership Down that
inspired Richard Adams to write a book which
was subsequently made into an animated film.
From the village, the circular walk winds uphill
through open rolling downland and past Nuthanger
Farm, which played a major part in the book and
film, from where you see breathtaking views of
Watership Down chalk scarp. Making your way back
down a steep hill via enclosed wooded slopes, note
the archaeological remains of Bronze Age tumuli
(burial mounds) and an Iron Age hill fort on Ladle Hill.
Depending on the time of year, you may catch
a glimpse of rare butterflies such as the Adonis
Blue and the Silver-spotted Skipper, and, of course,
scampering rabbits.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For a wider choice of walks and more
information about walking in Hampshire,
visit www.hants.gov.uk/walking
Ecchinswell village information:
www.ecchinswell.net
IT’S GOOD TO WALK
A study in 2009 revealed that people
living in neighbourhoods more than
a mile from a park had a 27 per cent
greater chance of being overweight
or obese. In response to this, the North
Wessex Downs AONB is supporting
Natural England’s campaign for a
Natural Health Service. The scheme
aims to increase the number of
households within a five-minute walk
of an area of green space of at least
two hectares, and to enable every GP or
community nurse to be able to signpost
patients to an approved health walk or
outdoor activity programme. To find
your nearest ‘Walking the Way to
Health’ walk, visit
www.wfh.naturalengland.org.uk
If you’d like to make the most of the
beautiful great outdoors in the North
Wessex Downs, just for fun or for your
health too, get involved in the new
South East England campaign,
Countryside 2010, which puts people
in touch with a huge choice of activities
and events that take place in the
countryside, most of which are free.
For more information, visit
www.countryside2010.org.uk
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UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS 9

Horsing around
on the heaths and hills
WHAT BETTER WAY to see the beautiful landscapes of the North
Wessex Downs than high up on horseback, riding the ancient
drovers’ ways trodden so many times before by thousands of
feet and hooves
Rather aptly, the North Wessex Downs AONB forms a
horseshoe-shaped area of land. Old transport routes, such as the
Kennet and Avon Canal and the old coaching road from London
to Bristol, run east to west and are still in use today. But it is the
myriad of other old routes that makes the North Wessex Downs
ideal riding country.
What better way to see the beautiful
landscapes of the North Wessex Downs
than high up on horseback...
Experiencing on horseback the views from the ridges, the
quiet river valleys and the secret network of old paths should
definitely be enjoyed this summer.
The essence of the area is captured in the Three Downs Link
riding route, which connects the well-known South Downs in
south Hampshire with the North Hampshire Downs and the
Berkshire Downs.
From this route, relish the striking views from the ridges, with
red kites hovering overhead, before descending into soft river
valleys where herons stand like statues. An uphill climb opens out
onto a heathland common, the 100-hectare Site of Special
Scientific Interest of Snelsmore Common near Newbury, where
heather blooms and Exmoor ponies graze.
Less well known than the Ridgeway but boasting
arguably even better views is the track along a ridge of
the North Hampshire Downs just south of Newbury.
The Wayfarer’s Walk runs along the top of the
steep escarpment with views to the north of the
GUIDES FOR RIDES
• ‘On Horseback’ guides The ‘Ridgeway Downs on
Horseback’ leaflet from the BHS offers 16 rides on the
chalk downland, where you will find bright blue chicory flowers
alongside the tracks in high summer. Trails eight and 14 in
‘Hampshire on Horseback’ describe a ride along the top of
Watership Down, made famous by author Richard Adams. ‘Wiltshire on Horseback’
contains trails farther to the west, including the Wansdyke Path that takes you
along the top of Milk Hill and Tan Hill, where wild flowers and larks abound.
• www.bridleways.co.uk Written by riders for riders, this site offers more rides
with places to park a horsebox. Ride number 1046 explores the beautiful Pang
Valley through wooded countryside to the north of Bucklebury Common, where
nightjars, tree pipits, woodlarks and tawny owls can been seen and heard.
Riders come from far and wide to enjoy the hills and valleys
of the North Wessex Downs. Here, Janice Bridger, British
Horse Society access and bridleways officer, explains the
appeal and reveals her favourite routes…
wooded Kennet Valley with its little rivers and streams.
To the west, the route climbs to Walbury Hill, the highest point
in southeast England where on its summit you find the Iron
Age hill fort of Walbury Camp. The sinister-looking gallows at
Combe Gibbet marks the spot where the original double
gibbet was used just once in 1676.
Although described as a walk, much of this route is open
and well used by horse riders. Great improvements have been
made to the Ridgeway and other tracks in recent years but
more remains to be done elsewhere, so do make local inquiries
before you set off.
FURTHER INFORMATION
• The ‘Three Downs Link’ leaflet and the ‘On
Horseback’ books are available from the British Horse
Society, 0844 848 1666, www.bhs.org.uk
• If you fancy a few days on the Ridgeway Downs with
details of a route already planned, visit
www.redlandsequestrian.co.uk or call 01256 773564
• For a guided ride in the North Wessex Downs AONB
with a horse supplied, visit
www.littlehiddenfarm.co.uk, www.cunetioriding.co.uk,
www.pewseyvaleridingcentre.com, or
www.visitwiltshire.co.uk
Above top: A solid stone bridge spans the Kennet and Avon Canal. Above: Kennet and Avon Canal and Kintbury Lock (right).
Celebrate the
&
This year the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust celebrates the 200th
anniversary of the opening of this impressive waterway.
Kennet
Avon Canal
LIFE ON THE canal is one of blissful relaxation,
whether you’re enjoying it aboard a prettily
painted narrow boat, riding a bike along the
towpath, sitting in a train passing by or simply on
two feet. The Kennet and Avon Canal slices its way
through the middle of the North Wessex Downs
and offers 87 miles of waterway, home to birds,
water voles and other wildlife, flowers and trees,
and an enticing selection of pubs, villages and
tourist attractions.
The canal was built to provide an important
transport link between the Thames and Bristol, but
by the mid-20th century was facing closure. The
Kennet and Avon Canal Trust was formed to
campaign for restoration of the waterway. In 1990
the Queen reopened the canal, and a significant
Heritage Lottery Fund grant, as well as generous
donations from the public, ensured its future for
leisure and recreation.
Visitors to the Kennet and Avon Canal are in for a
treat this year because it is the 200th anniversary of
the canal’s construction, which was completed
after 16 years in 1810. Special events abound
throughout the year on and around the canal,
culminating in a big birthday party on 28th
December 2010, exactly 200 years to the day
after the waterway’s opening.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Kennet and Avon Canal Trust
T: 01380 721279
www.katrust.org
CANAL CAPERS
The work of the Trust’s volunteers is very
much ongoing and there are plenty of
opportunities to enjoy this man-made
feat of engineering…
• Crofton Beam Engines Marvel at the
steam-operated beam engines in their
original position within Crofton Pumping
Station, six miles from the picturesque
market town of Marlborough. Built in
1807 to provide water to the summit of
the Kennet and Avon Canal, this Grade I
Listed building houses two magnificent
engines, one of which is the oldest working
beam engine in the world. Crofton Beam
Engines are open from April throughout the
summer, and in steam on bank holidays and
most summer weekends, when they actually
carry out the job they were built for. Enjoy a
canal-side lunch from the café to make a
great day out for all the family, and
appreciate an important part of Britain’s
industrial heritage.
T: 01672 870300
www.croftonbeamengines.org
• Rose of Hungerford From April to October,
you can enjoy a couple of hours watching
the countryside slip by on a public trip
aboard the motor barge, Rose of Hungerford.
Owned by the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust,
this 55-foot vessel can take up to 50
passengers and can be chartered privately to
provide a unique backdrop to a party.
T: 01635 255367
www.roseofhungerford.co.uk
CYCLING THE CANAL
Long sections of the canal towpath have been
improved in recent years and are now wide,
level and perfect for cyclists. Follow the signs
for National Cycle Network route 4, which
runs all the way from Devizes to Reading
along the canal either on the towpath or
diverted onto country lanes.
Whichever section of the canal you choose
to explore on two wheels, there are several
days’ worth of attractions to discover, from
delving into the history of farming and
industry at Pewsey Heritage Centre
(www.pewsey-heritage-centre-org.uk), to
devouring a pint of real ale and a beef
and burgundy casserole in front
of a roaring fire at The Royal
Oak free house in Wootton
Rivers (www.wiltshire-pubs.co.uk),
to spotting rare White Park cattle
in Savernake Forest
(www.savernakeestate.co.uk).
For more information,
visit www.waterscape.com
or www.sustrans.org.uk
10 UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS
UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS 11

Out & about in
The North Wessex
Key:
Downs AONB
Ramble through grassy lanes on a
Ridgeway walk near Compton page 7
New walks leaflets are now available for
the Hamstead Marshall area page 15
Avebury
could soon be
linked to
Stonehenge
on the new
Great Stones
Way walking
route page 15
Discover ancient
hidden secrets
on Geotrail
page 4
Celebrate the 200th anniversary
of the Kennet & Avon canal at
Caen Hill page 5
Pewsey
Heritage
Centre makes the
perfect pitstop on
a canalside
cycle ride
page 11
Enjoy the
views from
Walbury Hill
on horseback
page 10
Look out
for strangelooking
gates on a
walk around
St Mary
Bourne
page 9
For fresh local venison, visit The Pot Kiln, owned
by celebrity chef Mike Robinson page 22
Experience the
inspirational
chalky landscape
of Watership
Down on The
Nuthanger Walk
page 9
12 UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS
UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS 13

Landscaping
the future
WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE A
MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE NORTH
WESSEX DOWNS AONB
The Management Plan is very effective in giving a
long-term vision but it also allows us to state what
we hope to achieve and to establish priorities so that
we can give some kind of direction to our work.
WHAT ARE ITS MAIN AIMS
Within any landscape there is a huge variety of
issues that we have to deal with, but the key things
at the current time are inappropriate development
that doesn’t take account of the special nature of
the landscape; the issues surrounding climate
change and the need for the landscape to adapt in
a way that doesn’t destroy its essential qualities;
and how communities can thrive and develop in an
area whilst seeking to preserve what’s special about
that particular landscape.
IS THERE A CONFLICT BETWEEN
PRESERVING THE AONB WHILST ALSO
DEVELOPING IT
In my opinion, no. If people are prepared to take
account of the area they live in when planning
their development or their growth, the landscape
is capable of absorbing good quality design. What
it’s not capable of doing is absorbing cheap, offthe-peg
solutions.
HOW CAN PEOPLE GET INVOLVED IN
HELPING TO ACHIEVE THOSE AIMS
Each business will have its own peculiar priorities
To achieve the aims set out in the North Wessex
Downs AONB Management Plan 2009-2014,
everyone has a role to play, says Duncan Coe,
chair of the North Wessex Downs
Management Working Group…
and needs, and we hope that the
development of the Management
Plan has taken account of that variety of interests.
The key thing for communities is to understand
what it means to live in an Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty, as individuals and as a community.
Any community that is embarking on a parishplanning
scheme should stop and think about
where the parish sits, and what that means in
terms of how they can speak about the special
qualities of the area and of the kind of actions
they might include in their action plan.
CAN VISITORS TO THE AREA PLAY A
PART TOO
Everyone has a role to play in some respect. We
are deeply conscious that we probably don’t
provide enough information to make visitors aware
of the landscape they are visiting. Anyone visiting
Avebury may not know that they are in the North
Wessex Downs. It’s not something that would be
immediately obvious to them. I think there’s a job
to be done in raising the profile of the area. Visitors
need to know they are in a special landscape and
that there is a certain level of behaviour they have
to contribute. This will ensure that the area is
sustained and not spoilt by their activities.
WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST CONCERNS
FOR THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS
The biggest one is development pressure and the
growth of towns like Swindon and Reading on the
fringes. It’s assumed that these growing
populations are looking to the North Wessex
Downs as part of their green infrastructure, as a
place where they can go for their recreation
opportunities. That will put more pressure on the
landscape, on facilities and on communities living
within this landscape.
DO YOU HAVE A BIG MOUNTAIN TO
CLIMB TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS
No, I don’t think so. There are a lot of small things
that can be done to help out. Having things like
the LEADER fund over the next few years will be
enormously beneficial, ensuring businesses can
grow and develop in a way that’s sensitive to the
landscape. We’re all trying to achieve the same
thing, which is a high quality of life.
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS
We’ve been working with the AONB team and
the Council of Partners to develop action plans
which are published on the North Wessex Downs
website – www.northwessexdowns.org.uk. We’ve
discussed and assessed the priorities with people
representing different interests and now have a
work plan for this year. In the medium to long
term we must focus on what might be called the
key characteristics of the North Wessex Downs.
Examples of areas in which we need to focus
include progressing with the Downland Heritage
Initiative to improve the condition and quantity of
the chalk downland resource, finding ways to
increase the use of woodland products to improve
their management and working out how we might
adapt to the effects of climate change.
HOW DIFFERENT WILL THE AONB BE IN
FIVE YEARS’ TIME
Well, I hope it won’t be very different at all! We
would hope that the landscape will be improved,
that there is more chalk grassland, more wildlife
corridors, and that there is more economic activity
associated with woodland management. Very
importantly, we’d like to see more people have an
awareness of and an appreciation of what the
North Wessex Downs is and what makes it special.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF
THE AONB
I’ve lived in Highclere for five years and my
favourite part of the North Wessex Downs is the
lower-lying area south of the River Kennet
between Hungerford and Highclere. This is made
up of very small fields, woodland, lots of tall
hedges and narrow lanes. I like the intimacy but
also the fact that it is very ancient. It’s probably
some of the oldest surviving components of the
landscape that hasn’t been impacted upon by
20th century agri-industry and so retains some of
that feel of what the landscape would have looked
like 100 or 150 years ago.
FURTHER INFORMATION
To read and download the North Wessex
Downs AONB Management Plan 2009-
2014 go to www.northwessexdowns.org.uk
In the past four years, more than
£220,000 worth of SDF (Sustainable
Development Fund) grants have been
awarded by the AONB to 75 projects
across the North Wessex Downs.
Here are just a handful of schemes that
have benefited recently from these grants.
Supporting
sustainability
THE GREAT STONES WAY
The popular Ridgeway National Trail could soon be extended all
the way to Stonehenge World Heritage Site, as a result of the
efforts of the Friends of the Ridgeway charity.
The new 40-mile footpath would be called the Great Stones
Way and would link the current southern end of the Ridgeway at
Overton Hill near Avebury with Salisbury and Old Sarum.
An SDF grant of £10,000 will contribute towards the £15,000
cost of a feasibility study to establish demand, local community
support and set-up costs. The new route could be launched in
March 2011.
If it goes ahead, the Great Stones Way is expected to raise the
profile of the North Wessex Downs AONB and therefore increase
visitor numbers, improve awareness of the landscape, encourage
conservation, and provide new opportunities for businesses along
the route such as farms, holiday accommodation, pubs and
village shops. www.ridgewayfriends.org.uk
HAMSTEAD MARSHALL WALKS
From spring this year, new leaflets detailing walks around the
1,850-acre parish of Hamstead Marshall between Hungerford
and Newbury are available, thanks to the SDF grant of £650 to
help with the printing and promotional costs.
The routes follow public footpaths and
the canal towpath, and also take in
farmland, woodland and parks, ensuring a
good diversity of flora and fauna.
The leaflets also promote historic points
of interest such as the 12th-century church.
One of the routes incorporates The Farm Trail
that follows conservation sites across
Elm Farm, the home of the Organic
Research Centre.
The Farm Trail was established
in 1993 but has recently been
made more accessible, and
information boards also
funded by an SDF grant will
soon be in place.
The new leaflets are
available in the village hall, the
church, and West Berkshire
Tourist Information Office at The
Wharf, Newbury amongst other
locations.
www.hamsteadmarshall.net
WITTENHAM CLUMPS
Fans of Channel 4’s Time Team may remember the programme’s
coverage of Wittenham Clumps, a Scheduled Ancient Monument
northeast of Didcot containing important archaeology ranging
from the Bronze Age to the Roman period, including the Iron Age
hill fort on Castle Hill.
Children and adults alike can experience these exciting
discoveries first-hand at Project Timescape, the education centre
based at Hill Farm in Little Wittenham.
Visitors can see the remains of Iron Age skeletons, pots and
animal bones discovered in the trenches and learn about how
climate change could affect the future of the landscape.
The site is within a 300-hectare estate, managed by the
Northmoor Trust, an environmental charity. The Trust received an
SDF grant of just over £4,000 to produce an illustrated booklet
giving details of the dig and its findings. Copies are available from
the Northmoor Trust. www.northmoortrust.co.uk
HENRY II’S ROYAL HALL
Records from early in the 12th century suggest that King Henry II
had a residence at Tidgrove Warren Farm, south of Kingsclere. Aerial
photography and archaeological research show evidence of a
ditched enclosure, complete with pottery dating from that era, a
13th-century belt buckle and an iron arrowhead.
Volunteers from the Kingsclere Heritage Association have been
excavating the area with students from the University of
Southampton since 2003, and a Romano-British farm settlement
has also been identified here.
Thanks to SDF funding last year, there is now a long-term plan
to complete a survey of the whole area, which will form part of the
University’s archaeology curriculum. www.kingsclere.org.uk
Top: Stone Avenue,
Avebury.
Left: Elm Farm Trail.
Above top: Archaeological
dig on the Wittenham
Clumps.
Above: Hamstead Mill.
WHAT IS AN SDF GRANT
SDF grants are small awards given with minimum bureaucracy to community
groups, parish councils and businesses. The North Wessex Downs AONB has run
the Sustainable Development Fund grant scheme since 2005. The programme
encourages people to achieve more sustainable ways of living and working,
while enhancing and conserving the local culture, wildlife and landscape. The
money comes from Natural England.
HOW DO I APPLY
Visit www.northwessexdowns.org.uk, go to the Grants page and fill in the Sustainable
Development Fund online application form, giving full details of your project,
or call 01488 685440. For 2010-11 grants, projects must be completed before 31
March 2011.
UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS 15

Amid the troubles of the recession, there is a source of hope for
rural communities and businesses in the North Wessex Downs.
LEADER fund
revitalises rural economy
The North Wessex Downs LEADER
Programme has drawn £2.5million
into the AONB and is investing in local
food, renewable energy, sustainable tourism,
community projects and business development.
The fund is important because it offers
opportunities for capital investment in
business and community projects.
Wessex Biofuels Ltd is a new energy business
sparked off with help from a £50,000 LEADER
grant, awarded to entrepreneurial foresters Martin
Giles and David Hunt. The company will produce
woodchip from locally-felled timber to fire boilers,
boosting the local economy and supporting
forestry and renewable energy.
David Hunt says: “People within the North
Wessex Downs who are considering a woodchip
boiler can now have the confidence that good
quality, locally produced woodchip will be
available. To minimise our carbon footprint,
strategic stockpiles of roundwood will be
established throughout the AONB. Orders for chip
will then be matched to the nearest stockpile,
which will considerably reduce the road-miles
required for delivery. The LEADER funding provided
the springboard which enabled us to pursue our
renewable energy business idea.”
Frank Haighton Forestry, based
at Hurstbourne Tarrant
near Andover, made
its firewood
business more sustainable by investing £50,000
of LEADER money in cross-country log-handling
machinery. Frank can now make fireplace fuel out
of ‘low value’ trees and awkward material that is
unsuitable for timber.
Cosy Paws, a luxury countryside cattery at East
Garston, is a new business established by Carole
Ruse with money from LEADER.
Carole says: “I couldn’t believe it when I got
the grant. It was as good as winning the lottery!
It’s a family business, so this means a lot, and we
wouldn’t have been able to start Cosy Paws
without the LEADER grant.”
When farmers broaden their business from
production into other sources of income, such as
tourism, or food processing and marketing,
LEADER provides an excellent source of money.
Turkey farmers Philip and Ed Walters from Bower
Farm, Aldworth in Berkshire, have taken advantage
of this scheme. They are using LEADER funds to
improve their bird processing capacity with new
feather-waxing kit, racking and chilled storage.
Community-led projects have also received
grants: Bradfield Southend’s new Post Office was
installed in the community shop with help from
LEADER money; Streatley Parish Council was
awarded a grant towards an all-weather ball games
area; and at East Hendred, the Springline
Community Theatre was able to install a state-ofthe-art
light and sound system.
Rural revival is the mission of the LEADER Local
Action Group (LAG), the local people who decide
which applicants receive money.
“The action group provides a local perspective
on funding priorities for the North Wessex Downs
AONB,” explains Ian Ritchie, the group’s chairman.
“People volunteering for our active group come
from a wide range of backgrounds – farmers,
business professionals, environmental
conservationists and local authorities.”
Above top: Ian Ritchie (LAG chairman), centre, with
David Hunt and Martin Giles, who launched Wessex
Biofuels with help from LEADER funds.
Above: Bradfield Southend’s village shop boasts
a new Post Office.
Below left: Carole and daughter Genevieve at
the new cattery, Cosy Paws.
THE LOWDOWN ON THE LEADER FUND
• What is LEADER
The LEADER programme is part of the
Rural Development Programme for
England (RDPE), which is funded by the
Government and the European Union.
The fund supports the rural economy and
can be granted to farmers, foresters,
businesses, entrepreneurs, rural
organisations and communities. Projects
have to be in the North Wessex Downs
AONB and must meet at least one of the
11 measures set out on the Grants page
of www.northwessexdowns.org.uk
• How much could I get
Grants can be up to £50,000 or
up to 50% of capital costs.
• How long is the scheme open
Applications are welcome throughout
2010 and 2011. Projects have to be
delivered by 2013.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Call Corinna Woodall, LEADER Programme
Manager on 01488 680456 or alternatively
visit the Grants page of
www.northwessexdowns.org.uk
Wessex Biofuels Ltd – 01488 685007
Frank Haighton Forestry – 01264 736297
Cosy Paws – 01488 648397
Walters Turkeys – 01635 578251
Local Products
Directory
Many of the beautiful landscapes of the North Wessex Downs AONB
have been created by farming. You can really eat the views by using this
Local Products Directory to find breweries, bakeries, meat producers, preserve
makers, shops, fruit and vegetable growers, thatchers and woodfuel providers
– all within or very close to the North Wessex Downs.
BEER, WinE & CiDER
A’BECKETT’S VINEYARD
Contact: Paul or Lynn Langham
a’Beckett’s Farmhouse,
High St, Littleton Pannell, Devizes,
SN10 4EN
T: 01380 816669
E: info@abecketts.co.uk
www.abecketts.co.uk
Award-winning vegan-friendly
English wine, cider and apple juice..
Open Thur, Fri and Sat 10.30am-
5.30pm. Group tours available.
APPLEFORD BREWERY
Iron Bridge House, St Peters Court,
Appleford-on-Thames, OX14 4YA
T: 01235 848055
E: sales@applefordbrewery.co.uk
www.applefordbrewery.co.uk
Traditional beer. Supplies the free
trade and wholesalers throughout
Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley
and at Farmers’ Markets and farm
shops.
ARKELL’S BREWERY
Contact: James Arkell
Arkell's Vintners, Kingsdown, Swindon
SN2 7RU
T: 01793 823026
E: arkells@arkells.com
www.arkells.com
Bees Organic Ale – award-winning
ale, with New World wine as
speciality. Victorian steam brewery.
Open 9am-5pm, Mon-Fri. Arkell’s
owns 105 pubs.
BRIGHTWELL VINEYARD
Contact: Mrs Carol Nielsen
Rush Court, Shillingford Road,
Wallingford, OX10 8LJ
T: 01491 836586
E: wines@brightwines.co.uk
www.brightwines.co.uk
The largest vineyard in Oxfordshire,
producing award-winning English
wines. Shop open for sales and
tastings Fri-Sun-, noon-6pm. Group
vineyard tours.
BUTTS BREWERY
Contact: Chris Butt
Northfield Farm, Great Shefford,
near Hungerford RG17 7BY
T: 01488 648133
E: sales@buttsbrewery.com
www.buttsbrewery.com
Organic brewer. Cask beers: Jester
and Barbus Barbus. Bottled
conditioned: Blackguard and Golden
Brown. Supplies freehouse pubs, local
supermarkets, specialist off-licences.
LAMBOURN VALLEY
CIDER COMPANY
Contact: Roy Bailey
The Malt House, Great Shefford,
Hungerford RG17 7ED
T: 01488 648441
E: contact@
lambournvalleycider.co.uk
www.lambournvalleycider.co.uk
Old Berkshire perry from special local
pears. Fermented in champagne
bottles. Specialist outlets like Cobbs
Farm Shop, Hungerford.
MOLES BREWERY
Contact: Roger Catte
5 Merlin Way, Bowerhill, Melksham
SN12 6TJ
T: 01225 704734/708842
E: sales@moles-cascade.co.uk
www.molesbrewery.com
Locally-malted Maris Otter malt, and
ciders from local apples. Sells
through pubs, clubs, restaurants and
events. Products include Tap Bitter
and Black Rat cider. Open 9am-5pm
weekdays, 9am-noon Saturdays.
RAMSBURY BREWERY
Contact: Darren Golding
Priory Farm, Axford,
Marlborough SN8 2HA
T: 01672 541407/07843 289527
E: dgolding@ramsburyestates.com
www.ramsburybrewery.com
Uses Ramsbury home-grown spring
barley and water from estate.
Ramsbury Bitter and Hells Highway.
Mon-Fri, 9am-4.30pm. Phone for
appointment. Via website, local pubs,
clubs, shops and festivals.
WADWORTH & CO. LTD.
Contact: Jonathan Pollock
Northgate Brewery,
Devizes SN10 1JW
T: 01380 723361
E: jonathanpollock@wadworth.co.uk
www.wadworth.co.uk
Brewer, wholesaler and pub retailer.
Family-business founded in 1875.
Owns nearly 260 pubs. Deliveries by
Shire Horses in Devizes. Stables open
1.30pm-3.30pm Mon-Thur. Visitor
Centre.
WEST BERKSHIRE BREWERY
Contact: Mrs Helen Maggs
The Old Bakery, Yattendon,
nr Thatcham RG18 0UE
T: 01635 202968
E: info@wbbrew.co.uk
www.wbbrew.com
Micro-brewer of Dr Hexter's Healer,
winner at the Great British Beer
Festival in 2009. Brewery tours. Shop:
Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 10am-1pm.
BREAD, CAkEs &
FLouR
DOVES FARM FOODS
Contact: Clare Marriage
Salisbury Rd, Hungerford RG17 0RF
T: 01488 684880
E: mail@dovesfarm.co.uk
www.dovesfarm.co.uk
Specialist flour miller and baker. Over
20 flours (including organic and
wheat/gluten free), breakfast cereals
and pasta. Bakery produces Fairtrade,
organic and wheat/gluten free cookies,
plus cereal bars and flapjacks.
Continued over...
HUNGERFORD
FOOD FESTIVAL
Tel: 01488 648534
www.hungerfordfoodfestival.co.uk
Celebrate all things delicious at the
hugely popular Hungerford Food
Festival, held annually each autumn.
Last year's event was attended by
hundreds of foodies who were
treated to cooking demonstrations
from local chefs, wine and beer
tasting, cookery competitions and
numerous stalls offering all manner of
indulgent local delights. This year
there is a whole week of events
planned from Saturday 25th
September to Sunday 3rd October
when the festival culminates in the
day-long Hungerford Food Fair. Dates
are correct at time of print but do
check the website for confirmation.
16 UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS Visit www.northwessexdowns.org.uk/products UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS 17

Challow Hill Meats at Newbury Farmers' Market.
LACOCK BAKERY
Contact: Jean Sheard
8 Church Street, Lacock,
Chippenham SN15 2LB
T: 01249 730457
E: jean@lacock.com
Bread and cakes baked on premises.
Lacock Lardies, Sidoli Ice Cream and
Cottage Delight preserves. Open all
week, 10am-5pm. Baking: Mon, Wed,
Fri, and three Sats a month.
THE OLD FARMHOUSE
BAKERY
Contact: Rodney, Kate or Beccie
Bitmead, By The Meadow Farm,
The Green, Steventon OX13 6RP
T: 01235 831230
E: oldfarmhousebakery@
bythemeadowfarm.co.uk
www.theoldfarmhousebakery.co.uk
A Rick Stein Food Hero and artisan
bakery producing traditional and
speciality breads. Open Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday 9am-5pm; Saturday
8.30am-1pm. Farmers’ Markets.
WESSEX MILL
Mill Street, Wantage OX12 9AB
T: 01235 768991
E: paul@wessexmill.co.uk
www.wessexmill.co.uk
Flour milled to produce top quality
bread. Available to the public online,
through farm shops and specialist
food shops.
Meat & Fish
BROOKLEAS FISH FARM
Contact: Tim Lobb
Brookleas, East Hendred,
nr Wantage OX12 8LN
T: 01235 820500
E: brookleas@hotmail.com
www.brookleas.co.uk
Trout farm fed by Ginge Brook from
local Downs. Small farmshop and
smokery. Children’s fishing pond.
British Trout Association.
Open Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm. Farmers’
Markets.
CAMILLA AND ROLY'S
LITTLE WITTENHAM LAMB
Contact: Camilla and Roly Puzey
Hill Farm, Little Wittenham,
Abingdon OX14 4RD
T: 07776 393072
E: camillaandroly@gmail.com
www.camillaandroly.co.uk
Our lambs graze on grass, clover and
wildflower meadows and are fed
locally-grown peas, barley and hay.
Everyone is welcome. Fantastic
learning resource. Fun farm activities.
CASEY FIELDS FARM SHOP
(VICARS GAME)
Contact: Alan or Owen Hayward
Casey Fields Farm, off Dog Lane,
Ashampstead RG8 8SJ
T: 01635 579662
E: alan@vicarsgame.co.uk
www.vicarsgame.co.uk
Farm shop and butchery. Beef, pork,
lamb, wild boar, venison, poultry,
game and exotics. Open Mon-Sat
8am-5pm. Wholesale through Vicars
Game to local and London
restaurants; Fortnum & Mason; other
food distributors.
CHALLOW HILL MEATS
Contact: Lucy Blackwell
Challow Hill Farm, East Challow,
Wantage OX12 9PD
T: 01235 765792
E: info@challowhillmeats.co.uk
www.challowhillmeats.co.uk
Small family run farm placing high
value on welfare of the animals and
the environment. Rear own pedigree
Dexter cows and sell the beef at
Farmers’ Markets and in packs for
your freezer. Also rear own lambs
and pigs.
CHERRY ORCHARD MEATS
Contact: Nick Venters
Cherry Orchard Cottage, East Sands,
Burbage SN8 3AN
T: 01672 810257/07866 452611
E: nicholasventers@tiscali.co.uk
Pork sausages, bacon, gammon, pork
or beef freezer packs. Refrigerated
home delivery service. Farmers’
Markets, local caterers and retailers.
DEWS MEADOW FARM
Contact: Jane and Andrew Bowler
Oxford Rd, East Hanney,
Wantage OX12 0HP
T: 01235 868634
E: bowler.jane@btinternet.com
www.dewsmeadowfarm.co.uk
Pork products, locally-sourced meats,
fresh vegetables, dairy products,
bread, jams and preserves. Open
Mon-Sat 8.30am-5pm (Fridays 6pm).
Farmers’ Markets. Home delivery
service.
EASTBROOK FARMS
ORGANIC MEAT
Contact: Carolyn Curtis
Cues Lane, Bishopstone,
Swindon SN6 8PL
T: 01793 790460
E: orders@
helenbrowningorganics.co.uk
www.helenbrowningorganics.co.uk
Award-winning organic meat. Skilled
butchers. National home delivery
service. Sainsbury’s and Tesco under
Helen Browning brand.
GREENFIELD PORK
PRODUCTS
Contact: Martin and Dawn
Martindale
Sunnycliff, Highbury Road,
Anna Valley, Andover SP11 7LU
T: 01264 359422
E: martinanddawn@
greenfield-pork.co.uk
www.greenfield-pork.co.uk
Free range pork, Wiltshire-cured
bacon and gammons. Prize-winning
sausages. Refrigerated delivery
service. Hog roast service. Hampshire
farmers’ markets and local shops.
KILN MEADOWS FARM
Contact: Gordon Hedges
Cox’s Lane, Midgham,
Reading RG7 5UR
T: 0118 971 2138
E: gordon@bynghedges.plus.com
Prime quality beef from pedigree
Highland cattle. Hung on bone for
three weeks to maximise flavour and
tenderness. Visit by appointment.
Newbury Farmers’ Market.
PARSONAGE FARM
Upton, Andover SP11 0JP
T: 01264 736208
E: sarah@parsonage-farm.co.uk
www.parsonage-farm.co.uk
Third generation, family-run, chemicalfree
farm, providing quality,
naturally-reared beef, lamb and pork.
Meat is hung and butchered to order
on farm and delivered direct to you.
ROYAL BERKSHIRE PORK
Contact: Russell Kilvington
PO Box 6109, Newbury RG14 9DA
T: 01488 638155
E: info@royalberkshirepork.co.uk
www.royalberkshirepork.co.uk
Accredited RSPCA Freedom Food pig
breeder retailing own-brand pork
products. 40 acres of free-range pigs.
SANDRIDGE FARMHOUSE
BACON
Bromham, nr Chippenham SN15 2JL
T: 01380 850304
E: info@sandridgefarmhousebacon.co.uk
www.sandridgefarmhousebacon.co.uk
Speciality hams; Wiltshire naturallysmoked
and dry-cured bacon;
sausages. Home-reared Aberdeen
Angus and Hereford beef. Farmers’
Markets; butchers and farm shops.
SHEEPDROVE ORGANIC FARM
Contact: Sales Team
Warren Farm, Lambourn RG17 7UU
T: 01488 674747
E: sales@sheepdrove.com
www.sheepdrove.com
Award-winning organic farm with Eco
Conference Centre. Free local delivery.
Organic free-range chicken, beef, lamb,
mutton, and pork. Online shop and
family butchers in Bristol and London.
STARK HOUSE FARM
Contact: Mrs Frances Paget
Stark House Farm, Goose Hill,
Headley, Thatcham RG19 8AR
T: 01635 268205
E: francespaget@uk2.net
Rare-breed Saddleback pork, bacon
and sausages. Farm sales available,
telephone first. Farmers’ Markets at
Newbury and Winchester.
VOWLEY FARM
Contact: Lorraine & Mark Stanton
Bincknoll Lane,
Wootton Bassett SN4 8QR
T: 01793 852115
E: us@vowleyfarm.co.uk
www.vowleyfarm.co.uk
Small, family-run working farm
following bio-dynamic practices. Open
Thursdays 3-7pm for home-grown
meats, sausages and bacon.
PLants & seeDs
ENGLEFIELD GARDEN
CENTRE
Contact: Miss Janet Smith
The Street, Englefield, nr Theale,
Reading RG7 5ES
T: 0118 930 4898
www.englefieldgardencentre.co.uk
Charity-run garden centre, part of
Affinity Trust, supporting people with
learning disabilities .Open Mon-Sat
9am-5pm, Sun May-June 12-4pm.
FLOWER FARMS
Contact: Bob Anderson
Carvers Hill Farm, Shalbourne,
Marlborough SN8 3PS
T: 01672 870782
E: flowerfarms@btinternet.com
www.charlesflowerwildflowers.co.uk
Producers of wild flower seed and
plants. Consultancy service available.
Mail order, brochure, or website.
MEADOWMAKER
Contact: Sue Everett
122 Derwent Road,
Thatcham RG19 3UP
T: 01635 847164
E: suejeverett@hotmail.com
www.meadowmaker.me.uk
Wild-harvested seed, by contract, for
re-creating native grassland;
consultancy for Farm Environment
Plans and Environmental
Stewardship.
SUMMERDOWN FARMS
PO Box 6636,
Basingstoke RG24 4AQ
T: 01256 780252
E: info@summerdownmint.com
www.summerdownmint.com
Pure English mint revived for the
21st century. Order online or see our
website for retailers.
WANBOROUGH HERB
NURSERY
Contact: Robert and Mary Biggs
Wanborough Herb Nursery,
Callas Hill, Upper Wanborough,
Swindon SN4 0DQ
T: 01793 790327
E: wanboroughnursery@
btinternet.com
www.wanboroughherbnursery.
moonfruit.com
In an old chalk quary, the Nursery
was set up to grow herbs,
herbaceous, unusual and hard-to-find
plants. Peat free composts and no
chemicals. Open spring, summer and
autumn (during the growing season).
PreserVes
ATKINS & POTTS
Contact: Nicola Young
Unit 3, Studland Estate, Gore, End Rd,
Ball Hill, Newbury RG20 0PW
T: 01635 254249
E: info@atkinsandpotts.co.uk
www.atkinsandpotts.co.uk
Savoury jams, relishes, classic
condiments. Hand-made, recipes
by local Berkshire families.
Range of kitchen essentials.
Online sales.
CHURCH LANE
FOOD COMPANY
Contact: Jean Semlyen
15 Church Lane,
Wallingford OX10 0DX
T: 01491 833320
Environmentally-aware producer of
home-made traditional fruit and
vegetable preserves. Most ingredients
grown locally without chemicals.
Visit by appointment. Wallingford
Local Producers’ Market.
ROSEMARY’S PRESERVES
(FJ & R TUCK)
Contact: John and Rosemary Tuck
Highgate Farm,
Wootton Bassett SN4 8DT
T: 01793 850999
E: tuck.highgate@btconnect.com
http://rosemaryspreserves.bttrade
space.com/
Home-made jams, chutneys, apple
juice and elderflower cordial.
Contract service to press, pasteurise
and bottle juices from surplus fruit.
Visit by appointment. Farmers’
Markets.
SUSIE’S PRESERVES LTD
Contact: Susie Kensett
Unit A, Cold Ash Farm, Long Lane,
Hermitage, Newbury RG18 9LT
T: 07909 995353
E: info@susiepreserves.co.uk
www.susiespreserves.co.uk
Over 30 preserves created by Susie.
Available from village and farm
shops; butchers; delicatessens; garden
centres; craft and country shows.
siLk & honey
NEWBURY AND DISTRICT
BEEKEEPERS
www.newburybeekeepers.org.uk
Local honey and hive products in
Newbury and Wantage areas.
Produce sold through shops and
shows. We welcome new beekeepers.
WHITCHURCH SILK MILL
Contact: Stephen Bryer
28 Winchester Street,
Whitchurch RG28 7AL
T: 01256 892065
E: silkmill@btinternet.com
www.whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk
200-year-old water mill on River Test
weaving silk on historic machinery
for interiors, stage and screen
productions. Tearoom. Shop.
Open Tuesday to Sunday
10.30am-5pm.
Various
BEECHWOOD FARM
FREE RANGE EGGS
Contact: Nathan Rice
Hampstead Norreys, Thatcham,
Newbury RG18 0TL
T: 01635 201163
E: beechwoodeggs@aol.com
High quality producer of free range
eggs. Supply butchers, shops,
markets, caterers and wholesalers.
BRADFIELD PICK YOUR
OWN FARM
Merryfield Farm, Mariners Lane,
Southend, Bradfield RG7 6HU
T: 07767 788261
E: harrodbradfieldpyo@
btinternet.com
www.bradfieldpickyourown.com
Family farm with traditional methods
such as using pigs to clear the
ground and chickens for bug control.
Supply local restaurants and shops.
BREMHILL FARMERS
Contact: Jean Pocock
Monument Farm,
Bremhill, Calne SN11
T: 01249 740202
E: monumentfarmshop@yahoo.co.uk
Family-run farm with grass-fed
Aberdeen Angus cattle, outdoor
sows and grass-fed Texel cross
lambs. Can be butchered to your
requirements from our farm shop.
BROOK FARM
Milton Road, Drayton,
Abingdon OX14 4EZ
T: 01235 820262
E: info@brookfarmcottages.com
www.brookfarmcottages.com
Country cottages with farm shop on
site selling home-produced country
fayre: fresh eggs for breakfast,
delicious English honey, and more.
Continued over...
Great gastropubs
THE POT KILN,
NEAR YATTENDON
T: 01635 201366
www.potkiln.org
The Pot Kiln is worth a far lengthier
visit than a quick pint – although
their range of award-winning real
ales from West Berkshire Brewery
can't be missed. Mike and his wife
Katie pride themselves on
'wholesome, locally sourced food
with a predominantly wild aspect'.
See feature on page 22.
THE SWAN INN, INKPEN
T: 01488 668326
www.theswaninn-organics.co.uk
If you enjoy your bangers and mash
at The Swan Inn, you can always buy
an extra few sausages from the
pub’s farm shop to take home with
you. The Swan is owned by organic
beef farmers, Mary and Bernard
Harris, and the menus are full of
locally sourced, organic ingredients,
as well as beef from their own farm,
butchered and matured on the
premises. The restaurant was the
winner of the RSPCA Independent
Restaurant Good Business Award in
2007, and the runner up in 2008
and 2009.
THE HARROW AT LITTLE
BEDWYN, MARLBOROUGH
T: 01672 870871
www.harrowinn.co.uk
With a Michelin star to its name and
a penchant for truffles on its menu,
The Harrow at Little Bedwyn is no
ordinary pub. The chef and
proprietor, Roger Jones, forages for
the truffles with a farmer in local
woods. ‘Real’ farming and ‘real’ food
are promoted here, so only wild
salmon is used and shellfish arrive
live on the premises.
18 UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS Visit www.northwessexdowns.org.uk/products
Visit www.northwessexdowns.org.uk/products
UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS 19

COBBS FARM SHOP
& KITCHEN
Contact: Tom Newey
Bath Road, Hungerford RG17 0SP
T: 01488 686770
E: info@cobbsfarmshop.co.uk
www.cobbsfarmshop.co.uk
Soft fruit and vegetables in season
and throughout the year! Open
Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm.
EAST GARSTON
COMMUNITY SHOP
The Shop, Back Street,
East Garston RG17 7EX
T: 01488 648241
E: mlcarver@btopenworld.com
www.eastgarston.com
A community shop, opened April
2009, selling local foods including
homemade fudge, bread, preserves,
postcards, books and maps.
EVERLEIGH FARM SHOP
Contact: David Hammerson
T: 01264 850344
E: enquiries@everleighfarmshop.co.uk
www.everleighfarmshop.co.uk
Wide range of produce for sale via
online shop, including beef, pork, lamb,
veal, poultry, fish, cheese and speciality
products such as three-bird roast.
GARLANDS ORGANIC
Contact: Innes and Hannah Ballantyne,
6 Reading Road, Pangbourne RG8 7LY
T: 0118 984 4770
E: orders@garlandsorganic.co.uk
www.garlandsorganic.co.uk
Over 1,500 organic and natural
products including local bread,
honey, meat, cheese. Open Tuesday
to Friday 9am-5.30pm; Monday and
Saturday 9am-5pm. Weekly
deliveries – order online.
HAMSTEAD GROWERS
EQUESTRIAN
Contact: Keith Webb
Redhill, Hamstead Marshall,
Newbury RG20 0JL
T: 01635 254091
E: sales@
hamsteadgrowersequestrian.co.uk
www.hamsteadgrowersequestrian
.co.uk
Plants, equestrian supplies, feeds,
bedding, arena for hire, leather
repairs. Open Monday to Friday 9am-
5:30pm, Saturday 9am-5pm.
Hungerford Farmers’ Market.
HANNEY COMMUNITY
SHOP & POST OFFICE
Contact: Mrs A.P. Vickars
Brookside, East Hanney,
Wantage OX12 0JL
T: 01235 867408
Wide range of local meat, free-range
eggs, honey, fruit and vegetables,
groceries, household goods and
greetings cards.
HARROWAY ORGANIC
GARDENS
Contact: Mandy Wright and
Steve Forster
Kingsclere Road,
Whitchurch RG28 7QB
T: 01256 895346
E: hogveg@hotmail.com
Market garden producing organic
fruit and vegetables. Local vegetable
box deliveries. Farm shop. Open
Thurs-Sat 9am-6pm. Winchester
Farmers’ Market (July-Nov).
LAVERSTOKE PARK FARM
Overton, RG25 3DR
T: 0800 334 5505
E: lisa@laverstokepark.co.uk
www.laverstokepark.co.uk
Organic beef, lamb, pork, chicken and
buffalo meat. We believe in the
promotion of biodiversity and slower
growing plants and animals. On-farm
butcher’s shop, or buy online.
LITTLE HIDDEN FARM
Contact: Bill and Sue Acworth
Wantage Road,
Hungerford RG17 0PN
T: 01488 683253
E: enquiries@littlehiddenfarm.co.uk
www.littlehiddenfarm.co.uk
Mixed organic farm with Riding
School. Birthday party and corporate
rides. Beef, lamb, pea and bean sticks,
rockery stones, dung and firewood.
Educational visits.
Q GARDENS FARM SHOP
Contact: Katie Napper
Milton Hill, Steventon,
Abingdon OX13 6AB
T: 01235 820988
E: info@qgardensfarmshop.co.uk
www.qgardensfarmshop.co.uk
Farm shop and butchery. Q’s own
beef and lamb, locally produced pork,
poultry and game. Seasonal fruit and
vegetables. PYO. Tea room.
RUSHALL FARM
Scratchface Lane, Bradfield RG7 6DL
T: 0118 974 4547
E: john@rushallfarm.org.uk
www.rushallfarm.org.uk
350-hectare farm, producing organic
lamb and beef. Educational visits
through the John Simonds Trust and
Open Days, including lambing,
bluebell walks and family events.
SWAN INN + ORGANIC
SHOP & RESTAURANT
Contact: Mrs Mary Harris
Lower Green, Inkpen RG17 9DX
T: 01488 668326
E: enquiries@theswaninnorganics.co.uk
www.theswaninn-organics.co.uk
Meals cooked using mainly organic
ingredients. All meat organic (hung
and butchered on premises). Pub
meals all week. Restaurant Wed-Sat,
Sunday lunch. Shop Wed-Fri 11am-
2.30pm, weekend 11am-3pm.
THE HARROW AT LITTLE
BEDWYN
Little Bedwyn, Marlborough SN8 3JP
T: 01672 870871
E: reservations@harrowinn.co.uk
www.theharrowatlittlebedwyn.
co.uk
Michelin-starred restaurant. Roger
and Sue Jones bought the derelict
Harrow Inn in 1998 and have spent
the last 10 years transforming it into
one of the most acclaimed
restaurants outside London.
THE KITCHEN GARDEN
Littlestoke Manor,
Wallingford OX10 6AX
T: 07983 457150
E: info@thekitchengarden.org
www.thekitchengarden.org
Small organic market garden certified
by the Soil Association. Vegetables,
herbs and fruit. Courses in growing
vegetables and practical days.
THE OLD FARM SHOP
Contact: Mrs Caroline Tyler
Milton Hill, Harwell,
Abingdon OX14 4DP
T: 01235 831247
E: theoldfarmshop@aol.com
Award-winning sausages and free
range eggs produced on the farm.
Pesticide-free fruit and veg. Veggie
box scheme, delivered free of charge.
THE POT KILN
Frilsham, nr Yattendon,
Thatcham RG18 0XX
T: 01635 201366
E: info@potkiln.org
www.potkiln.org
Rural pub taken over in 2005 by
Mike and Katie Robinson. Underwent
some refurbishment and now seats
around 45 in informal and cosy
surroundings.
THE SMALLHOLDING
AT TUFTON
Contact: Jane Huxford
2 Church Cottages, Tufton,
Whitchurch RG28 7RF
T: 01256 893518
E: jane@tuftonsmallholding.co.uk
www.tuftonsmallholding.co.uk
Wide selection of plants from our
nursery; homemade preserves; free
range eggs; blankets, throws, handknitted
items, knitting yarn, fleeces
and sheepskins, all from our sheep.
V & P COLLINS FARM SHOP
Contact: Tracey and Phil Collins
81-83 Devizes Road, Bromham,
Chippenham SN15 2DZ
E: vpcollins@btconnect.com
Own vegetables sold at Farmers’
Markets and our farm shop – all local
produce including smoked meat and
fish, bacon, sausages, eggs and
cream.
WOODBOROUGH NURSERY
& GARDEN CENTRE
Contact: Alison Parker
Nursery Farm, Woodborough,
nr Pewsey SN9 5PF
T: 01672 851249
E: clanparker@aol.com
www.woodboroughgarden
centre.co.uk
PYO fruit, vegetables and daffodils at
nursery Apr-Oct. Garden centre with
farm and gift shop. Open Mon-Sat-
9am-5pm; Sun- 11am-5pm.
VeGetaBLes
BROMHAM GROWERS
Contact: Ross Paget
Barley Close Farm, Bromham,
Chippenham SN15 2JA
T: 01380 859891
E: ross.paget@
bromhamgrowers.co.uk
www.bromhamgrowers.co.uk
Wholesale operation producing
freshly prepared and whole
vegetables grown mainly on farms in
Bromham.
MAPLELEAF WATERCRESS
Contact: Alison Brown
Parrotts, Greywell Road,
Mapledurwell, Basingstoke RG25 2LS
T: 01256 464221
E: mapleleafwcress@aol.com
Suppliers of traditional bunched
watercress available from the gate at
Parrotts and from Farmers' Markets.
OGG VALLEY ORGANICS
Contact: Tracy Gough
1 Westfield Farm, Ogbourne-St-
George, Marlborough SN8 1SX
T: 05601 159971
E: clive@oggvalleyorgancs.co.uk
www.oggvalleyorganics.co.uk
Family-run organic, chemical-free
vegetable and dairy farm. 9am-5pm,
Mon-Friday, Sat 10am-noon. Home
delivery/box scheme. Farmers’
Markets.
TOLHURST ORGANIC
PRODUCE
West Lodge, Hardwick, Whitchurchon-Thames,
Pangbourne RG8 7RA
T: 0118 984 3428
E: info@tolhurstorganic.co.uk
www.tolhurstorganic.co.uk.
Growers and distributors of organic
vegetables. Neighbourhood scheme.
WooD & thatCh
BARDSLEY & BROWN
THATCHERS
1 Marlston Cottages, Marlston,
Thatcham RG18 9UN
T: 01635 201546
E: barney@bardsleyandbrown.co.uk
www.traditionalthatch.co.uk
Partnership of two Master Thatchers,
established in 1989, with a host of
satisfied customers with a wide
range of roof styles and properties.
GARY SUGG (THATCHER)
T: 01380 859522
E: gary@garysuggmasterthatcher.co.uk
www.garysuggmasterthatcher.co.uk
A Master Thatcher, Gary Sugg works
with all types of thatch, water reed,
combed wheat reed, and traditional
Wiltshire-style long straw.
GEORGE MEDLIN
WOODWORKS
Contact: GeorgeMedlin
The Medlin Workshop,
Little Hidden Farm, Wantage Rd,
Hungerford RG17 0PN
T: 07881 570301/01672 811886
E: info@georgemedlin.co.uk
www.georgemedlin.co.uk
Bespoke furniture using local AONB,
British and European woods.
Commissioned work. Visit by
appointment only.
HAMPSHIRE THATCHERS
T: 01264 365781
E: bill@hampshirethatchersltd.co.uk
www.hampshirethatchersltd.co.uk
Bill Goddard’s skills were honed from
a family of thatchers reaching back
generations. Broad range of services:
Hampshire long straw, combed
wheat reed and water reed.
JASON MORLEY THATCHER
55 Newbury Road, Kingsclere,
Newbury RG20 5SP
T: 01635 298174
E: jmorley@master-thatchers.co.uk
www.master-thatchers.co.uk
Thatching for 20 years, the team has
won several awards and worked
overseas. Free quotations, advice and
a vast knowledge of all reeds. Fire
retardant specialists.
K DAVIS & CO THATCHERS
17 The Green, Steventon,
Abingdon OX13 6RR
T: 07966 229418
E: thatching@kitdavis.co.uk
www.kitdavis.co.uk
A complete thatch, repair and fire
retardant service. Worked as far afield
as Taiwan and USA, and recently on
the Globe Theatre, London.
LOGGYWOOD
Contact: Steve Beale Andover
T: 01264 365417
E: loggywood@aol.com
Suppliers of seasoned beech hardwood
logs, kiln-dried kindling produced on
site. Wood briquettes. Tipped bulk
loads five miles around Andover. Retail
and wholesale.
MARNIE MOYLE & GREEN
OAK FURNITURE
Contact: Marnie Moyle
1 Catmore Road,
West Ilsley RG20 7AT
T: 01635 281786
E: marnie@ greenoakfurniture.co.uk
www.greenoakfurniture.co.uk
Simple, sturdy outdoor designs using
locally harvested, unseasoned green
oak. Carved with words or designs. All
furniture is made to commission.
RJ BOULTON MASTER
THATCHERS LTD
Contact: Bob Boulton
The Maples, Wantage Road,
Eddington, Hungerford RG17 0PJ
T: 01488 683000
E: boultonbob@aol.com
www.rjboulton-thatcher.co.uk
Members of: The Berks, Bucks and
Oxon Master Thatchers Association,
The Wiltshire Master Thatchers
Association, The National Council of
Master Thatchers, The National
Society of Master Thatchers.
S JONES THATCHER
2 Drove Farm Cottages, Manningford
Abbots, Pewsey SN9 6HT
T: 07876 213095
Member of the Master Thatchers
Association of Oxfordshire, Berkshire
and Buckinghamshire.
STICKS & STONES
Contact: Garp or Liis Flack
North Lodge, Shaw Farm, Lockeridge,
nr Marlborough SN8 4LU
T: 01672 852268
E: shop@uksticksandstones.com
www.uksticksandstones.com
Bespoke handmade kitchenware such
as individually-designed chopping
blocks, cheeseboards and salad bowls
made from blocks of locally sourced
timber and rock.
WESSEX BIOFUELS LTD
Foxley Wood, Hungerford Park,
Hungerford RG17 0UT
T: 01488 685007
E: info@wessexbiofuels.com
www.wessexbiofuels.com
Woodchip fuel is a low-cost,
low-carbon source of heating energy
produced from managed and
sustainable woodlands within the
North Wessex Downs AONB.
WEST MILL FORESTRY
Watchfield, Nr Faringdon,
Oxon SN6 8TH
T: 07855 465515
E: wendy-guy@tiscali.co.uk
www.westmillforestry.co.uk
Small, friendly company offering a
wide range of woodland services:
woodland management, estate
management, woodland development,
forestry, planting and maintanance.
YATTENDON ESTATE LTD
The Estate Office,
Yattendon RG18 OUY
T: 01635 203900
E: info@yattendon.co.uk
www.yattendon.co.uk
The largest selection of fresh
Christmas trees in the area, seasonal
decorations, associated fare. Open Dec
9am-6pm, otherwise by appointment.
DEWS MEADOW FARM
DELIVERY SERVICE
LAUNCHED
Dews Meadow Farm at East
Hanney, Nr. Wantage has just
launched a delivery service of its
product range to homes in the
North Wessex Downs area (and
within a 30-mile radius of the
shop) – all for free!
Since 1986, Andy and Jane
Bowler have built a wide-ranging
business in the grounds of their
home in East Hanney, selling
additive-free pork and locally
sourced beef, lamb and free range
chicken. In addition, you’ll find
fresh vegetables, dairy products,
bread and local jams and
preserves. Now you can look out
for the smart new Dews Meadow
Delivery Van which arrived in
February “We’re delighted to have
received support from South
Oxfordshire LEADER to help us
expand this new service which
customers have requested” says
Jane, a familiar face to many of
you who visit Hungerford,
Newbury or Wantage Farmers’
Markets, “it means that if you
can’t get to a local farmers’
market or farm shop – we can
bring it to you!”
For more information look on
www.dewsmeadowfarm.co.uk
or call into the farm shop and
meet the team at Oxford Road,
East Hanney, T: 01235 868634
If you would like a FREE listing in our next Local Products Directory call 01488 685440 or email info@northwessexdowns.org.uk
20 UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS Visit www.northwessexdowns.org.uk/products
Visit www.northwessexdowns.org.uk/products
UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS 21

Celebrity chef Mike Robinson is a TV star and
published author, but cooking fresh, local food in
his pub near Frilsham is where his true heart lies.
Wild about
For the last decade, Mike Robinson has been splashed across our screens
dishing up delectable delights on numerous cookery programmes, from
BBC’s Saturday Kitchen to UKTV Food’s Great Food Live.
But in 2005, he decided to give television a backseat and put all his energy
into The Pot Kiln, a pub near Frilsham in west Berkshire which he had just
bought. For Mike this country pub, part of a former brick works, was so much
more than just a business venture.
“I grew up in Bucklebury, just over the hill, and I was at school in Brockhurst
and Bradfield, so this is my manor!” laughs Mike. “And I’ve been frequenting
The Pot Kiln since I was in a pram! So the pub is definitely my baby.”
His close relationship with the local countryside is ever-present in his
menus, with an obvious emphasis on wild venison. In fact, when Mike is not
in front of a camera, writing one of his many books, serving up fine cuisine in
The Pot Kiln, or teaching students at his Game and Wild Food Cookery School
in Yattendon, then he’s most likely to be found deer stalking.
“I control the deer on a few pieces of lovely land in the area, and manage
them so that the herds are well looked after with the right numbers of hinds
and stags,” he explains. “This means we have a constant supply of venison at
The Pot Kiln and it works very well. This area is amazing for me as a chef.
We’ve got all the wildlife you could want: pheasants, rabbits, pigeons,
partridges, venison and wild mushrooms. Then there’s locally produced
pork and beef too.”
The Pot Kiln’s ‘shot to pot’ menu reads like a who’s who of the wild food
food
A-list with signature dishes including chunky wild venison with mashed potato
and a peppercorn sauce, served with wild mushrooms or local truffles, and
warm wood pigeon salad with bacon and black pudding. As Mike is keen to
point out, “The dishes are all correct for the region and they’re all seasonal.”
CELEBRITY PERKS
Mike admits that being involved in television certainly has its perks, not least
that it’s good for business, something worth a great deal when your business
is a pub in the middle of a large field with very little passing trade. And he’s
happy with the public’s perception of him.
“People know me for the wild food, and I’ve got a real sense of
responsibility and interest in the countryside, so I feel pretty happy about
that,” he says. “I’m not hugely well known, which suits me down to the
ground, so I still have some privacy. All in all I’m just happy with my life in the
countryside: cooking this food, eating it, making people happy and seeing the
countryside prosper.”
Mike’s TV career stepped up a gear this spring when he took the reins of
ITV’s Countrywise programme as a presenter in March. But no matter how big
a star he becomes, Mike’s adamant about one thing…
“I’ll never leave this area. It’s perfect. It’s got everything: lovely countryside,
wildlife, access to London and the North. It couldn’t be better.”
For further information, visit www.potkiln.org, or see the producers
directory, page 19.
PEWSEY
HERITAGE
CENTRE
Pewsey Heritage
Centre is open from
the beginning of
April until the end
of October.
Opening times are:
Monday – Friday:
10.00am to 4.00pm
Saturday:
10.00am to midday
Sunday:
Closed all day
(other times by special
arrangement)
ADMISSION FREE!!
www.pewsey-heritage-centre.org.uk
The Museum of the Iron Age
Saturday 10 April 2010
10am – 4pm
Marlborough College
Marlborough SN8 1PA
Over 60 trade stands with great
products for your home, your garden,
for you …something for everyone
For details:
www.marlboroughcancerresearch.org
T: 07887 924539
Open: Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm (last entry
4.30pm); Free admission and parking;
Small gift and coffee shop.
Family friendly museum telling the
story of Danebury Hillfort and life in
Hampshire over 2000 years ago.
Real objects and reconstructions bring
the Iron Age to life.
6 Church Close, Andover SP10 1DP; 0845 603 5635
www.hants.gov/museum-of-the-ironage
Harwell • Abingdon • Oxon • OX14 4DP
01235 831247 • theoldfarmshop@aol.com
How many reasons do you need to
come and visit our farm shop
1. We will be lambing at Easter, you can visit the lambs and feed the sheep;
2. You can buy our award-winning free range eggs and award-winning
sausages from our shop;
3. We grow our own fruit and veg, without any sprays or chemicals, and rear
our own animals that are free range and fed good wholesome food;
4. We do a veggie box scheme, and offer free delivery within a 15 mile radius
of the shop;
5. We do lots of home-made goodies, including: cakes, pies, quiches, jams,
pickles and bread, and have a wide range of cheeses.
So now we have got your taste buds
going, come and pay us a visit!
Lambourn Trainers’
Association
Stable tours of Racehorse Stables.
Includes gallops, racing stables,
equine swimming pool, Hall of Fame
and a tour of new staff housing.
Open: Weekdays 7.30am-12:30pm
by arrangement.
No Sundays or Bank Holidays.
BROADMEAD
ESTATE SERVICES LTD
LAMBOURN TRAINERS’ OPEN DAY
2 APRIL 2010
Windsor House, Lambourn, Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 8NR
T: 01488 71347 E: racehorses.peterwalwyn@uwclub.net
W: www.lambourntraining.org
Environmental Property Management & Maintenance
for Berks, Hants, Wilts & Oxon
• Woodland Management & Contracting
• Hedgerow/Tree Planting & Maintenance
• F.C. Woodland & DEFRA Grant Schemes
• Landscape Design & Construction
• Grounds & Paddock Maintenance
• All types of Gates and Fencing
Orwell House, 50 High St, Hungerford RG17 0NE
Tel: 01488 686004 Fax: 01488 681908
Email: info@broadmead-estates.co.uk
22 UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS
UP! ON THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS 23

WILTSHIRE OXFORDSHIRE HAMPSHIRE WEST BERKSHIRE
Find out more
VISITOR ATTRACTIONS
• Ashdown House and other National Trust
properties www.nationaltrust.org.uk
• Avebury and other English Heritage sites
www.english-heritage.org.uk
• Crofton Beam Engines
www.croftonbeamengines.org
• Highclere Castle
www.highclerecastle.co.uk
• Kennet & Avon Canal www.katrust.org
• Lambourn Open Day www.lambourn.info
• Living Rainforest www.livingrainforest.org
• Pewsey Heritage Centre
www.pewsey-heritage-centre.org.uk
• Project Timescape
www.northmoortrust.co.uk
• Museum of the Iron Age
www.hants.gov/museum-of-the-ironage
• Savernake Forest
www.savernakeestate.co.uk
• Vale and Downland Museum, Wantage
www.wantage.com/museum
• West Berkshire Museum, Newbury
www.westberks.gov.uk
• Wiltshire Heritage Museum, Devizes
www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk
TRANSPORT LINKS
• Bus and train information
www.traveline.org.uk 0871 200 2233
• Cycle routes www.sustrans.org.uk
• First Great Western railway services
www.fgw.co.uk
• Kennet & Avon Canal for boat users,
cyclists and walkers www.visitkanda.com
WALKING LINKS
• Countryside 2010 – a breath of fresh air
www.countryside2010.org.uk
• Friends of the Ridgeway
www.ridgewayfriends.org.uk
• Hamstead Marshall Walks
www.hamsteadmarshall.net
• Hampshire Walks
www.hants.gov.uk/walking
• National Trails: Ridgeway and Thames Path
www.nationaltrail.co.uk
• Oxfordshire Walks
www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/walksandrides
• Walking for Health
www.wfh.naturalengland.org.uk
• Walks with Buggies
www.walkswithbuggies.com
• Walks with Wheelchairs
www.walkswithwheelchairs.com
• West Berkshire Ramblers
www.wberksramblers.org.uk
• West Berkshire Walks
www.visitwestberkshire.org.uk
• Wiltshire Ramblers
www.ramblers-wilts.org.uk
• Wiltshire Walks www.visitwiltshire.co.uk
WILDLIFE TRUSTS
• Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and
Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)
www.bbowt.org.uk
• Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
www.hwt.org.uk
• Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
www.wiltshirewildlife.org
www.northwessexdowns.org.uk