Suffolk Punch heavy horses plough half an acre

Two free family event days were put on by The Culture of the Countryside during the Easter holidays 2010. On day one, local people, artists, a film maker, farmers and horse enthusiasts watched two pair of heavy horses plough half an acre of land generously loaned to the project by Torben and Pammie Marriott. The sun shone and we all enjoyed the sight of the gentle, giant horses and their operators traditionally preparing the land, a rare sight today, but with links to the past, present and future of farming and how we grow our food. 

“Brilliant day… a super timeless scene… the horses were beautiful.”  (ploughing day visitor)

Many thanks to Cherry Grover(BDS Heavy Horses), for her experience and skills leading this day and also to her team including Tim and Matt and Vicky and their horses from Banham Zoo.

Day two centred around planting six quick growing varieties of potatoes, a tonne of which were very generously donated by WCF-Phoenix. A 1958 Massey Ferguson and Cherry Grover’s team planted the half acre with the help of many visitors. Two people were seated on the back of the tractor with the sound of a bell to indicate when to drop the potato down a shute. 

“Had a lovely time, but wouldn’t want to do the whole field.” (Young potato planting visitor)

The potatoes were planted in a few gentle hours of chatting as the tractor trundled up and down, before we all enjoyed tea and delicious scones supplied by ‘Rich Pickings’ of Harleston. 

The harvest was in the first weeks of July and involved local school children.

These events culminated in a Potato festival on at Wingfield Barns. This festival was part of a programme of exhibitions and events during June and July 2010.

Feedback

Wingfield potato feedback - .pdf document 74kb

Interview with an attendee of the ploughing event - .wav audio file 2mb