Our monthly blog keeping you updated on all the goings on at Horsenden Farm. Written by Emma Robertson, friend of the farm and partner of the Brewer.
As the strawberry moon brings June to a close, some of the farm’s regular work teams head off on their holidays. The school groups learning about farm work break up for the summer holidays and the cows take off on their own summer adventure to Perivale Wood, leaving the farm to settle and quieten as another wave of heat ripens tomatoes, courgettes, sunflowers and cucumbers.
June has been a month of sunshine, celebration and an explosion of colour across the farm. The Summer Solstice Festival was undoubtedly the highlight of the month, bringing hundreds of people together to celebrate the longest day of the year and the turning of the seasons. This was the first opportunity for our music team to really showcase what they can do with the new PA system funded by the “Your Voice Your Town” community fund, which will also support the purchase of some more seating for future events. The programme of live music ended with a crowd-pleasing set by the farm band, fronted by Stix Warner and Steve West, who have been drawing an increasing crowd of musicians to their monthly Open Mic sessions in the courtyard.
Another highlight of the day were the beautiful dried flower crowns, lovingly made by our volunteer flower team using flowers grown and dried here at Horsenden. I am sad that I missed out on purchasing one as they looked absolutely magical in the procession to watch the sunset from the summit – a wonderful reminder of how flowers can connect us to the changing seasons and to each other.
June also brought an intense heatwave, with some exceptionally high temperatures making life challenging for both plants and people. Thankfully, our fantastic volunteers rallied together to keep the farm thriving, organising watering rotas to ensure the vegetables, flowers and young trees and fruit bushes made it through the hottest days. The extreme weather continues to remind us just how important resilient growing systems, healthy soils and water management are for our future.
Earlier on in the month, Russ welcomed Ali Asadi back to the farm to run a second beginner’s pole lathe bowl turning course. Ali is a highly respected turner and a true master of the craft, producing some of the most beautiful bowls and treen you will ever see. His locking-lidded containers are particularly sought after, so we were delighted to have him back. Thanks to Ali’s fantastic tutoring – and a fair bit of hard graft from everyone involved – we had six very happy attendees turning their own bowls on traditional foot-powered lathes. We are already looking forward to hosting another course in August.
We also launched a brand-new course, organised by Russ and led by the wonderful Ellie Morgan, a Yeoman of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers, their Trade Advisor, and a member of both the Basketry Association and the Association of Pole Lathe Turners and Green Woodworkers. Ellie is a full-time basket maker and greenwood carver, and you might well have spotted her work on stage or screen in productions like Netflix’s The Witcher and Lord of the Rings.
Everyone on the day did a brilliant job, heading home with their very own hand-made willow frame baskets, all under the watchful eye of Ellie’s very cute dog, Colin. We are hoping to get more of Ellie’s courses in the calendar soon.
Pathways over the hill were cleared by teams of volunteers, most notably The Gruffalo Trail and also in Rohais. A tree came down opposite the top carpark blocking an unofficial path. In the interests of safety, the ranger decided not to reopen it. There was also a bit of woodland management accomplished in the old village, with clearance of dead wood and bramble around a willow and a new swale created to retain water in the area for the trees.
Another major achievement for the flower project was our first two weddings of the season. Beth mentioned that she feels very privileged to be part of people’s special occasions through the creation of naturally grown, seasonal flowers. It has been wonderful to see the hayloft and tool shed filling up with Horsenden blooms ready to make their way into bridal bouquets, flower crowns and table arrangements. Find out more about our flowers for occasions here.
Elsewhere on the farm, a brand new squash patch (formerly a compost pile on the corner of the carpark) has been created, which is already filling up with pumpkins and winter squash ready for an autumn harvest. Across the growing areas, the vegetable beds are now looking wonderfully abundant, and after a few early-season pop-up shops we’re delighted to say that the Horsenden Farm Shop will now be open every Saturday, 10.00-12.30, through until the autumn, packed with fresh seasonal vegetables, flowers, preserves and other produce grown and made by the farm community.
This month we really saw the fruits of an increase in the number and frequency of Corporate Volunteer teams supporting maintenance of the farm and hill. June has also been busier than ever down at the woodland workshop, and weekends now bring us a larger number of families with children hungry for pizza and conversations with the Gruffalo and his pals.
As a regular visitor to Horsenden Farm for a number of years, I am still often surprised by what I don’t know about the place. The expanding reach to a growing audience brings more new visitors to a place that is dear to many of us for a variety of reasons. As new folk find this place, bringing fresh energy and enthusiasm, it is reassuring that Horsenden continues to keep secrets and reveal surprises to those of us who have a longer and more established relationship with the space.
As things grow and develop at the Farm we’d love to hear what you value most and what you’d like to see more of. Please share your thoughts through this short survey.
Coming up in July…
- There will be a Horsenden stall at the Boston Manor Farmers Market on Saturday 4th of July and, as ever, the team would be delighted to see familiar faces while they are down in the walled garden with an abundance of Horsenden produce.
- If you haven’t visited the farm shop yet this season, we’d love to see you up at the farm on a Saturday morning, 10.00 – 12.30, to enjoy the very best of what’s growing at Horsenden.
- Milly Mills will be hosting a Tetra Pak carton Relief Print workshop on Sunday 16th August. Learn how to print using your rubbish!!! The workshop is aimed at complete beginners who just want to have a go at printing. More info and booking here.
- Friday 10th July is GAMES NIGHT from 5pm.
- Saturday 11th July is ACOUSTIC JAM day.
- Sunday 12th July is PUB QUIZ day.
- Saturday 25th July is OPEN MIC day.
- Horsenden Loaf opening hours; Fridays 11-7 when you can buy a burger to go with your beer! Saturday/Sundays 10-6 with pizza available between 12 and 6pm.
- Horsenden Farm Flowers will be available for purchase on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from the flower shed next to the Loaf’s counter.
- Perivale Brewery opening hours; Friday, Saturday and Sunday 12-8pm.
- Be Wilder Education and Blue Fox Forest school will be running holiday club sessions on the following dates at Horsenden Farm; 27th-31st July 10am-3pm. Please email Emma Woods at bewildereducation@gmail.com for further information and availability.
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