Bringing a Traditional Harvest to Life

Every September, COAM bring the smells, sounds and tastes of Harvests past back to life at our annual Traditional Harvest event.

Our site is set in 45 acres of beautiful Chilterns landscape. We have a working historic farm where traditional skills are demonstrated and historic machinery is displayed, including a lovingly-restored 1947 Ransomes Simms & Jeffries threshing machine. This remarkable working threshing machine is demonstrated at this annual event. There is something quite spectacular about hearing and feeling the sound of it rumbling to life. This impressive machine also featured in an episode of BBC Countryfile.

Down in our woodlands we have a Bodger’s Area. Bodger’s were skilled wood turners that worked in the beechwoods of the Chilterns throughout the 18th and 19th century. The Chilterns, and in particular High Wycombe, became well known for its chair making industry. During our Harvest celebrations, skilled practitioners demonstrated these traditional skills – don’t worry if you missed it, you’ll also find regular chair-making demonstrations taking place on other dates on our site take a look at our Talks and Demonstrations section for future dates.

Opposite our Bodger’s Area you’ll find our charcoal kiln. Over the Harvest weekend (and at other times throughout the season) this is filled with wood from our woodland and lit. The lit kiln produces a bright orange flame and a plume of smoke. The kiln is left to burn and once the process is completed, the resulting charcoal is bagged and sold in our shop.

Heavy horses were an important part of a traditional harvest. This year we welcomed three breeds of working heavy horse to our site, Suffolk Punch, Percheron and Boulonnais. The horses demonstrated traditional harnesses including both remembrance and ploughing. These stunning horses provided carriage rides for visitors around the site and we hope they will be regular visitors to the museum in the future.

We have a flock of rare-breed Oxford Down sheep that bring our traditional farmstead to life and during our Harvest festivities; our team of sheepdogs demonstrated their herding skills.

Harvest was also much about celebration, so we invited local Morris Dancers to perform to add some dancing and merriment to this traditional celebration.

Nestled within our 45-acre site are some apple orchards. Each apple tree within our apple orchard is a different heritage variety. Each year the apples are harvested and made into apple juice that is sold in the Museum shop. During out Harvest event, the COAM team demonstrated a traditional apple press and invited visitors to have-a-go.

During the event our blacksmith demonstrated his trade in our Victorian Garston Forge. Our Leagrave cottage was brought to life with costumed volunteers making a traditional harvest loaf and Henton Chapel was home to a beautiful display of harvest produce, most of which has been grown in the Museum’s beautiful historic gardens. Our spectacular display was grown and created by our team of garden volunteers.

This is a fabulous annual event that showcases traditional skills and rural crafts. This year the event was kindly supported by Artemis Tree Services and Chorleywood Parish Council and we would like to thank them for their support. Chiltern Open Air Museum is an independent charity and we have to generate all our own income to support the work that we do. If your business or organisation would like to help us by supporting an event then please get in touch on 01494 871 117 or on enquiries@coam.org.uk