Set in the heart of its own ancient 17th century deer-park whose herd was first recorded in 1628, Parham is the perfect location for this specially themed event looking at the countryside in autumn. The household at Parham would once have been self-sufficient from produce grown and reared on the estate.
With the park designated as a “Site of Special Scientific Interest” and the ‘award-winning’ four-acre Walled Garden, the event features displays, information and demonstrations on home-grown fruits and vegetables, local produce, natural wild foods, historic cooking and foraging in the countryside. As this is also the height of the deer “rutting” season, there will be guided walks in the park to try and spot some of the magnificent stags.
Visitors will be able to taste and buy seasonal and locally produced game, meats, fruits, vegetables, cheeses, honey, nuts and drinks. Forager, Nick Westacott, will be demonstrating how to make mushroom soups and other fungi recipes. Brinsbury College will be providing apple leaflets and apple tasting. There will be separate talks on hedgerows and fruits from hedgerows and using berries as herbal medicines.
Nick Weston, Hunter, Gatherer, Cook and also a professional chef will be on hand to relate his experiences of living for a year in a tree-house in a Sussex woodland. If you fancy having a go and building one yourself, he will be holding a tree house workshop aimed at teaching children (and even adults) the mechanics by building a mini replica of his own tree house! He will also be promoting and signing copies of his book, The Tree House Diaries, as well as doing a home brew demonstration of nettle beer.
Slindon Farmers Market will be exhibiting their range of local produce with a mix of stalls – from Lucie Payton with her Eartham Lamb, to those selling bread, meat and vegetables together with specialities like chutneys, quiches etc. Treats such as homemade cakes and gingerbread will be available as well as plants, flowers, cards, giclée prints and original paintings.
There will be a variety of demonstrations from an archaeological dig by Worthing Archaeological Society to traditional woodland crafts made from coppiced material such as hazel, birch and willow, besom broom making, ‘pimp’ making, natural dyeing and spinning to blacksmithing using a portable forge.
A 1911 McLaren Road Loco will be powering a saw bench giving working demonstrations. The engine has been shipped across from New Zealand and is staying in the UK for two years. There will also be other engines in steam moving around the estate to provide added nostalgia.
In the pleasure grounds, The South Downs Gundog Display Team will be giving demonstrations with working gundogs. There will also be a bale scurry so bring your own dog and ‘have a go’.
(NOT NOW ATTENDING, PLEASE REMOVE...Huxley’s Birds of Prey will be flying their birds with traditional ‘Tudor’ costumed hawkers.)
The RSPB will be supplying information on local wildlife, bird spotting and identification in the park, winter bird feeding and how to become a member and even volunteer.
At a time when more and more people are looking to cut costs and grow their own vegetables, the Storrington Allotment Society will be exhibiting their own home-grown produce. Kevin Wadey from ‘Wildside Survival’ (www.wildsidesurvival.co.uk) will be showing how to survive in the countryside using natural materials and foraged foods and drinks.
Music and dance will be provided by “Mythago Morris” (mythago@hotmail.co.uk).
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