GALLERY: Atmospheric Autumn Countryside Show

SIGHTS and sounds of the countryside at harvest time were experienced at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum’s Autumn Countryside Show.
The traditional ploughing demonstration. PICTURES: KATE SHEMILT ks1500508-15The traditional ploughing demonstration. PICTURES: KATE SHEMILT ks1500508-15
The traditional ploughing demonstration. PICTURES: KATE SHEMILT ks1500508-15

Visitors on Saturday and Sunday experienced all the aspects of a traditional harvest, including heavy horses and vintage tractors ploughing, steam-powered threshing and rural craft demonstrations.

The weekend’s celebrations also included fun dog show, dog displays by Reedland Retrievers and Canine Partners, falconry demonstrations by Ray Prior and ferret racing by STA Ferret Rescue.

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Julie Aalen, fundraising co-ordinator, said: “The museum’s 40-acre site in the South Downs National Park makes the perfect location for this annual event, which celebrates many traditional countryside activities.”

The traditional ploughing demonstration. PICTURES: KATE SHEMILT ks1500508-15The traditional ploughing demonstration. PICTURES: KATE SHEMILT ks1500508-15
The traditional ploughing demonstration. PICTURES: KATE SHEMILT ks1500508-15

The museum’s own shires were among the teams of draught horses at work. They worked alongside vintage tractors to prepare the ground for sowing after the harvest.

The threshing of the wheat crop – separating the grain from the straw – was one of the main attractions of the weekend, using a traditional threshing train, which comprises a steam traction engine, threshing drum, elevator and living van used by the engine driver and his mate.

The sixth annual horticultural show also took place as part of the event, with classes ranging from vegetables to woodwork, marmalade to miniature gardens.

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The museum’s next Autumn Countryside Show will take place on October 8 and 9, 2016. Visit www.wealddown.co.uk to find out more about events.

Woodturner Mike Gordon with visitor Jefferson Collard ks1500508-4Woodturner Mike Gordon with visitor Jefferson Collard ks1500508-4
Woodturner Mike Gordon with visitor Jefferson Collard ks1500508-4

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