The story of the Axe
Every landscape tells a story, and the Rivers Run Through Us project wants to hear and share it! The River Axe catchment has varied geology, rich agricultural history, and many voices to bring its story to life. We are working with experts to understand both the geomorphological (how the landscape and river is shaped by local geology) and the agricultural history of the area, and plan to present this to communities in several engaging ways such as travelling exhibitions and interactive maps.
We have been asking people to tell us their memories of the River Axe itself or farming in the catchment. These snapshots in time allow us to see how the catchment has changed, and the lasting impact of its character on people of all ages and backgrounds.
- Learning to ride tractor, age 14. Massey Ferguson chain harrowing at Knight’s Farm, All Saints; felt I was grown up.
- Born on a farm. Fondest memory: seeing animals together in a field – for example, poultry or cattle. Milked by hand before school, Calwood, Higherway Farm. Became a carpenter and put a new roof and thatch on a farmhouse farm building.
- We would make tunnels in the long grass – don’t tell the farmer! So much fun.
- I remember camping as a kid on a farm. We would walk to the dairy in the morning to get the milk. They had thick Devon cream – it was a real treat. The milk was warm, and I remember the smell of the farmhouse and how clean the dairy was. Even the thought makes me smile.
- Cabin in the woods.
- My favourite time of year was summer, as we would get to round up the sheep on the moor after they had grazed it.
- I like tractors.
- I like riding tractors on my cousin’s farm.
- Living on the River Kit, we sit and have picnics and watch the dippers look for otter spraints. We like to see the demoiselle flying. We put in a dipper box and it had four chicks.
- Grew up on a farm when I was tiny. The horses seemed huge.
- My favourite memory was to bottle–feed the lambs and watch them become independent.
- Worked on a poultry farm for my first job. I was at Hope Farming Community – loved being with the animals and people.
- Father led 60 Jersey cows. We made milk and butter and rode the cows.
- Hay baling with father, aged 5 or 6 – small bale hay. Massey Ferguson, which I could drive before I could ride a bike.
- Helped Angus build a pond at Dennings Down Farm 40 years ago.
- We have just moved down the road and now have our first piece of land – it is one acre, and we are watching. So far, we have harvested apples and made gin.
- Earliest memory ever: helping uncle bring the hay bales. An Austin K7 high van – sat on top of the bales, feeling very important.
- Brought up on the edge of Taunton. I was taught all the names of wildflowers. I’m a great explorer, always looking for a new adventure. First time visiting a farm – Open Farm Sunday is a great idea.
- Worked on a farm in my teens – had to pull all the duckweed out of our kale field 60 years ago. It took four teens four days.
- Jumping off hay bales – the farmer made us a swing for rainy days. Scratchy but fun. Also, being bitten by a horsefly.
- Studying variety in a field of wild cattle – mixed colours, hoof colours. It really struck me – a pleasure to stop and watch for half an hour. The cattle have different characters and personalities too.
- 1974 – helping Angus with her dairy herd at Dennings Down, taking milk up to the top of the hill. We got the tractor stuck once. Remember calving our first calf in the field on the hill.
- Stockland and to Kilmington – when weather had been bad, intense rain – huge stones. Years ago, it wasn’t like this. Seen huge change in ditches.
- Working in the woods at Dennings Down Farm – working to keep deer away from hazel stools. It is a challenge, and we are winning. It has increased the wildflower population.
- Memories from 1938 – Digging for Victory at school, planting veg.
- I remember scything the black barley and creating bundles with a whip. I have seen a huge decline in wildlife – the dawn chorus then was incredible. We would farm three crops for balance.
- Haymaking with father – small bales. Tea every day – everybody would stop and have tea. We made 14,000 bales a year.
- I came here after I married a farmer in 1967 with three cows – Dot, Smokey and Ivy (Red Devon shorthorns). I would go to the WI every Thursday with my butter, cream and cheese. I made a Blue Vinney that Fortnum & Mason wanted to buy. My husband bought the farm in 1949 – he saved up by picking stones as a schoolchild on Marlborough Down. He earned one shilling a tonne.