Harvest time

Harvest time came round quickly this year - and that's a fact!  Thanks to the very hot weather the crop ripened early and on August 17th - four days before Saint Philbert's day - picking began on the small bloc: in a slow way as there were a lot of other events on the calendar to fit in around.

Kentish Cobnuts ready for picking

All ages including grandchildren and grandparents and ages in between joined in from time to time.

A good haul of nuts

All ages lend a hand

First row of nuts - green and fresh

A little picker reaches the lowest branches

One of the events to be fitted in was the visit to Hurstwood Farm by a group from the KCA, the Kentish Cobnuts Association, by kind permission of Mr Richard Dain.  Having recently taken on the role of Chair of the Association I had the idea for the visit when hearing about the extraordinary development of mechanical harvesting which was taking place on the farm.

Cobnut harvester

The photos show the difference between harvesting at Hurstwood Farm and the traditional methods employed on my plat at Ightham Mote.

The harvester action


A footnote to this visit: for the few who could stay on afterwards Mr Dain treated us to an impromptu piano recital, demonstrating some of the range of instruments in his piano showroom - a special treat.

Tea and cakes in memory of John

Shortly after the start of harvesting a sociable event took place on the plat in the form of a tea-party in memory of a dear friend, helper and supporter.  John Morrison passed away a year ago and is much missed. So Penny and his family organised the tea-party, repeating one which John himself had organised the previous year.  But this year the summer heat was interrupted at that precise moment by a downpour and tea and cakes were rapidly moved into our trusty shed and a joyful event celebrating John and his family was enjoyed by all present.



Nut-picking proceded slowly the following week as, in order to get the rows on the main bloc fit for picking a fair amount of back-breaking bramble-bashing had to take place before the team of pickers from Hurstwood Farm arrived on September 10th.

Some of the team who cleared the main bloc

Boxes at the ready

An autumn fair at the National Trust's Smallythe Place was another date on the calendar.

Smallhythe Place

Ellen Terry's house near Tenterden was the beautiful venue; the sun shone and the event, if not a money-spinner was certainly enjoyable as a sociable day out.

The cobnuts stand

Easy, when you think of it!

 

Cobnuts sell faster if attractively presented so the elementary shift from paper bags to recyclable punnets proved successful as well as making them easier to handle.

Great help from Visitor Reception staff

 Ightham Mote provided an attractive stand in an ideal location next to the Visitor Reception and the staff there were enormously helpful in keeping an eye on supplies and taking them under cover in the evenings. Sales from my almost daily deliveries went well although they still had to be priced 'by recommended donation' rather than a fixed price.

Last row - golden nuts

Picking on the small bloc continued through September and
when one last row remained the nuts had fallen to the ground
and it was a case of picking them up on hands and knees.



 The last tray of nuts was brought home on September 21st, five weeks from the start.  It had taken longer this year due to everything else that had to be done and some reduction in volunteer help.  It would be nice to involve our usual student volunteers in picking but harvest time falls either during the summer holiday or at the very start of the autumn term before they can get organised for off-site events.

Its always interesting to find wildlife on the plat; sometimes a deer is spotted and buzzards soaring over head are a regular sight when conditions are right.  No photos of these so far but on a smaller scale, fascinating insect life and this year plenty of ladybirds.

A Globe Spider rolls the ball that protects its young

We all love ladybirds - of the right kind of course.

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A local collaboration with Sevenoaks Library led to a display on the history of cobnuts in our area.  If you get the chance take a look in the downstairs area of the Library to see some nice old photographs and implements and contrasting show of modern mechanical methods as well as a variety of products using cobnuts.  The display will be in place until Christmas; well worth the detour to take a look.

Minding the stall

September ended with the Apple and Orchard Day Fair at Ightham Mote - a regular date on the calendar.











After a brief respite, October was another busy month, baking muesli for local shops and the Farmers' Market.  The Northern Ireland Red Squirrel groups were quick to put in orders for bulk supplies of cobnuts.  Six different groups were supplied before stocks ran out ,while I kept back enough - I hope - for my own 'Gilly Jones's Cobnut Products' in the year ahead.

Now in November, while things have gone quieter, planning for pruning, wanding and general maintenance of the plat for the year ahead is taking place. In a nice surprise gesture the National Trust Ranger contacted me about a hedge-laying programme using the hedge bordering Mote Road.

Autumn colours and hedge-laying in progress

The hedge was definitely in need of attention and after a week's work with tutor Ian, an expert in the skill, and Eleanor, Richard's trainee ranger, the hedge has been transformed and is a beautiful sight to behold.

Their work has transformed a straggly and nearly useless growth into a proper hedge again and a lovely thing. We will look after it and maintain its shape.  Thank you!

The hedge-laying team survey the completed work