Annual farm celebration features wheels, wagons, horses and more

Acton Scott Historic Working Farm is holding a weekend celebrating its collection of vehicles and farm machinery, the skills required to maintain them and the majestic shire horses that power them.

On Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 June, the nationally-renowned farm museum, operated by Shropshire Council, will shine a light on the work of the Wheelwright, the person whose job it is to keep these vehicles on the go.

Each day there will be a wheel-tyring at midday, a particularly spectacular process involving lots of fire and steam, while the weekend will also feature an extensive exhibition of the work of The Guild of Model Wheelwrights who produce, in miniature, meticulous copies of a host of farm and horse-drawn vehicles and machinery.

Both days will obviously also feature Tory, Charlie and Joe, the farm’s three Shire horses. These “gentle giants” will be on show and working throughout, alongside the farm’s resident donkey Dusty and other guest horses, brought in for the weekend.

For younger visitors, there will be themed trails and quizzes to try and, of course, all the farm’s other animals to see.

Michael Turner, manager of Acton Scott Historic Working Farm, said:

“In the past, every farm would have needed the skills of a Wheelwright to keep its vehicles in good shape, most particularly the wheels, of course.

“A Wheelwright has a skills-set that is as unique to his/her trade as those of a cabinet maker or shipwright and these will be on show over the last weekend in June.”

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council Cabinet member responsible for tourism, said:

“An event such as this shows just why Acton Scott Historic Working Farm has a national reputation as a centre of excellence for traditional skills. That it also offers such a great day out for visitors, whatever their age, makes this particular weekend unmissable.”

Acton Scott Historic Working Farm is open at weekends from 10.30am – 5.00pm with day tickets priced £9.50 for adults, £9.00 for seniors and £6.00 for children aged 4 to 17. Under-4s are admitted free of charge.

For the 2013 season, and proving hugely popular, day tickets can be converted to season passes for free on day of purchase. So, having paid once, visitors can keep coming back for free through to the end of the season, in early November.

There is a shop and excellent café and plenty of free parking. For more info go to www.actonscottmuseum.com, call 01694 781307 and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.