Let's see how much history we can dig up? :----------------------

[Birdman]

Those East Widbrook Willows are probably overdue for another pollarding at this time, James. Where John Field used to live, another natural history buff has now lived for several years and keeps me up to date on the owl activity there. They are still present and occasionally breed. We also had 2 Barn Owl nests in the vicinity this year. I survey this stretch of the stream for the rare Variable Damselfly which only has a handful of colonies left in the county.

[simonstendell]

Birdman - can you send my email address to the current residents at Whitebrook please?
The last time I was inside the bungalow was 1996 just before the move to Westwood Green. I would love to visit again ...
I was born there in '58. So obvs my parents were John & Betty Field.
Ta.
alisonmary1008@hotmail.com

[James Hatch]

Birdmans thoughts on the Damselfly got me to thinking about the little Cadisfly and its life in the pupae stage of life:

https://youtu.be/HfRZAjMk9Uc

So turn up your sound.

[James Hatch]

We now turn to White Place Farm and the 1930's and its modernization. First we start with the summer of 1937. Haymaking and how it was done:

https://youtu.be/Oz2G2E19jYY

Turn up your sound. The picture is from an old American photo.

[James Hatch]

Can you imagine that the Hon Bill Astor received 12 American cars from friends in the States for his 21st birthday. His father said that he wanted one to use for sweeping in the hay at White Place Farm. So here is the story as I remember it.

https://youtu.be/UMdb8IoEmwA

So turn up your sound.

[James Hatch]

The Hay Knife for cutting hay from the Hayrick was on the way out when I was a boy. I did get to use it to cut Silage from a pit clamp:

https://youtu.be/Ag2fLDUNHWg

So turn up your sound.

[James Hatch]

Yes in the 1930's farming methods were changing and with it came the stationary baler, better known as "The Nodding Donkey!" It meant that it could be set up beside a hayrick and the whole thing baled in a day:

https://youtu.be/gFHPyU56a-U

So turn up your sound.

[James Hatch]

Now I have question for the older members of Cookham Dean. Is there anyone who remembers a traction engine driver with the name of Jim Bedwell who worked for Jack Gardener at Mount Farm. Also I do remember going to the top school with his grand daughter June Bedwell. This all came about while I was recalling thoughts on farm machinery.

[James Hatch]

Agriculture has covered a lot of changes in the past 80 odd years, new machines have come and gone.
In this clip I brought the McCormick Deering harvest binder.

https://youtu.be/Qaef4Qqfmqc

Turn up your sound.