Out & About January 2018

W elford Park, near Newbury, will again be opening its huge wrought iron gates to thousands of visitors in 2018, eager to see the famous carpets of stunning white snowdrops scattered over the six-acre park. There are believed to be 10 million wild snowdrops and about 30 varieties and it is thought to be the biggest mass of snowdrops anywhere in Britain. preparations have been under way to get the estate shipshape – paths have to be prepared, weeds killed, low branches cut back and snowdrop areas strimmed. The house and gardens are set in the beautiful Lambourn valley, a chalk stream weaves through seven acres of beech woods and gardens and over the years many rare trees, magnolia and tulip trees have been planted. This historic house was built on the site of a Norman Benedictine monastery, where snowdrops were cultivated to decorate the church for Candlemas. Snowdrops were grown for their medicinal properties, as the monks are believed to have rubbed the crushed bulbs into their temples to alleviate headaches. Today scientists have extracted galantamine, naturally found in snowdrops, that appears to stimulate the regeneration of nerve cells and helps slow the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Last year 17,000 visitors came through the gates, so ever since September

in 1618, which, Deborah says, “is the only time it has ever changed hands for money”. It is the 400-year anniversary in 2018, so Deborah’s top priority is also to organise a large, private celebration for family and staff this summer. On the grey November day that I meet Deborah she tells me that every year, from September 1 onwards, Welford Park is a hive of culinary activity – preparing meals for eager galanthophiles (lovers of snowdrops). There is a team making soup and mixing cakes, while Deborah and Sophie Waterston, the estate manager’s wife, churn out chutney and more cakes in preparation for the ravenous ramblers in the snowdrop season. In previous Mays, Welford Park has had to prepare for an invasion of a different sort. It has been the location for T he Great British Bake Off ’and the famous bunting-clad, white marquee, which gets erected on Welford’s lawn and become home to the famous ‘Show Stoppers’, ‘Technical Challenges’ and ‘soggy bottoms’! Before the Bake Off team arrive, Deborah says, “We have worked very hard on the lawns and gardens and checked for hazards. “It’s all peace and quiet one day, the next huge pantechnicon lorries arrive. “It’s like a military operation, tracking goes down on the lawns and small tractors erect the enormous tent in just one day. The following day all the lighting, electricity and floor goes in. “On day three the kitchens are built, the ovens

Henry VIII destroyed the monastery at Welford in the Dissolution and replaced it with a deer hunting lodge for himself. This was built onto in 1618 and completed in 1702, making the present house of the Queen Anne period. The current incumbent, James Puxley, inherited Welford Park and is Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, the Queen’s representative in the county. His wife Deborah, a former jewellery designer, now finds herself wearing several hats and juggling various jobs throughout the year. She also plays an important supporting role for her husband at ceremonial functions – otherwise, she says, she would never see him. Deborah says: “There are four main things in my life for 2018 – the ongoing upkeep of getting the house up to scratch, which is a fair- ly full-time job because it is so old and we are preparing to hand the house over in 10 years time in a fit state to the younger generation. “I run the snowdrop business and filming schedules and ensure that the Welford Estate business runs smoothly. “On top of which, I have 20 sheep, five chickens and 10 chicks, five call-ducks, five belted Galloway cows, three sows, and about 20 piglets, two dogs and a cat to look after.” Deborah also designs the linen on sale in the shop, and still finds time to be chairman of Macmillan Cancer Support, Berkshire and a governor of Welford and Wickham Primary School. The Welford estate came into the Puxley family

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