Isle of Wight self catering farm house, sleeps 10, England
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
We know that people have lived on The Garlic Farm site for over 8,000 years. Since the early Mesolithic, first hunter gatherer groups then farmers drank the water from the springs still bubbling out of the chalk beside the farm and benefited from the natural fold in the landscape which protects from the prevailing westerly wind.
Everyone who lived here left a trace of their existence, as flint handtools, pottery and artefacts which thanks to the archaeological work of the past twenty years can now be seen on display in our Heritage Centre.
Over the past 35 years I have personally planted over 20 acres of woodland around this site. If you study landscapes taken pre 1970 in our Heritage Centre you will see the complete dearth of trees and woodland on this site. It looks very bare. Trees, partly the fast growing Monterey Pine which shelters and draws up indigenous hardwoods underneath it, have dramatically changed the aspect of the site all around. Trees reaching now over 40-50 feet into the air accentuate the valley position of the farm and give shelter from the prevailing salt laden westerly winds.
Until 10 years ago we had never seen a red squirrel at Mersley, then one day one appeared in the farmhouse garden. Since then, as the corridors of trees leading from other woodlands have grown up to the farm, red squirrels have become a daily feature of our lives. Our visitors now take their meals watching the antics of red squirrels feeding from the hazel nut feeders outside.
We have a diverse flora and fauna here with some unusual plants appearing on our walks. This year, 2011, to our great surprise, three beautiful bee orchids came from nowhere on the exposed verge leading to the farm, whilst fifty yards away in the marshland beside the car park several marsh orchids appeared.
The families who lived here before us were in equilibrium with their environment. We seek to do the same and when it is our turn to leave this site, we hope it is in a state that enables it to continue giving shelter, food and pleasure to all those who come here.
Community
Our farm and family are an integral part of our local community, the parish of Newchurch and also the wider Isle of Wight.
We have lived here for over 50 years and throughout that time have supported our local community - its school, church, pub and many local organisations and businesses. 27 years ago we started the Garlic Festival as a fundraising vehicle for the local community. In that time the Garlic Festival has helped to extend the village school, raising numbers from 50 to over 200, donating over £750,000 in cash and matched funding, built an astronomical observatory, sports field, community centre and pavilion and given support to numerous local clubs and societies.
Newchurch pub, The Pointers, is an outstanding example of a quality small pub and restaurant integrated into its community. We actively support and encourage a positive synthesis between our two businesses.
Our village church, All Saints, is a beautiful building commanding the valley, established over 1,000 years ago. We actively support the Friends of All Saints in all its fundraising work, holding functions at The Garlic Farm.
We employ local people wherever possible, providing summer jobs for many local students and young people and full time jobs for at least 30 adults.
Landscape
Our Heritage Centre is free and open to all our visitors. It takes the visitor on a timeline starting in 8,000BC to the present day, informing on the history of the site and demonstrating through sound archaeological research the site's story, in the artefacts on display.
We offer daily trailer rides through the summer and on request in other seasons, taking the visitor on a half hour guided tour of the farm immediately around Mersley.
In 2012 we hope to have an ongoing archaeological dig taking place on the site of a Roman farmstead through the summer. Visitors will be taken by trailer to the site and the site director will describe progress, finds and how we are trying to reach back to life on a farm in Roman Wight.
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