Traditional Harvest at Chiltern Open Air Museum

Local attraction Chiltern Open Air Museum, who have recently been awarded a Certificate of Excellence in the Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice Awards 2024, is hosting its annual Traditional Harvest event on 28 and 29 September, 10am to 5pm.

COAM is home to over thirty rescued historic buildings spanning more than two thousand years of history, from a reconstructed Iron Age roundhouse to a 1940s Prefab from Amersham which recalls wonderful memories in visitors. These unique buildings, which have all been rescued from demolition or decay by the Museum’s dedicated volunteers and staff, also include a furniture factory from High Wycombe, a ‘tin chapel’ Mission Room from Henton and a Victorian forge from Garston.

Set in 45 acres of beautiful Chilterns landscape, the Museum also includes a working historic farm and aims to preserve traditional skills and machinery including a lovingly-restored 1947 Ransomes Simms & Jeffries threshing machine. The farm has been used for filming in popular television dramas Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife and Midsomer Murders and recently in Prime Video’s My Lady Jane.

At the annual Harvest event, visitors can discover the fascinating traditions of our farming history. This ever-popular annual event provides a unique opportunity to explore the sights, sounds and smells of harvests past.

Working heavy horses will be on-site in traditional kit and visitors will be able to have a ride on their cart. The Museum’s dedicated team of farming volunteers will be demonstrating traditional rural skills. COAM’s team of sheepdogs will be herding the Museum’s flock of Oxford Down sheep. Local Morris Dancers will be adding some dancing and merriment to this traditional celebration. A blacksmith will be plying his trade in Garston Forge, a traditional harvest loaf will be baked in the cottage and Henton Chapel will be home to a beautiful display of harvest produce, most of which has been grown in the Museum’s beautiful historic gardens.

Nestled in the middle of the Museum site is an apple orchard where each tree is a different heritage variety. Each year the apples are harvested and made into apple juice that is sold in the Museum shop. The team will have a traditional apple press on-site demonstrating the process and visitors are invited to have a go.

If you haven’t visited this charming local Museum before, the Harvest Festival is a wonderful opportunity to explore our heritage and treat the family to an unforgettable day out.

Visitors who enjoy the Harvest event may also be interested in the Museum’s unique range of experience days and workshops, which includes a Blacksmith’s Experience, Willow Weaving and Sculpting Workshop, Woodcarving Workshop, Bronze Casting Workshop and there are also opportunities to learn skills in photography and sewing. All of the workshops take place within the Museum’s beautiful buildings and grounds. For full details visit www.coam.org.uk.