Hundreds of visitors celebrated the changing season at Cogges Manor Farm’s Harvest Fayre with family fun and games, steam engines, live music, traditional crafts and wonky veg.

Bakers, crafters and makers entered a wide variety of bakes, blooms and fruit ‘n’ veg in the Cogges Food and Produce show, including tasty jam and marmalade, and a novelty pair of misshapen courgettes. In the home of Cotswold wool mills and the Witney blanket, crafters entered beautiful hand made quilts, exquisite embroidery and gorgeous knitwear. Fruit, vegetables, plants and herbs from the walled garden, plus lovely handmade aprons, bunting and more were available in the shop. Families could even guess the weight of Alan, the Norfolk Bronze turkey. 

Meanwhile live music in the farmyard featured local musicians Gordon Mackay, Doctor Robert and Oscar Poole. All proceeds will go towards the upkeep of the heritage farm.

Guy Reed, Cogges’ general manager, said: “Growing up in a small village myself, the harvest festival was always a staple of the calendar, showcasing, quite literally, the fruits - and vegetables - born from a year of hard work, commitment and expertise. I wanted to try to re-create the community spirit I felt in my childhood at Cogges, what better setting than in this beautiful Cotswold idyll. What a lovely day we had, thank you to all those that exhibited their home bakes, crafts and wonky veg and to all the volunteers that gave up their time to demonstrate their skills."

Cogges Manor Farm is open daily until November 4.

Oxford Mail, Witney Gazette and Oxford Times. 

Photos by Ed Nix (top), vounteer Ceretta Drewett (two children with Flower crown's made with Sandra our volunteer florist) and Autumn Neagle (novelty veg). Article written and published by Autumn Neagle and Newsquest's Miranda Norris @mirandajnorris.