Open Day

OPEN DAY - Wednesday 14th June 2017

Visitors were encouraged to take a look around the farm and learn about the innovative engineering that Lord Armstrong of Cragside designed and built at Cragend Farm.

It was a huge success raising funds for The Great North Air Ambulance and Rothbury Christmas Lights.

Shaun & Lou Renwick would like to thank everyone who came along, and everyone who participated in the day to making it such a fantastic event.

If you are interested in visiting Cragend Farm please use the contact form or call us to arrange a visit 01669-621533.

On the day there were many different things to see and do:

Cookery Demonstration: Slow roast belly of pork with crackling, couscous salad with peppers and tomatoes, rye bread with marinated anchovies and roll mop herrings, poached salmon with sampire and asparagus, white bread fresh out of the oven, and lots of cake! All accompanied with local preserves and jams from the Mad Jam Woman. Participation was encouraged and the food was presented for anyone to try.

Plant Sale: a sturdy selection of robust summer fruit plants and shrubs.

Guided Tours: The Silo (Grade II* Listed) The Weighbridge and the Pump Room. Renovated areas of the farm were also accessible.

Listed Building information

Northumberland Toursim with viewings of our B&B rooms The Armstrong Wing, and holiday accommodation East Cottage. Discussion on how Cragend Farm is associated with The National Trust and Cragside.

Pedigree stock information: Park Type Cheviot Sheep and Whitebred Shorthorn Cattle are now resident at Cragend Farm.

Esse and Woodburning Stove information in association with Rothbury Woodlands Stove Centre from Muckles Yard, Rothbury.

Logs, Cragend Candles and Eggs for sale.

Velvet Thistle hand-made cushions and lampshades from local entrepreneur Sarah-Jane Gray.

Basket weaving Demonstration by Charlotte Boxall, promoting traditional methods of growing and making baskets.

Hepple Gin and Rothbury Wines were in attendance showing off what is best about Northumberland, with locally made drinks.

Bee and Honey discussion.

CRAGEND OPEN DAY, WEDSNESDAY 14^TH JUNE

Northumberland Gazette Feature:

Local Business Opens Doors on Fascinating Engineering Heritage

Tours, Tastings & Takeaways

Recently featured on Radio 4’s Farming Today, local Northumbrian business – Cragend Farm – invites the public to discover its innovative engineering past designed and built by Lord Armstrong of Cragside, its plans for a sustainable future, plus fabulous food demonstrations and tastings to fuel the imagination of the curious!

Hosted by Cragend owners Lou and Shaun Renwick, the Open Day takes place on Wednesday 14^th June, 10am-4pm.  Cragend is located on the B6344, 2 miles south of Rothbury, Sat Nav ref NE65 1XN, next to Cragside. Parking is provided and entry is free with donations on the day in aid of the Great North Air Ambulance and Rothbury Christmas Lights.

Open Day highlights include:

Heritage

• Guided Tours of 16th century farm re-modelled and transformed by Northumbrian Industrialist Lord Armstrong of Cragside in the 1880’s. Machinery and engineering processes to explore Including rare access to view the ‘cathedral-like’ Victorian Grade II* Listed 19^th century Silo.
• Listed Building information – information and discussion on maintaining the heritage of the farm and the listed building and future-proofing their preservation and contribution to 21^st century life and the architectural landscape of the local area.
• Northumberland Tourism information will be on hand with advice on the historic places of interest in local area and wider Northumbrian region for visitors staying locally in Holiday Cottage or Bed and Breakfast accommodation.

Sustainable Lifestyle

• ESSE and woodburning stove live demonstration - 100% of Cragend’s hot water and heating for warmth and cooking are generated by wood burning systems. Come and learn more about this sustainable way of living.
• Logs – from sustainably managed woodland on the Cragend estate. Air-dried to reduce moisture levels and deliver an efficient burn.
• Eggs – super tasty eggs with gorgeous yellow yolks courtesy of the Cragend chucks.

And finally…..

• Plant Sale – the Chelsea of the Cheviots? Well perhaps not quite to RHS standard, but an interesting variety of plants none-the-less.
• Artisan Partners – Willow Work and Basketry with Charlotte Boxall, hand-made cushions from Velvet Thistle, jams and other local businesses lead by talented local people.
• Wildlife – don’t miss the cacophonous Cragend crew of resident birds and beasts!