Timperley was once a well known market gardening area, from the late 1800's, supplying the city of Manchester with fresh fruit and vegetables such as strawberries, cos lettuce, tomatoes cucumbers from glasshouses and and in particular, the locally discovered variety, 'Timperley Early' rhubarb. Indeed, Heyes Lane School, who Forgotten Fields has been working with, is built on land bought by compulsory purchase from Harry Marsland who was one of the first nurserymen to grow Timperley Early.
Children from Years 3, 4 and 5 have been involved in a series of intergenerational workshops to explore the history of food production along Heyes Lane. Exciting highlights of the month-long project include:
- The children researched the flora, fauna and soil conditions, with Elizabeth Blackman of the Cheshire Wildlife Trust.
- At Sale Local History Library they discovered names of forgotten fields from the tithe maps and of previous farming families recorded on the census details from 1841.
- Old photographs and ancient trackways known as 'boggarts' were explored with Brian Kay.
- Census details also revealed the tradition of market gardening handed down amongst local families, so the children sketched, on site, the homes of nurserymen from the turn of the century - Fairlie House and Myrtle Cottage.
Additionally, the children interviewed or learn from people with first-hand knowledge, the experience of living or working on a nursery:
- Barbara Marsland, daughter of Harry, was filmed recounting her life at Fairlie Nursery.
- Sonny Poyner's interview recorded his experience as grandson of Arthur Reynolds, nurseryman at Myrtle Cottage and working at Fairlie as a young man.
- Mary Eastwood recounted her life at the time of the nurseries and, as a keen horticulturalist herself, the methods used in the nurseries. She also gave a walking history tour, pointing out sites of food heritage interest along Heyes Lane, such as Williamson's Dairy and Bevan's Grocery shop from the 1930's.
- In a reconstruction of a shop from the 1930's at Sale Local History library, the children used role-play to act out a day in the life of Mr. Bevan the grocer. The role of former wartime allotments on The Grange estate were discussed and a visit to the current allotments to interview John (originally from Cyprus) and David about their philosophy and growing techniques.
- Mary Eastwood was filmed, by children from year 5, giving a tour of the Timperley Community Orchard, next to the Trafford Drive Allotments. She explained why it is important to preserve the heritage and local varieties of apples (or any food crop).
During these sessions the children have illustrated pages for a 2011 Heyes Lane food heritage calendar, which will be distributed to the local community at the end of 2010. The information gathered by the children will also contribute to the Forgotten Fields website which aims to build a wider picture of food heritage for Greater Manchester.
Forgotten Fields is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. It focuses on the heritage of food production and availability in Manchester from 1750’s to present day, concentrating on six communities from across Greater Manchester who have expressed a need to explore a particular food heritage.